Farmers in India are having doubts that genetically modified cotton is providing much benefit after a whitefly attack ravaged their fields.
The whitefly attack on the Bt cotton variety in Punjab and Haryana reportedly contributed to the suicides of at least 3 farmers around the city of Bhatinda and tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets to demand state aid. [1]
The Hawaii State Department of Agriculture conducted an impromptu meeting to allow biotech to ‘field test’ genetically modified bananas. This is of great concern to the people of Hawaii, and no public notice was made of the meeting until very recently. UH received a $1.5 million research grant from the US federal government to develop a GMO banana variety, even though Hawaii residents have made it very clear they oppose GM crops.
The Big Six biotech companies have had their way patenting genetically modified foods for decades now; that, we know. But unsuspecting individuals likely have no idea that companies like Syngenta and Monsanto have been patenting REAL food (also known simply as food) which was not made in a lab using gene splicing or editing techniques.
The biotech industry has taken a beating lately, and this is evident in Monsanto’s numerous actions of late. The company has closed 3 research and development sites, laid of thousands of workers, and their stock prices have been plummeting.
For an undisclosed sum, Monsanto’s Climate Corporation will sell its Precision Planting farm equipment business to Deere & Co in a move which proves how the turmoil in the agriculture sector paves way for business deals which try to save a dying multinational.
Though Monsanto is still the largest seed company in the world, it has experienced severe stock losses as of the last quarter.
Why are you so worried about “debates.” They’re not debates. They’re beauty pageants. Mindless media diversions. Psychotic interludes. Charm school rejects and sleight of hand. Bought and paid for political hacks playing the ol’ switcheroo. Just look at the topics that seem to command so much of our collective attention. Look at what we find interesting, critical and what we ignore and reject altogether. Look at the attention that our media will pay to underinflated footballs and other pseudo-controversies; it is beyond my comprehension.
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released the full text of the ubiquitous Trans Pacific Trade Partnership deal, which the public has been rallying against for months now.
Opponents of growing genetically modified corn in Mexico, the country known for over 30 varieties of non-GM maize, have prevailed. A federal judge upheld a GM ban that was put in place years ago.
Mexico is known for its biodiversity, which supports numerous varieties of maize. It is in fact considered their birthplace, and if GM corn had not been banned, corn developed over thousands of years would be in jeopardy of cross-pollination.
The Center for Biological Diversity, the Center for Environmental Health, El Quinto Sol de America, Californians for Pesticide Reform, the Center for Food Safety and the Pesticide Action Network released a report earlier this week that claims that more than half of the glyphosate sprayed in California is applied to the state’s 8 most impoverished counties. [1]
This is what we’ve become. Lost. Disconnected. Narcissistic beyond any realm of comprehension. And it’s posh and cool to be profoundly nescient. Mention TPP and watch the vapid look . . . from the Ted Baxter sock puppet media. Just keep us amused. Give us surface level stories. Nothing too deep or profound.
