genetically modified

Josephine County voted on a genetically modified food ban that was to go into effect on September 4th, but of course rejecting GMOs can never happen without a fight. One day before the ban went live, GM sugar beet farmers, with the backing of agrichemical corporations, sued in order to halt the ban. This is a similar tactic that was used in Maui County and Kauai County, who passed similar bans via a democratic process. When will the courts uphold justice?

The state of Vermont decided that it would listen to the people and require foods containing genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) to be labeled. But with the help of the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association (GMA), Monsanto and other biotech interests launched a lawsuit against the bill that was passed. Thankfully, Vermont stood strong and is fighting back.

Nairobi activists held banners shunning the introduction of GM food into their country along Kenyatta Avenue this week to send a message to Deputy President William Russo. In Kenya, the president has lifted a ban to allow genetically modified foods to be grown in the nation “to increase food security,” and citizens aren’t happy.

First, the herbicide chemical glyphosate was found in breast milk of mothers around the country. Now, there is a new study showing that the DNA in goats fed transgenic, GM soy feed is altered, and the milk itself is of lower quality, affecting the offspring.

No one bats 1000, but according to Ignacio Chapela, a microbiologist from UC Berkeley in California, the biotech industry has utterly failed. He says they’ve only come up with 2 genetically modified traits in 40 years despite fouling our air, water, and soil, while genetically engineering our food to withstand copious amounts of toxic chemicals.

Biotechnology companies like Monsanto are hiring academics to speak on their behalf about the supposed safety and benefits of genetically modified food products to help save them from a tsunami of bad press.

Liver and kidney damage due to a diet full of genetically modified food has already been shown in a notable, yet controversial study that was once forced to be retracted, and then later republished by the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology.

Biotech’s claims that genetically modified crops are more resistant to bugs seem to be dismissed like yesterday’s pastries, especially when their crops so obviously fail to deliver on the promise. So why are farmers still planting GM seed?
In a recent biotech debacle, a UK-based biotech company wasted over $5 million on an experimental GM wheat trial.

Privatization and corporate ownership of our food and water is what is at stake. The greed that has allowed companies to create patents on food and to siphon off water and sell it back to the world is as disturbing as ever. Following are ways which a cabal is trying to control 2 of our most basic needs – food and water.

Chipotle’s campaign launched in April of this year was a breath of fresh air for many busy people who were looking for non-GM fast food that was both fresh, organic, non-GMO, and often locally-sourced. The company called it ‘food with integrity – G-M-Over it,’ but it seems some consumers aren’t convinced that the chain’s non-GMO intentions were brought to fruition.