No surprises here!
December 6,
2011
Biotech giant Monsanto has been declared the Worst Company of 2011 by NaturalSociety for threatening
both human health and the environment.
The leader in genetically modified seeds and
crops, Monsanto is currently responsible for 90 percent of the genetically
engineered seed on the United States market.
Outside of GM seeds, Monsanto is also the creator of the
best-selling herbicide Roundup, which has spawned over 120 million hectacres of
herbicide-resistant superweeds while damaging much of the soil. Despite
hard evidence warning against the amplified usage of genetically modified
crops, biopesticides, and herbicides, Monsanto continues to disregard all
warning signs.
In a powerful review of 19 studies analyzing the dangers of GMO crops such as corn and soybeans,
researchers revealed some shocking information regarding the safety of these
popular food staples.
Researchers found that consumption of
GMO corn or soybeans may lead to significant organ disruptions in rats and mice ~
particularly in the liver and kidneys. This is particularly concerning due to
the fact that 93 percent of U.S. soybeans are known to be genetically modified.
MONSANTO’S GENETIC
MANIPULATION OF NATURE
Outside of genetically
modifying crops, Monsanto has also created genetically modified crops
containing Bt. Bt is a toxin incorporated in GMO crops that are intended to
kill different insects, however Bt usage has subsequently spawned insect
populations which are resistant to the biopesticide.
So far at least 8 insect
populations have developed resistance, with 2 populations resistant to Bt
sprays and at least 6 species resistant to Bt crops as a whole. Farmers are
therefore forced to use even more
pesticides to combat the resistant bugs.
What is the answer to
this problem, according to Monsanto?
To further genetically
modify the Bt crop
to make it a
super-pesticide,
killing the resistant
insects.
Tests, however, have
concluded that further modified Bt toxin crop provided ‘little or no advantage’
in tackling the insects, despite extensive time and funding put into the
research.
It seems that Monsanto’s
solution to everything is to further modify it into oblivion, even in the face
of evidence proving this method to be highly inefficient. The research shows that this will
undoubtedly lead to insects that are resistant to the most potent forms of Bt
and other modified toxins, resulting in the use of even more excessive amounts
of pesticides in order to combat pests.
SUPERWEEDS INFESTING OVER
120 MILLION HECTACRES OF FARMLAND
Thanks to
Monsanto’s best-selling herbicide Roundup, farms across the world are
experiencing the emergence of herbicide-resistant superweeds. The heavily
resistant weeds have immunity to glyphosate, an herbicide that Roundup
contains. These resistant weeds currently cover over 4.5 million hectares
in the United States alone, though experts estimate the world-wide land
coverage to have reached at
least 120 million hectares by 2010. The appearance of these superweeds is being increasingly documented in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Europe and South Africa.
Of course, once again,
the resistant weeds are so resistant to roundup that they require excessive
amounts of herbicides.
It is no surprise that
the company is refusing to accept responsibility for the escalating cost of
combating the weeds, stating that “Roundup
agricultural warranties will not cover the failure to control glyphosate
resistant weed populations.”
THE WORLD SAYS NO TO
MONSANTO
France, Hungary, and Peru
are a few of the countries that have decided to take a stand against Monsanto.
Hungary actually went as
far as to destroy 1000 acres of
maize found to have been grown with genetically modified seeds,
according to Hungary deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural
Development Lajos Bognar.
Peru has also taken a
stand for health freedom, passing a monumental 10 year ban on genetically modified foods.
Amazingly, Peru’s Plenary Session of the Congress made the decision
despite previous governmental pushes for GM legalization. The known and unknown
dangers of GMO crops seem to supersede even executive-level governmental
directives.
Anibal Huerta, President
of Peru’s Agrarian Commission, said the ban was needed to prevent the ”danger that can arise from the use of
biotechnology.”
France is the latest
nation to say no to Monsanto’s GM corn maize, even in light of an overturned
ban. It all began when France’s State Council overturned the ban on
Monsanto’s GMO maize stating that it was not sufficiently justified.
The organization then
attempted to justify its decision by saying that the government did not give
enough evidence to justify a ban. Under law, an EU country can only unilaterally
ban a genetically modified strain if it can scientifically prove it is a risk
to the health of humans, animals, or the integrity of the environment.
Even after the ban was
overturned, it surfaced that French legislatures were planning to launch
new restrictions regarding the use of Monsanto’s 810 maize on French
soil. Even Nicolas Sarkozy, the current president of the French
Republic, voiced his opposition to Monsanto’s GMO maize:
“The French government keeps and will keep its opposition against the cultivation of the Monsanto 810 maize on our soil,” Sarkozy said.
WORST COMPANY OF 2011
In nominating Monsanto
the Worst Company of 2011 we are hoping to raise awareness over the threat
that Monsanto poses to human health and the environment. Genetically modified
organisms will only continue to threaten all living creatures if not
stopped. It is through spreading the word that real change will come about, and
declaring Monsanto the Worst Company of 2011 is a great way to highlight
all of their reckless actions.
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