In January, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, authorized the unrestricted commercial cultivation of genetically modified alfalfa from sea to shinning sea. Within one year of this planting, the entire milk supply and cattle feedlot in this country could potentially be contaminated. Next came the sugar beets that account for half of America’s sugar supply. The “third shoe to drop” came as Tom Vilsack approved the splicing of the enzyme alpha amylase into corn used to manufacture ethanol.
Friday January 28, 2011 New York Times, B1 – U.S. APPROVES PLANTING OF MODIFIED ALFALFA
Saturday February 5, 2011 New York Times, B3 – U.S. SAYS FARMERS MAY GROW ENGINEERED SUGAR BEETS
Saturday February 12, 2011 New York Times, B1 – U.S. APPROVES CORN MODIFIED FOR ETHANOL
For over fifteen years now, Monsanto has been introducing Genetically Modified Organisms, GMO’s, into our food supply, primarily with soybeans, cotton, corn and canola. The Corporate takeover of our food has been a slow and insidious process, and today it is nearly impossible to find 100% organic soy or corn, that is not contaminated. Ready-to-retire seed-saving-farmer Percy Schmeizer from Alberta Canada has been fighting Monsanto for the last ten years. THEY sued him for stealing THEIR seeds, which migrated over to HIS property and polluted HIS crops. The “chutzpa” and influence of these corporate giants is unbelievable.
The proven ill effects of GMO’s have been well documented by Jeffrey Smith in a number of books including GENETIC ROULETTE. Liver and kidney damage, along with reproductive problems are common. Third generation mice are not reproducing, and second-generation cattle are reproducing 40% less. Public opinion polls indicate that 90% of the people in this country want to have labeling of GMO’s, while over 50% of the people don’t want Genetically Modified food at all. Most of Europe rejects GMO imports. Uncontrollable super weeds are developing in areas where GMO herbicides and pesticides are polluting the soil. General Foods and General Mills have serious concerns that the new GMO Amylase modified ethanol corn will migrate to the sweet corn and kill the “flake” in corn flakes. The GMO test splicing of pharmaceuticals in food products; i.e., Prozac in corn, persists and is expanding.
We face a crisis, an immediate threat to our food supply and the end to certified organic foods as we know it. The revolving door between the Department of Agriculture and the giant food and seed companies, is typical of the same revolving door between Goldman Sacks and the financial regulators, between the nuclear industry and the nuclear regulators, between the oil industry and the oil regulators, between the war machine and military industrial complex, between corporate privatization and deregulated government.
The Corporate Colonization and GMO pollution of the food supplies in Paraguay, India and Mexico are well underway. We are the now target, but we have the tools to fight back. We have access to Social Networking, Television and Face to Face contact. We can make a difference. Get informed, use the internet, get involved, talk to you friends and neighbors. Make a difference. Just do it.