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Keeping in Touch:  Monsanto. Company of the Year  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 13 2010 : 4:43:23 PM
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According to Forbes magazine, anyway. I was at a friends house today and there on her coffee table bigger than life was a picture of Monsanto Cheif Hugh Grant in front of a barral of GM seeds with a big ole grin on his face. The caption under the title says Monsanto's first round of attackers said its seeds were evil. Now the charge is that Momsanto's seeds are too good.
It's a whole 5 page story. I've read part of it so far. But the gist of it is wouldn't it be great to have a food product without the fishy taste and smell that fish oil has that would provide omega-3's. That's what they want to make. For us. So we will be healthy. And they will be rich. But wouldn't that be a wonderful product to have for sale? Stop heart disease and protect the environment, too. People could get their nutritional supplements without depleting fish supplies.
Well, balogne! Isn't that just like the big mega million dollar companies to think of us? And our health? Wow. I am so impressed.
Here's more. "But economic achievement is not the same thing as public adulation. Over most of the time that Monsanto has been working to make humanity better fed, it has been the object of vicious critisism."
Much of Europe, while still forbiding the planting of GM crops, permits the importation of foods made from them.
It goes on and on. I need to read the rest. I wonder if Forbes has a web site to see this article.
Anyway, I just though you all might want to look at the article. Very interesting. And makes me sick!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2010 : 5:13:14 PM
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Oh I just love the conventional media - always committed to telling the truth. And poor, little, misunderstood, underdog Monsanto - all of us farmgirls are really putting a dent in their plans for a perfect world.
Bleahhhhhhhhhh
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2010 : 5:37:55 PM
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Makes me mad! The control that company has over our food is really scary to me. I just watched Food Inc, Oh My Giddy Aunt! After watching that, I made the decision to go total organic! It is hard to give some things, just because of ease of getting it, but I am doing my best to make the switch.
Someone subsribed to Forbes mag for me, and I never read it, just put it in the recycle bin. Wish I had looked more closely, would have like to have read that article.
For tomorrow and its needs I do not pray, but keep me, guide me, love me, Lord just for today.
St. Augustine
#440
http://www.myfeetaredirty.blogspot.com/
http://www.iglitteredthecat.blogspot.com/
http://www.glitterandgrunge.com/ (turner hill studio)
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2010 : 6:08:26 PM
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I am trying to go to all my own grown and kept seed from seed savers. I am having trouble getting the seed saving thing down, but I'll get there. I'm gonna look into this some more.
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2010 : 6:38:06 PM
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I'm trying to take the No GMO route and it is HARD! GMO's are in so many things that we take for granted. I want to become as GMO free as possible. I have health problems that just won't go away and all I know is that my body feels better eating REAL food and avoiding the standard shopping market fare...
Take the no GMO challenge and see how much of the GMO infested foods you can avoid. I am very lucky to have local sources for so many things.
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Palouse Prairie Girls Chapter
http://palouseprairiegirls.blogspot.com/
http://prairiegirlsjournal.blogspot.com/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
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vintagediva1
True Blue Farmgirl
1251 Posts
Michele
Brighton
Michigan
USA
1251 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2010 : 9:07:29 PM
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I think I'll go to the Monsatan ooops Monsanto website and see how many subsidiaries there are so I can be more effective boycotting.
The thing that bothers me a LOT is that the movers and shakers or their wannabees that read Forbes are going to buy into all this cr*p and you know those same people are probably not reading the mags that we read to get the negative side of the whole GMO issue.
How can we get them to wake up?
Michele
www.2vintagedivas.etsy.com
www.sissyandsisterstitch.etsy.com
www.sissyandsisterstitch.artfire.com
Love that good ole vintage junk |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2010 : 11:04:41 PM
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Some good news ( ) about Monsanto: they're being sued by DuPont for monopolizing the seed industry. Funny how a company can break all sorts of rules and still end up on the front page of Forbes. 
cindy
"Dog is my co-pilot"
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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Sourceress
True Blue Farmgirl
76 Posts
Elisabeth
Thurmont
MD
76 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2010 : 11:06:49 PM
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Annika, I hear you on the good food/medical issues thing. I have CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome), and possibly also fibromylagia, and I have found that I definitely feel worse when I eat out a lot (and therefore end up eating a lot of non-organic food). My husband has been very skeptical about the whole thing, but he's put up with it for years, and recently discovered that after not eating junk for several months, when he did go eat junk, it made him feel really icky. I think he's still not quite convinced, but at least I'm not getting as much pushback about spending all the extra money to buy organic and all-natural and locally-raised instead of factory-farmed, over-processed industrial food. The boys have multiple food allergies, so to some extent, we don't have a choice - I *can't* feed the family boxed macaroni-and-cheese casserole or ramen noodles or regular hot dogs (one of the things the boys are allergic to is meat preservatives - sodium nitrite, nitrate, erythorbate, etc., which honestly I am delighted about because it gives me an ironclad excuse to avoid that poison) or whatever else is cheap and easy, especially the last several years, when money has been tight and anywhere you can cut corners or save a few dollars is a Good Thing.
But yeah, Monsanto may not actually be Evil Incarnate, but they definitely work for It. There was a case a few years back where a farmer bought their GM Roundup Ready Canola seed. Pollen from his field drifted onto his neighbor's field. His neighbor was *not* growing RR Canola. His neighbor was also in the habit of saving some of his seed to plant the following year. When he planted his seed the next year, it turned out that some of his canola crop possessed Monsanto's patented Roundup Ready gene, because they'd been pollinated by his neighbor's crop of Roundup Ready Canola. Anyway, Monsanto found out that part of his crop contained their patented gene, and sued him for stealing their intellectual property. And *won*. I was stunned. And frankly, this is why we've got to stop GM foods - this is madness. I have been trying to boycott them as much as possible, so if you find out any information on subsidiaries or corporate ties or anything, please post it! Thanks!
Lis
*the Sourceress*
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2010 : 08:03:35 AM
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Lis - it is hard to know who is a subsidiary of Monsanto because there are so many. If you are growing your own veggies you are safe with companies that have signed a "safe seed pledge". I personally look for that over organic as organic has been co-opted by big business.
On a personal experience note - my godbrother used to just have the worst tantrums when he ate lunch meat with nitrates and nitrites in it. I have noticed the correlation between food and health for years - there was an article I read last week that said that junk food affects your body's pleasure centers in the same way as crack cocaine. SCARY!!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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roseella
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
32 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2010 : 09:05:16 AM
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I am attempting to learn about this subject and looking to buy food that is on the non-GMO list. This season I will look for those who grow vegetables "organic" or grow "heirloom" vegetables.
Peggy
http://myviewpaintingstoo.blogspot.com
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beadbabe
True Blue Farmgirl
148 Posts
Therese
Valencia
California
USA
148 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2010 : 6:40:42 PM
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I just watched Food Inc. today. I have known about Monsanto for years. Their terminator seed program disgusts me. Make third world farmers beholden to them for their seeds because the crop produces sterile seeds. What a cruel and evil thing to do. I think you will be stunned at not only how many subsidiaries Monsanto has, but how many other companies use their GMO soy and corn in their products. It becomes more and more difficult to abstain from GMO's. Monsatan (Love it Michele, I am going to 'borrow' that!) has such a monopoly on our nation's food supply, and its tentacles have reached into just about every other country. Voting with your dollars goes a long way to let companies know how we feel about their practices, but I think it is imperative that we educate ourselves and others, and write our senators and congressmen and let them know how we feel. If all we do is fume in private and vent on forums, our voices are not being heard.
Therese
Farmgirl Sister #1217
If you ask me what I came into this world to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud. ~Emile Zola |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 01:10:58 AM
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I was listening to NPR the other day and heard a promotional message (they don't have commercials, right?) for Monsanto touting the "sustainability" of their GM seeds.... I was confused. Wanted to hear it again, but that's the problem with radio, you can't hit the "rewind" button....
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 01:20:07 AM
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From the NPR.ORG web site
NPR is not taking any money from Monsanto, a large agribusiness concern that specializes in genetically engineered seeds designed to grow crops bigger and faster.
If, for example, a Washington, DC, listener tuned in to WAMU on a recent morning, he or she might have heard two underwriting spots for Monsanto around 8 a.m.
American Public Media, which produces Marketplace, is running corporate underwriting spots from Monsanto:
"Marketplace is supported by Monsanto, committed to sustainable agriculture: creating hybrid and biotech seeds designed to increase crop yields and conserve natural resources. Produce more conserve more dot com."
WAMU too has accepted sponsorship money from Monsanto for this spot:
"Support for WAMU 88.5 comes from Monsanto, committed to sustainable agriculture and creating hybrid and biotech seeds designed to increase crop yields and conserve natural resources. More at Produce More, Conserve More dot come."
Neither of these spots is affiliated with NPR. Nor has Monsanto approached NPR to buy corporate sponsorship spots, according to John King, operations manager for sponsorship
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 06:38:44 AM
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I'm in an issues of Natural Resource class right now. Have to write a yes/no paper. I chose should GMO foods be labled. the hard part is puttin gin the no stuff, because I think so.It's an interesting exercise to see what the arguments against are. And yes, many by FDA.
Best Growing |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 07:23:01 AM
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Brenda, thank you for posting that article and the list of seed companies. I just ordered a few things from Johnny's. I will not be ordering from them again. Thanks for letting me know. And the NPR thing is wierd. I do listen to them sometimes. I love Lake Wobegon with Garrison Keeler on Sat. But if they are getting Monsanto money I will not be listening to NPR anymore.
Laurie, I hope you will share your paper with us when you are finished writing it. I would love to read it. Good luck with it.
I agree that we need to actually DO something besides vent and do things privately. Like Jamie Oliver is trying to change the way the schools feed the kids, we need to try to change the way government says we need to eat. And where our food should come from.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 08:38:47 AM
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I don't like that Monsanto is underwriting programs on NPR but I still listen to NPR - they are still the best source of news that I have found. That's the hard part of getting information these days, I just remember to carry my salt-shaker around with me so I always have that proverbial grain of salt:)
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 11:22:24 AM
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Actually what the article said is that NPR is NOT getting money from Monsanto - It is American Public Media (different company) and the individual radio station. I also like public radio, I'm not going to boycott them because of a Monsanto sponsorship but I might write.
The post from the blog also had comments from a few of the companies on the list (Park Seed, for example) that said although they buy SOME seeds from Monsanto, they do not buy any GM seed, only hybrids.
It is difficult to sort it out. We live in such a complicated world.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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missgive
True Blue Farmgirl
127 Posts
Kim
Blairsville
Georgia
USA
127 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 5:37:54 PM
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You should watch the documentary on Monsanto that has aired on Sundance Channel. It was done by French reporter (a woman) and she reveals that there has been an unholy alliance between Monsanto and the government that it is ridicualous. She interviewed those that had been at FDA who decided that GMOs were no different than any other naturally occurring "mutation" because, though it altered the DNA of the seed, we "already consume DNA so no harm no foul". Remember, Monsanto invented thalidomise and Agent Orange - both which resulted in major birth defects, illness and death. Previous generations, who ate healthy, naturally grown foods without these issues have had few of these diseases like Chronic Fatigie, Fibromyalia, etc. And ask the folks in Anniston, Alabama what they think of Monsanto, who polluted their ground water and soil and killed many with cancer and other illnesses related to the chemicals.
As for Forbes magazine naming them "Comapny of the Year", Steven Forbes and his progeny do not look at responsible business as the model of "company of the year" material - they look at profits. Funny, because Mondanto has been sued successfully twice for their precious "Roundup" herbicide and as a result can no longer name it "biodegradable" on their label. When the soil was tested where it was used frequently it was found only 2% had disappeared int eh soil after 1 month...the half-life is unknown. Not in my body!
Blessing,
Kim
Kim (aka missgive)
Proud Farmgirl Sister #927
A Farmgirl Sister headed for my mountain home and farm in 2010. |
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missgive
True Blue Farmgirl
127 Posts
Kim
Blairsville
Georgia
USA
127 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 5:42:45 PM
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She also noted several folks who had been at Monsanto or had defended Monsanto in court, etc. moved to cushy government jobs in areas that held influence over the status of Monsanto products in the FDA, the Department of Agriculture and Department of Health. Those in influentil government positions, where often hired by Monsanto during changes of Administrations that might cause them to be fired and you have to ask - was the job they got a "reward" for their help with Monsanto's agenda?Hmmmmmmm......
Kim (aka missgive)
Proud Farmgirl Sister #927
A Farmgirl Sister headed for my mountain home and farm in 2010. |
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Fiddlermom
Farmgirl in Training
47 Posts
Melissa
Logan
AL
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 7:27:22 PM
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| Food Inc. is a GREAT movie! Another great informative movie is Seeds of Deception. I've only watched part of it, but plan on finishing it! It is also a book. The destruction of our food supply is scary! "Monsatan" and Beef Products Inc. are the worst!!! After watching Food Inc. I've had a hard time buying beef! |
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Windsong
True Blue Farmgirl
309 Posts
LaVonna
Decatur
Tx
309 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 10:44:05 PM
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For years they tried to get aspartame approved by the FDA. After Reagan was elected he appointed a man head of FDA and the approval went through really fast. There were doctors and scientists there to show research on how very bad it was but it went through anyway. I believe this man was in office for 3 months before stepping down and taking a job with a Monsanto division. I do think this is a very evil company.
Farmgirl Sister #758
www.windsongwellnessandtherapyshoppe.com
http://sadiesfarm.blogspot.com/
http://healthtalkcafe.blogspot.com/ |
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peebs
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
Yannira
Connecticut
26 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2010 : 5:39:41 PM
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| I watched Food, Inc. a couple of months ago with my husband and older daughter. After watching the documentary, it just reinforced what I belive that God had been putting in my heart about going organic, when it comes to feeding my family. The hardest part for me was the injustice, with some of our farmers. My heart was saddened to see farmers not having control of what they and their families had done and worked so hard for, for generations. I truly pray that our government sees what harm they are doing by letting these companies, wreak havoc in our country. |
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AliciaNak
True Blue Farmgirl
405 Posts
Alicia
Elko
Nevada
USA
405 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2010 : 06:45:21 AM
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I'm reading Eating in the Dark-America's experiment with genetically engineered food By Kathleen Hart. It's really opened my eyes. The fight against GMOs has been going for quite a while. The Regan era, Bush, and Clinton eras all dealt with it. It was a big issue during the mid 90's too. My head must have been in the clouds during that!
So far (I'm on pg. 91) the main..."bad guy" is Monsanto. The FDA has pretty much stayed out of this, by choice, saying that these companies wouldn't let something bad hit the market and will police themselves. Huh. And who is naive enough to believe that?
Alicia
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.~Ralph Waldo Emmerson
www.blondenak.blogspot.com
www.artfire.com/users/BlondeNakCreations |
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Keeping in Touch: Monsanto. Company of the Year |
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Monsanto. Company of the Year
