Americans Still Confused, Uneducated About GMOs!

Tags

Adults, America, Americans, Canada, Confusion, crop, Education, environment, Genetic engineering, Genetically modified food, Genetically modified organism, Genetically Modified Organisms, Genetics, GMO Ban, GMO restrictions, GMOs, Huffington Post, Interviews, Monsanto, North America, Poll, Polls, surveys, U.S., Uneducated, United States, United States of America

Omnibus Poll – Huffington Post
Sample 1000 Adult Interviews
Conducted February 28 – March 1, 2013
Margin of Error 3.6%

1. How much have you heard about companies developing genetically modified crops to make
them grow faster or bigger, or to resist bugs, weeds, disease, herbicides or pesticides?
Heard a lot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22%
Heard a little . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48%
Heard nothing at all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6%

2. Should companies that develop genetically modified crops be allowed to patent the crops
that they develop?
Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28%
No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33%
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39%

3. Based on what you’ve heard, do you think that foods containing genetically modified
ingredients are generally safe to eat or dangerous to eat?
Safe to eat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21%
Dangerous to eat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35%
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44%

4. Based on what you’ve heard, do you think growing genetically modified crops is generally
good for the environment or bad for the environment, or does it have no impact?
Good for the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8%
Bad for the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35%
No impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18%
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39%

5. Do you think foods that contain genetically modified ingredients should be labeled indicating
that, or do you think that’s not necessary?
They should be labeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82%
It’s not necessary to label them . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9%
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8%

Source:  http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/toplinesbgmo304.pdf

 

Dark History of DuPont, Monsanto’s ‘Other’ Competition!

Tags

Bayer, chemicals, corporations, Dow Chemical, Dupont, evil, GMOs, Monopolies, Monsanto, poisonous, seeds, Syngenta

Dark History of Dupont

Have you heard the difference between rain forest and a jungle? Well rain forest has a PR while a jungle is just a jungle. That’s the difference between Monsanto and DuPont where DuPont is the rain forest. DuPont is an American chemical company and the world’s third largest producer of chemicals, agrochemicals, polymers, safety materials, electronics and genetically modified seeds. DuPont has its facilities in 70 different counties. After ExxonMobil and Dow, DuPont is the third largest producer of chemicals in the United States.

 

DuPont was established in 1802 by Eleuthere Irenee Du Pont. Eleuthere Irenee Du Pont ran away from the French revolution and few years after founded DuPont in US by the money he brought from gunpowder machinery from France. By 1811 DuPont was the largest supplier of gunpowder for US military and positioned itself as being the largest supplier of gunpowder during the U.S. Civil War. From 1902 to 1912 DuPont expanded quickly into production of smokeless powder and dynamite. During WW1 40% of explosive used by world powers was supplied by DuPont. Along the way DuPont purchased smaller chemical companies but in 1902 the government took DuPont to court and declared that it was a monopoly that DuPont was dominating the explosive business. Based on the court ruling DuPont had to create both Atlas Powder Company and Hercules Powder Company. DuPont also founded the first two industrial laboratories and improved its military Rifle. In 1914 DuPont invested and got largely involved in automobile industry. From 1920 to 1935 DuPont discovered the first synthetic rubber, nylon, Teflon and polyester.

During WW2 from 1941 to 1945 DuPont was the largest producer of war supplies. DuPont also played an important role in Manhattan Project and production of the first atomic bomb during WW2 that was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During the same war DuPont produced 4.5 billion pounds of explosive for military. However the horrors of war made DuPont huge profit. From 1950s to 1970s DuPont came up with developing new raw materials like Dacron, Mylar, Lycra, Corfarm and Corian. In 1981 DuPont got into a bidding war with Seagram Company who owned some shares in Conoco to purchase Conoco Inc. Conoco was a major American oil & gas producer and acquisition of Conoco made DuPont one of the top ten US producers of oil and gas. In 1999 DuPont sold its shares to Philips Petroleum Company.

In 1999 DuPont became the largest seed company and producer of hybrid seeds that is used for production ofgenetically modified corn and soy. DuPont is among the four top biotech companies that produce 100% of genetically modified seeds and 60% of world pesticides. The other three biotech companies are Monsanto, Syngenta and Bayer. These top biotech companies are also the largest producers of pesticides in the world. The farmers get subsidy to produce soybeans and corn from the government. Most of these genetically modified cornand soy is used to feed the livestock to fatten them up. 60% of genetically modified corn and 47% of genetically modified soybeans produced in US are fed to livestock.

DuPont pays millions of dollars to food lobbyist to defend its policies; last year DuPont spent $4.8 million for lobbying. However most of these food lobbyists who aggressively peruse the policies of DuPont & Monsanto have worked or are working for the government. In 2007 presidential campaign Obama mentioned that the department of agriculture wasn’t department of agribusiness and promised to put people’s need ahead of financial interests. However some officials in charge of USDA or FDA have been defending, lobbying or working for biotech companies like Monsanto and DuPont:

– Michael Taylor: Former VP in Monsanto who is now the FDA deputy food commissioner

– Tom Vilsack: Former pro-biotechnology governor of Iowa that was assigned as USDA secretary.

– Roger Beachy: Former director of Monsanto who is now director of USDA

– Elena Kagan: Took Monsanto’s side against organic farmers in Roundup Ready Alfalfa case and is now nominated to Supreme Court

– Rajiv Shah: Former director of pro-biotech Gates Foundation who served as USDA secretary

– Linda Strachan: Monsanto’s and DuPont’s representative who is assistant secretary for Department of Agriculture and EPA

– Islam Siddiqui: Former DuPont and Monsanto VP who is now the representative of agriculture negotiator for US trade

– Ramona Romero: Corporate console to DuPont that now is nominated as General Counsel for USDA In 2002 based on the Institute of Political Economy Research DuPont was marked the number one among 100 of contributors to air pollution in the US.

Over the last decade DuPont has been involved in polluting the environment, air and water. In 2002 the residents of Wood County in West Virginia were informed by the spokesman of West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection that their air was contaminated by DuPont’s plant producing toxic chemical called C8 (PFOA). In 2011 researchers found out that there is a correlation betweenhigh blood pressure in pregnant women and C8. This high blood pressure epidemic is usually combined with protein leakage into urine that can cause pre-eclampsia that can threaten the health and life of both mother and baby.

Mid-Ohio valley residents’ water was also contaminated with C8 as a result of nearby DuPont’s plant. Medical studies show that three out of four residents’ of Mid-Ohio Valley have signs of pregnancy induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia due to high exposure to C8. Teflon cookware and other nonstick products are made from PFOA or C8. Although DuPont insist that exposures to C8 chemical known as PFOA doesn’t cause any health issues, studies show that exposure to C8 by consuming food in Teflon cookware that contain C8 over a period of time can cause immune system disorder, thyroid, liver problems and higher cholesterol rate in children.

In 2005 Glenn Evers, the former top DuPont scientist revealed that at least by 1981 DuPont was aware of the health side effects of using paper chemical coating used for food packaging. This dangerous chemical is like C8 that accumulates in people over time and has adverse side effects. In 2006 officials of the United Steelworkers revealed a report that showed DuPont’s safety program called STOP is based on the idea that all injuries are caused by workers. However Mike Wright head of Health Safety and Environmental Department reveals that the last 20 year of investigation shows the root of many catastrophic incidents in DuPont has been related to unsafe hazards, conditions, workplace and failure to file industrial accidents report to OSHA. Based on Ken Test head of USW DuPont Council many of DuPont workers and retirees suffer from being exposed to dangerous toxic substances and chemicals. DuPont and Monsanto are both doing a very good job deceiving the public opinion and covering up their lies, crimes and misdeeds and so far they have been contaminating our environment, air and water with their dangerous chemicals and substances.

Although DuPont and Monsanto agreed to work with each other on sharing their biotechnology on production of genetically modified seeds and crops, Monsanto is now suing DuPont for violation of license agreement between the two companies in 2002. At the same time DuPont is suing Monsanto for its monopoly and restricted agriculture policies that engage no competitors and illegally holding to the details of federal patent about Roundup Ready. DuPont created its own genetically modified soy bean product called Optimum GAT that was meant to compete with Monsanto’s Roundup Ready GM soy product. However the Optimum GAT failed to perform and DuPont added Monsanto’s Roundup into its own existing Optimum GAT. So Monsanto is taking DuPont to court for failing to establish license agreement between the two. However if Monsanto’s patent is enforceable and deemed void anyone could start using Roundup Ready which would be a huge victory for food freedom.

Jeffrey M. Smith:  The GMO Threat (One hour long – HD video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oPvkZv5MfRw

Source:  http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-foods/dupont-history/#Teflon

*Editing Note:  Dow Chemical is another biotech company not listed in this article!

 

Calling Out The Lies of a Politician!

Tags

lies, Ron Johnson

Here is a follow-up to a article I wrote titled “GMO Lies from a U.S. Senator!”  I just wrote Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) regarding his letter to me stating that GMOs are safe to eat, properly regulated by the FDA, which happens to be headed by Obama-appointed Czar Michael “Monsanto” Taylor, and “Anything that substantially changes the nutritional properties of the food must be listed on the label.”  That quote is just part of what Ron wrote to me!  Here is my reply sent directly to him:

I recently sent you a letter regarding the safety of GMOs. You sent me a letter back stating that GMOs are safe, our government tests them, so I should not worry about them.

You are WRONG, WRONG & WRONG!! GMOs are toxic and deadly, they have been banned in many countries due to their carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effects along with a plethora of other major health problems, our government does NO oversight of GMOs but instead relies on Monsanto to police itself and test its own GMOs, so I am VERY worried about the deadly side effects of non-regulated GMOs! Also, you stated in your letter that the FDA regulates our food products through biotechnology. You don’t seem to know the difference between genetic engineering and biotechnology which is VERY frightening coming from a senator that claims to know so much about how GMOs are so safe for U.S. citizens to eat! Genetic engineering is a subset of biotechnology, and the MAJOR difference between the two is that biotechnology has been going on since about the beginning of humankind whereas genetic engineering is the direct intervention on the genetic makeup of organisms by introducing foreign DNA into it’s gene pool by means that would NOT occur naturally! This very specific subset of biotechnology enables humans, in only less than three decades of humankind, to create artificial organisms, which are no longer the result of the natural means of evolutionary development. In essence, Monsanto, Bayer, Dupont, Dow Chemical, Syngenta & other companies are playing “God” with our food supply which scares the hell out of me, and it should do the same to you IF you really cared about the betterment of humans & society!

You also wrote that “The FDA already has existing standards when it comes to labeling foods that contain genetically modified organisms. Anything that substantially changes the nutritional properties of the food must be listed on the label.” GMOs completely change the nutritional properties of food by removing the “nutrition” and replacing it with poisonous insecticides and herbicides that are built right into the seeds planted to grow our food. Furthermore, because of the failures of these genetically inserted insecticides and herbicides, Monsanto & others have had to at least double the spraying of crops to get rid of pests and weeds that have become “Roundup-resistant” to their use. Widespread crop failure has already occurred due to this mass-spraying of crops on top of their genetic modification, i.e. India where an estimated 250,000 farmers went bankrupt after being forced to use Monsanto’s lethal seeds and Roundup, and their crops died off. Even worse, those one quarter of a million farmers committed suicide mainly through ingesting Monsanto’s own “safe” products!

You voted against Senator Sanders’ Amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill, because you said that states already have the ability to propose more limiting laws regarding the use of GMOs. If GMOs are supposed to be so safe as you directly stated in your letter to me then why are states like CA, WA & others trying to get all food and beverages that have been genetically modified labeled and even outright banned? Maybe because Americans are waking up to the realities of what GMOs really do which is the systemic and systematic poisoning of humans, animals and the environment causing mutations and health problems never seen before the introduction and mass use of GMOs?!

Your deception, ignorance and arrogance is appalling, degrading and deadly not only to your constituents but the entire planet! You should be banned from holding any public office for your lack of education and awareness, your inability to properly protect U.S. citizens which is a breach of your senatorial position, dereliction of duty, deception, and flat-out lies that show beyond any reasonable doubt that you are NOT working for Americans but corporate America instead! You should be ashamed of yourself!

GMO Lies from a U.S. Senator!

Tags

cancer-causing, Carcinogenic, Deadly, Digestion Problems, Gland killer, GMOs, Lethal, poisonous, sterilization, Toxic, Tumors

The FDA does NOT test GMOs!  Monsanto is left to police their own work!  In independent, scientific studies, GMOs have been proven beyond all reasonable doubt to be not only toxic, but carcinogenic (and a host of other health problems) and deadly!  Michael Taylor, former V.P. of Monsanto is the FDA’s czar appointed by Obama!  The web of deceit is mind-numbing!  My Republican senator, like the rest of our politicians in corporate-run government, and government agencies like the FDA, USDA, EPA & DNR, is full of shit!!  Please read:

Dear Johnnie,

Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns about the use of genetically engineered food for consumption in America.

For nearly two decades the FDA has been studying genetic modification techniques for drug-biologic development, as well as the development of new foods.  The extensive research from these studies show that these new products meet and sometimes exceed the same safety standards as traditional foods.

Many of the foods that are already in our diet are obtained from plant varieties that were developed using standard genetic practices of breeding and selection. For example, Hybrid corn, nectarines (which are genetically altered peaches), and tangelos (which are a genetic hybrid of a tangerine and grapefruit) are all examples of such breeding and selection.

In conducting its safety evaluations of genetically engineered foods, FDA considers not only the final product but also the techniques used to create it. Although study of the final product ultimately holds the answer to whether or not a product is safe to eat, knowing the techniques used to create the product helps in understanding what questions to ask in reviewing the product’s safety. That is the way FDA regulates both traditional food products and products derived through biotechnology.  I support these efforts and controls.

The FDA already has existing standards when it comes to labeling foods that contain genetically modified organisms. Anything that substantially changes the nutritional properties of the food must be listed on the label. States also already have the ability to propose their own more limiting laws for the labeling of genetically modified foods, which is why I voted against Senator Sanders’ Amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts.  It is important for me to hear the views and concerns of the people I serve.  Please feel free to contact me in the future if I can further assist you or your family.  It is an honor representing you and the good people of Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate.

Sincerely,
Ron Johnson
United States Senator

Read: http://www.naturalnews.com/037249_GMO_study_cancer_tumors_organ_damage.html

Read: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11361.cfm

Read: http://www.saynotogmos.org/10reasons_need.pdf

Read: http://current.com/groups/news-blog/93975745_peru-bans-genetically-modified-foods-as-us-lags.htm