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A group of French researchers have conducted a study which reveals evidence that consumption of Monsanto modified corn is tightly connected to organ failure. The study released by the International Journal of Biological Studies analysed the effects of Monsanto corn on mammalian health, specifically rats. The research was conducted in controlled environments where all variables …
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Genetic modification has always been a heavily written and debated topic, with Monsanto at the forefront leading in the production of GM products. As we have seen often in the news, genetic modification has been riddled with indiscriminate problems; be it environmental or health. A new report compiled by several notable heads, professors and researchers …
Monsanto, a company that makes environmentalists and organic farmers blood boil has even more reason to now. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has launched a new two year experiment which will allow Monsanto to police itself. If the experiment receives positive feedback, then not only Monsanto but many other biotech companies will be allowed to police themselves.
The USDA is used to monitor and assess the impacts of genetically modified organisms but in the new move it appears that they have relaxed their responsibility to do so. Giving companies like Monsanto free reign in policing themselves, allows them to conduct their own environmental assessment of genetically modified crops and outsource work to contractors. The USDA will have the final word in deeming whether these crops are safe for consumption or not.
It is common knowlege to many that Monsanto blindly works for a profit. Money is the number one thing that they desire and giving them the rights to police themselves, even if it is a trial period is completely wrong and an ill chosen idea. Companies like Monsanto can easily tamper their assessments and data to provide positive feedback saying their product is completely safe.
Monsanto’s products have always been riddled with controversy. They have groups like Greenpeace regularly confronting them over the true safety of growing and consuming their products. In March, Greenpeace released a detailed report making it official that it is NOT safe to consume GM corn. The corn, a product of Monsanto was discovered to inflict damage to your kidney and liver function as well as damage to your heart if consumed.
Also a recent study revealed that consumption of GM feed caused animals to miscarry. The miscarriages and consumption of GM feed have been directly linked to one another.
What I would like to know is, who in the USDA are coming up with these decisions and executing them? If only they would come to their senses and realise what they are doing to the planet and peoples health. Also another question is that this piece of news is highly alarming so how is it that it has had minimal media coverage? We can only address a problem with enough power when information is given out to the general population.
For more information in the GM corn and feed click here.
It is predicted by an expert in biotechnology, that human milk produced by genetically modified cows will be available to the public in just two years.
The scary thing is, this bizarre and disturbing prediction is hardly even out of the question. A major exhibition was held in Beijing, China from the 7th to the 14th of March. The exhibition showcased all of China‘s major technological achievements in the 11th five year plan (2006-2010). Part of that exhibition were photos depicting a herd of genetically modified human milk producing cows.
Details of the bioengineering techniques used in the composition of this milk is not available. There is also no information available to just how much the genetically modified cow produced milk will resemble actual human milk.
Human milk, compared to cow milk, actually has a lower protein density and most of the health benefits found are all “non-nutritional.” Human milk contains two types of nutrition known for boosting the immune system as well as the central nervous system of children. Cow milk does not.
Li Ning, a scientist from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of the State Key Laboratories for AgroBiotechnology at China Agricultural University was quoted by China Daily saying that,
“In ancient China, only the emperor and the empress could drink human milk throughout their lives, which was believed to be the height of opulence,why not make that kind of milk more available for ordinary people?”
China’s milk industry is riddled with mishaps and national scandals. From 2008 to 2010 China had a scandal involving traces of melamine found in a variety of China’s milk products. 300, 000 children fell ill from consuming this milk and six babies had died according to BBC UK. This led to the declining breast feeding rate in the country which was then blamed for migrant working patterns as well as the rising body image concerns. More and more Chinese women are choosing not to breast feed their children due to concerns of developing “saggy breasts.”
Interestingly enough, 90% of China’s adult population is lactose intolerant, meaning they are unable to consume any milk products. So technically the experiment of genetically modifying cows to produce human milk was highly unnecessary and not to mention a complete waste of money. What China needs is a breast feeding awareness campaign to put a stop to this unnecessary concern over body image. Preventing anymore melamine laced milk scandals.
Thankfully before this bizarre product is able to hit the shelves of China, it must first surpass government testing before being deemed “safe.”
It’s official, Genetically Engineered corn from Monsanto is NOT safe. A recent publication by Greenpeace that was released just two days ago (March 1st 2011) has sought to debunk the GE myths created by such companies like Monsanto, Bayer and Syngenta.
To sum up the report, GE corn is NOT safe to consume. Companies like Monsanto who are highly reluctant to disclose details associated with the safety of their ‘products’, were ordered by a German court in a case initiated by Greenpeace to disclose their studies. The studies made public were that of rats being fed GE Bt Corn (MON863) and the effects.
The reassessment of Monsanto’s studies, were conducted by a team of experts with the head being Professor Gilles Eric Séralini of the University of Caen. He is also a governmental expert in genetic engineering technology.
What they found was startlingly shocking. In the report Monsanto also had failed to disclose negative side effects, to the consumption of this new corn. The effects were that it causes damage in kidney and liver function as well as varying degrees of damage to the heart, spleen and adrenal glands.
MON863 was already previously been approved in more than 10 countries without apt studies undertaken on the safety of such a crop. Those 10 countries include the EU, Japan, Canada and the Philippines.
Another issue with this crop is that, it produces and releases a toxin that is harmful to beneficial insects who kill pests. The Bt toxin can also accumulate within the soil. With this knowledge it is clear that Bt corn is not safe for plantation in the environment. It causes more harm then good.
A highly frequent ‘fact’ pushed by GE companies that relentlessly appears when attacked on the benefits of GE crops. Is that GE crops reduce hunger and provide economic benefits. This is completely wrong. Due to the riskiness and rejection worldwide by consumers who do not want GE food, many traders and farmers who chose to grow GE crops have since lost exports to certain key destinations. The decline of demand for such crops have heavily affected the rural and poor in developing countries who were given these ‘magic’ seeds. The yields for GE crops is also no different to the yields of non-GE crops. Whats more is that, farmers are not allowed to keep GE seeds for the next season. Due to the fact this is seen as an ‘infringement of agrochemical companies patents’. Farmers will then have to take another loan year after year to continue to use GE seeds to plant. Thomas Datingulnoo, a farmer from the Philippines has said that,
“When I first planted GE maize (corn), the yield was good, but there were so many expenses that I did not earn anything. I was very disappointed with Monsanto’s seeds and I will never plant them again. I now only plant local varieties of maize for which a much lower capital investment is required.”
The other fact that is shoved in our faces, as a benefit of GE crops is that they can reduce hunger. This ‘fact’ is wrong again. Hunger is not the problem of lack of availability of food but of prices and lack of distribution as well as access to land and water. The people who have difficulty acquiring food is that they lack the money to be able to buy or even grow their own food. GE crops would then instead of reducing hunger, increase it. People can only afford so much and planting GE crops require high investments for expensive seeds and pesticides.
Other GE companies and Monsanto are in it for themselves, always. What we need is farmers to not fall prey to them to protect their own livelihood as well as our food safety. Recently a website named truthout.org has highlighted a fact of Monsanto. They will not be held liable for “any and all losses, injury or damages resulting from the use or handling of seed (including claims based in contract, negligence, product liability, strict liability, tort, or otherwise)…in no event shall Monsanto or any seller be liable for any incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages.”
This liability is now deferred to those who plant the crops themselves. Also in another recent study, consumption of GE feed causes animal miscarriages. So if the farmer who was assured that buying Genetically Engineered feed was safe for his animals to consume and then you find that their miscarriages are directly linked to the GE feed. The farmer can not sue Monsanto.
Monsanto is turning into a more twisted and dastardly company everyday. When will people in governments realise this and stop giving Monsanto free reign in how to act? When will they finally put an end to this greedily dangerous company?
To read the report and other debunked myths by Greenpeace go to: GM Myths Debunked PDF
Recently a GE Food Guide was released in Australia specially targeted for children, to download the .PDF file click here
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