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Health Hazards of Genetically-Manipulated Foods

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http://www.soyinfo.com/haz/gehaz.shtml

How to Avoid Genetically-Manipulated (GMO) Food Ingredients

In North America, all soy that is labeled "organic soy" is guaranteed to not be genetically-manipulated and not be treated with herbicides. Look for soy products and ingredients (e.g., tofu, tempeh, miso, soy sauce, soy milk, etc.) which are organic. All other soy ingredients are almost always genetically-manipulated and herbicide-treated. The same is true for canola, corn, dairy products and potatoes. Look for organic corn, potato and dairy ingredients at your local health food store. Check the ingredients labels carefully. It may be best to avoid canola altogether because it is rarely organic and is usually chemically-treated as detailed by world expert, Udo Erasmus. Outside of Europe and Asia it may not be possible at this time to avoid genetically-manipulated ingredients 100% of the time, but it is a good idea to avoid them when possible. The List of Companies Pledging to Remove GMO Ingredients is another very useful resource.

Health Hazards

There are a number of compelling reasons to completely avoid genetically-manipulated and herbicide-treated food ingredients from soy, corn, canola, dairy and potatoes. Children should be particularly careful to avoid such non-organic food ingredients.

1.   Scientists attending the Open-ended Working Group on Biosafety of The UN-Convention on Biological Diversity (13-17 October, 1998) implored "all governments to use whatever methods available to them to bar from their markets, on grounds of injury  to public health, Monsanto's genetically manipulated (GM) [herbicide-resistant] Roundup-Ready (RR) soybean."Non-organic soy ingredients are made with Roundup-Ready soybeans. Full Text of News Release and Scientists' Statement.

2.   A recent experiment conducted by independent expert Dr. Alpad Pusztai in the United Kingdom has shown that genetically-manipulated foods can, when fed to animals in reasonable amounts, cause very gradual organ damage and immune system damage.

The food used in the experiment was genetically-manipulated potatoes. Two sets of potatoes were grown in the same pot and greenhouse: 1) a genetically-manipulated variety altered to produce a non-toxic "GNA lectin", and 2) a normal variety of potato. The normal potato was fed to animals with no adverse effects. The genetically-manipulated potato caused gradual organ damage and immune system damage.

A separate follow-up experiment conducted by Dr. S.W.B. Ewen, a Senior Pathologist at the University of Aberdeen, has confirmed that it was not the "GNA lectin," but toxic or infectious by-products of the genetic manipulation process led to the immune system damage and organ damage in the animals fed genetically-manipulated potatoes. Because it was not the lectin in the potatoes, but the genetic manipulation process itself which led to toxicity, similar results might be seen in animals or humans fed genetically-manipulated soy, canola, and corn over a long period of time (i.e., years or decades).

There were initial reports of flaws in the research when government agencies audited the Dr. Pusztai's preliminary notes. But since that time, over 20 top scientists around the world have peer-reviewed the Final Report and stated that the conclusions are justified. Parts of these experiments conducted by Dr. Pusztai and Dr. Ewen were recently published in the scientific journal, The Lancet. Most of The Lancet reviewers deemed it acceptable research for publication.

A couple of reviewers and other scientists and organizations receiving biotech money have been critical of the research. They have made the following statements (paraphrased below):

"Raw potato’s should not have been fed to the animals in the experiment." However, the animals eating non-genetically manipulated raw potatoes did fine. It was only the genetically manipulated food which caused health problems.

"Too few animals were used." Initial objections of The Lancet's statistician reviewer were satisfied. Enough animals were used to show a statistically significant difference between the test group and control group.

"There was an inadequate control group." This is a non-specific criticism. The experiment wasn't perfect. But the only difference between the two groups of animals was that one group ate genetically manipulated foods and the other didn't.

"One cannot take the results of this experiment and apply it to all genetically manipulated foods." The only difference was the genetic manipulation of the potatoes. The same hazards may or may not be found in genetically manipulated soy, canola, etc. It is prudent to assume that all genetically manipulated ingredients have the same slow toxic effects until long-term, independent research can be conducted on each genetically manipulated crop.

On occasion, news reports of flaws in the research are mistakenly repeated, but almost independent scientists who have seen the Final Report of Dr. Pusztai's research and are aware of the results of Dr. Ewen's research agree that the conclusions are justified.

News Report on Dr. Pusztai's Research
Interview with Dr. Pusztai
Summary of the Peer-Review by Researchers
Confirming Research by Dr. S.W.B. Ewen (Scroll Down to Text)

3.   There are several differences between the normal breeding process and the artificial genetic manipulation process. One key difference is the use of highly-infectious viruses for artificial genetic manipulation as a promoter to switch on the introduced gene. One commonly-used virus is a highly-infectious form of the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV). (The form of CaMV virus found in normal foods is not highly-infectious and cannot be absorbed by mammals.) The dangers were described in detail by renowned geneticist Dr. Mae-Wan Ho in a meeting on March 31st 1999 at the invitation of UK Environment Minister, Michael Meacher. Additional scientific information about the dangers presented by infectious promoter viruses such as CaMV are described by Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Dr. Joe Cummins, Emeritus Professor of Genetics, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Western Ontario. Finally, a recent scientific report by Molecular Biologist, Angela Ryan provides further concerns regarding the use of the CaMV virus to create genetically-manipulated foods.

4.   Another key difference between normal breeding and artificial genetic manipulation is that the genetic manipulation greatly increases the risk that the plant (e.g., soy) will develop toxic or allergy-causing compounds. Such unexpected changes have already been shown to occur in some genetically-manipulated crops.

The insertion of a new gene can sometimes alter the synthesis of chemicals in the plant. Such an alteration can lead to the change in existing chemical compounds in the plant (including a possible significant increase in existing levels of toxic compounds) or the development of new toxic or allergy-causing compounds. There would be no way to predict these effects in advance and it would be difficult to test for these effects without many years of careful, independent research on human test subjects. Gradual toxic effects could occur over weeks, months, years, or even decades and society would not be aware of the health damage until it was too late.

Genetic Manipulation industry representatives often point out that such unexpected hazards could be seen when breeding plants. This is true. However, the evidence demonstrates that there is a much greater likelihood of these unexpected toxic and allergic effects from genetically-manipulated plants/food ingredients. These potentially dangerous effects and their greater likelihood in genetically manipulated crops/food ingredients were discussed in some detail in by one of the world's top experts on genetically manipulated crops:

Scientific principles for ecologically based risk assessment of transgenic organisms P.J. Regal, Published in Molecular Ecology (1994) 3:5-13
(NOTE: Scroll down to the heading: "Ecologically adaptive pleiotropic effects?" approximately 3/5 of the way down the document)

For an excellent summary related to toxic and allergy-causing substances appearing in genetically-manipulated foods, please see the summary of "Assessing the Safety and Nutritional Quality of Genetically Engineered Foods" by Dr. John Fagan, Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. At the end of the summary, there are examples provided of genetically-manipulated crops/ingredients that unexpectedly produced toxic or unusual chemical compounds.

5.   Another major risk from genetically-manipulated foods is the possibility that regular exposure to foreign DNA and RNA material inserted into these artificial foods could cause allergic reactions or autoimmune diseases. Recent scientific research has shown that fragments of DNA from genetically-manipulated food ingredients can be detected in the brains of animals fed these food ingredients. Dr. Sharyn Martin, Ph.D. discusses the evidence that DNA and RNA fragments can cause adverse immune system reactions including autoimmune disorders in Immunological Reactions to DNA and RNA.

Scientists in the United Kingdom measured a 50% increase in soy allergies in one year. They believe that the increase in soy allergies may be caused by the increase use of genetically-manipulated soy ingredients.

6.Finally, some genetically-manipulated crops are changed so that they produce their own high levels of pesticides. For example, genetically-manipulated "Bt" crops have been shown to emit very high levels of toxins. Plants genetically-manipulated to produce Bt toxin produce at least 1000 times more Bt toxin per acre than does a heavy application of Bt directly on the plants. This may lead to problems with long-term ingestion of such foods (such as non-organic corn and corn-based sweeteners). Other hazards related to crops manipulated to produce their own pesticides are discussed in more detail by Dr. Joseph Cummins, Professor of Genetics in "Plant-Pesticides in GE-food: A Potential Health Risk". Even if the genetically-manipulated plant does not produce its own pesticides, it has been shown conclusively in scientific research that the herbicides used on some of these non-organic, genetically-manipulated plants (e.g., soy, canola, corn) are extremely toxic and can cause birth defects.

Additional authoritative information written by some of the world's leading scientific experts for laypersons, physicians and scientists can be found
at:

Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology
Is Genetically Engineered Food Safe?
Genetic Engineering and Its Dangers: Essays Compiled by Dr. Ron Epstein
Bio-Safety - Risks From Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEOs)
 
Environmental Hazards

The risks of irreversible damage to the environment have caused scientists around the world to demand a moratorium on the release of
genetically-manipulated crops. This document focuses on health hazards. For a discussion of the environmental risks, please see the Physicians and
Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology web page.

Regulation of Genetically-Manipulated Foods

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not test nor require significant safety tests for genetically-manipulated foods. It has recently become known that the FDA's own scientists have been warning FDA officials that they are ignoring the potential hazards of genetically-manipulated foods. Neither the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nor the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) require any significant tests for the health effects of these crops.

As has been widely-reported, FDA, EPA, and USDA officials are often rewarded with lucrative jobs at companies that they were regulating. A recent report by the Edmonds Institute lists several of hundreds of possible examples of the revolving door between the regulators and the companies they are supposed to regulate.

Many organizations have expressed concern that officials at these government agencies regularly ignore concerns of their own scientists and the general public and then go out of their way to please companies that they regulate. For example, the health department in the U.K. raised the allowable food residue levels of Roundup (Monsanto's soybean and canola herbicide) by 200 times the existing level. This was done despite dangers expressed by the leading food safety experts. Similar increases in allowable pesticide and herbicide residues have been granted in the U.S. and other countries at the request of companies involved in genetically-manipulating foods.

Worldwide Condemnation of Genetically-Manipulated Crops/Foods

In many other countries, renowned scientists, medical trade organizations and government officials are detailing the known health hazards and potential health hazards from genetically- manipulated food ingredients. For example, in the last several months, a top UK Scientist has warned about potential hazards from genetically-manipulated foods, the British Medical Association (BMA) has called for a ban on genetically-manipulated foods and the French President and German Chancellor listed genetically-manipulated foods under "Global Threats" at a recent summit meeting. Top scientists in Asia and other parts of the world are speaking out as well. This has caused many manufacturers and grocery stores chains all around the world (outside of North America) to ban genetically-manipulated food ingredients. In order to keep up with news from around the world, please read through the following compilation of news articles:

http://www.ethicalinvesting.com/monsanto/news/

Stock Summary

A $10,000 Monsanto investment in September 1998 (63-1/4) was worth only $5,316.21 (33-5/8) on September 27, 1999
and $2,608.70 (16-1/2) on August 19, 2002.

• 
  Monsanto's PR Firm Admits Involvement in E-mail Campaign to Discredit Scientists
  [Entered: September 19, 2002]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto Investment Update: Another 18 Months of Declining Stock Value

  [Entered: August 19, 2002]
  
  

• 
  Monsanto Found Guity of Convering-Up Decades of Pollution
  [Entered: August 19, 2002]
  
  
• 
  Thailand to Work Towards Total Elimination of Genetically Manipulated Crops
  
  
  [Entered: October 9, 1999]
• 
  Japan Soybean Futures Down as Genetically-Manipulated Products are Shunned
  
  
  [Entered: October 9, 1999]
• 
  Monsanto Loses Court Appeal on Patent Case
  [Entered: September 27, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Top Scientists Warn That Genetically-Manipulated Crops Could Irreversibly
  Change Farm Soil
  [Entered: September 23, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Multi-Billion Dollar Antitrust Lawsuits To Be Filed Against Monsanto and Other GM
  Companies by Farm Groups Around the World
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
  
  

• Europe's Leading Dog Food Producer To Avoid Genetically-Manipulated Ingredients

  
  
  
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
• 
  Top UK Scientist Warns of Potential Danger From Genetically-Manipulated Crops
  
  
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
• 
  ADM Warns Farmers to Segregate Crops -- Increasing Costs for GM Farmers
  
  

  [Entered: September 16, 1999]

• 
  Genetic Manipulation Firms (e.g., Monsanto) Top Ethical Investors' Blacklist
  
  
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
• 
  Japan's Largest Soya Processor Going GM-Free (Avoids Monsanto Soy Crops)
  
  
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
• 
  US Merchants Encourage Farmers to Go non-GM in 2000
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
  
  
• 
  American Corn Growers Association Suggests That Farmers Plan Non-Genetically-
  Manipulated Corn Until Questions are Answered
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
  
  
• 
  More Pesticides Used on Genetically-Manipulated Foods/Crops
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
  
  
• 
  FDA Documents Show They Ignored GMO Safety Warnings From Their Own
  Scientists
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
  
  

• Brazil: Commercialization of Monsanto's "Roundup-Ready Soybeans Stopped

  
  
  
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
• 
  French President and German Chancellor Put Genetic Manipulation
  on the G-8 Summit Under "Global Threats" Along with AIDS and the
  Millenium Bug
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
  
  
• 
  International Union Call For Delta & Pine Land Co. [Being Purchased by Monsanto]
  to Clean Up Toxic Waste Disaster in Paraguay

  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
  
  

• 
  Supermarkets in Britain to Remove Meat from Shelves if Animals
  Were Fed Genetically-Manipulated Food
  [Entered: September 16, 1999]
  
  
  
• 
  Europe's Largest Bank Warns World's Top Investors to Sell Shares

  [Entered: August 30, 1999]
  
  

• 
  Switzerland Pushes to Discontinue Genetically-Manipulated Foods
  [Entered: August 22, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Genetically-Manipulated Crops Prove to Have Reduced Yields According to
  Independent Research
  [Entered: July 7, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Genetically-Manipulated Potatos Cause Serious Health Damage in Animals
  
  
  [Entered: June 8, 1999]
• 
  British Medical Association Call for Ban on Genetically Engineered Crops and Food
  
  
  [Entered: May 25, 1999]
• 
  Pollen From Genetically-Manipulated Crops Harms Monarch Butterfly Larvae
  
  
  [Entered: May 25, 1999]
• 
  15 Leading French Non-Governmental Organizations and 200,000 Spanish Farmers Call for Ban on GE Food
  [Entered: May 24, 1999]
  
  

• Genetically-Manipulated "Bt" Crops Found to Emit High Levels of Toxins

  
  [Entered: May 24, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Leading Scientists and Activists From Around the Globe Vow to "Bring Down" Monsanto
  [Entered: May 24, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto's New Arthritis Drug, Celebrex, Linked to 10 Deaths

  [Entered: May 23, 1999]
  
  

• 
  Major Canadian Corn Miller Rejects Genetically-Manipulated Corn
  [Entered: May 23, 1999]
  
  
• 
  World's Largest Food Production Companies Phase Out Genetically Engineered Foods
  [Entered: May 22, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto Loses $65 Million Lawsuit to Rhone-Poulenc
  [Entered: May 22, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto Loses UK Court Hearing, Faces High-Profile Trial
  [Entered: May 22, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Revolts Against Monsanto and Genetically Engineered Foods Throughout Europe
  
  
  [Entered: March 19, 1999]
• 
  Monsanto Behind Legislation That Would Police Rural Communities and Intimidate Seed-Saving Farmers
  [Entered: March 19, 1999]
  
  

• Supermarket Chains Around Europe Remove Genetically Engineered Foods/Ingredients

  
  [Entered: March 19, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Unprecendented Increase in Sales of Organic Food (non-Genetically Engineered Food)
  [Entered: March 19, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Soy Allergy/Adverse Effect Rates Skyrocket -- Monsanto's Roundup-Ready Soy Blamed

  [Entered: March 19, 1999]
  
  

• 
  Growing Genetically Engineered Crops May Lower Farm Land Values
  [Entered: March 19, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Farmers Face Lawsuits and Intimidation From Monsanto
  [Entered: March 19, 1999]
  
  
• 
  European Union Scientific Committee Says Monsanto's Posilac (rBGH) Should
  Not Be Used
  [Entered: March 15, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Canada Continues Ban on Monsanto's Posilac (rBGH) Milk Hormone
  [Entered: February 10, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto Halts Studies on Two Heart Drugs
  [Entered: January 18, 1999]
  
  
• 
  UK Restaurants Press for Ban on Genetically-Manipulated Frankenfoods
  [Entered: January 11, 1999]
  
  

• Australia's Non Genetically-Manipulated Canola Oil Dominates the European Market

  
  
  
  [Entered: January 9, 1999]
• 
  US Goverment - Monsanto Collusion Reported
  [Entered: January 5, 1999]
  
  
• 
  "Monsanto Should Halt Genetic Engineering" According to an Editorial in
  Monsanto's Home Town Newspaper

  [Entered: January 4, 1999]
  
  

• 
  "Cremate Monsanto" Campaign Spreads Across India, Field Trials Stopped
  
  
  [Entered: January 3, 1999]
• 
  Monsanto Test Crop Destroyed in India as Part of Farmer's "Cremate Monsanto" Campaign
  [Entered: January 3, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Consumer Lawsuit in Brazil Halts Approval of Monsanto's Roundup-Ready Soybeans
  [Entered: January 3, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Genetically-Manipulated Crop Destroyed in the U.S.
  [Entered: January 3, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto's Genetically-Manipulated Crop Fields to be Destroyed by Farmers in India
  [Entered: January 3, 1999]
  
  
• 
  Support for Posilac (rBGH) Ban Grows
  [Entered: December 31, 1998]
  
  

• School Board Bans Milk Made From Cows Injected with Monsanto's Posilac (rBGH)

  
  
  
  [Entered: December 31, 1998]
• 
  US Senators Ask For a Review of Posilac (rBGH) Which is Suspected of Causing Breast & Prostate Cancer
  [Entered: December 31, 1998]
  
  
• 
  UK Govt to Prosecute Monsanto for Genetically-Manipulated Crop Violations
  
  
  [Entered: December 30, 1998]
• 
  Maine Citizen Group Seeks 5-Year Moratorium on Frankenfoods
  [Entered: December 30, 1998]
  
  

• Genetically-Manipulated Crops Could Spell the End of the Monarch Butterfly

  
  
  
  [Entered: December 28, 1998]
• 
  Monsanto Labeled the "Worst Global Terrorist" at Asia Conference for
  Food Safety
  
  
  [Entered: November 19, 1998]
• 
  India's Farmers Oppose Monsanto's Hidden Terminator Seed Experiments

  [Entered: November 19, 1998]
  
  

• 
  Low Yield for Genetically-Manipulated Cotton; Maine Rejects Growing
  Genetically-Manipulated Corn
  [Entered: November 19, 1998]
  
  
• 
  National Agricultural Organization Condemns Growth and Consumption of
  Genetically Modified Crops and Food
  [Entered: November 19, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Europeans Hate Genetically-Manipulated Foods, Monsanto Blamed
  [Entered: November 19, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Roundup Ready Sugar Beet Not Sustainable
  [Entered: November 19, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Markets Dwindle for Genetically-Manipulated Soybeans From Brazil
  [Entered: November 19, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto Accused of Attempt to Bribe Health Canada for rBGH (Posilac)
  Approval
  
  
  [Entered: November 19, 1998]

• Prince Charles Urges Total Boycott of Genetically-Manipulated Foods

  
  [Entered: November 19, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Genetically-Manipulated Maize (Corn) Banned by Merchant in Germany
  [Entered: November 19, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Canadian Scientists Uncover Misrepresentation of Key Study of
  Monsanto's Posilac (rBGH)

  [Entered: October 25, 1998]
  
  

• 
  U.K. Government Considers Prosecuting Monsanto for Genetic Pollution
  [Entered: October 25, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto's Terminator Technology in Trouble
  [Entered: October 24, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Greece Bans Import and Sale of Genetically-Manipulated Oilseed Rape (Canola)
  
  
  [Entered: October 24, 1998]
• 
  Formaldehyde Accumulation Seen From Ingested Aspartame (Monsanto Product)
  
  
  [Entered: October 24, 1998]
• 
  Monsanto shares fall AGAIN
  [Entered: October 20, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto Overvalued and Imploding
  [Entered: October 16, 1998]
  
  

• European Commission Call for Moratorium of Genetically Modified Crops

  
  [Entered: October 16, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto Lambasted in Zimbabwe by Governmental and Non-Governmental Delegates
  [Entered: October 16, 1998]
  
  
• 
  Monsanto in Frying-Pan Over Terminator Technology in New Zealand

  [Entered: October 16, 1998]
  
  

• 
  Monsanto's Terminator Technology Subject to Massive Internet Protests
  [Entered: October 16, 1998]
  
  
  Corporate Public Relations (PR) Strategies
  
  The multinational companies trying to sell genetically-manipulated foods (Monsanto, Dupont, Novartis, Agrevo [Hoechst and Schering]) have spared no expense in their public relations campaign. They have sometimes been successful in getting newspaper and magazine articles or television shows created to help promote genetically-manipulated crops. In addition, these multinational companies give huge sums of money to dietetic associations, farming and seed associations, grocery associations, and PR organizations (e.g., IFIC) in order to obtain help in propogating PR statements to the
  media and general public. Common PR statements include:
  
  1.   "Genetic Engineering is exactly like breeding and has been done for hundreds of years." As described above, artificial genetic manipulation of plants/food ingredients is different from breeding and has significant hazards associated with it including toxicity hazards seen in recent research.
  
  2.   "Careful tests by the FDA, EPA, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have proven that these ingredients are safe." (Alternative: "We have the strictest regulatory process in the world"!)
  
  These government agencies have not conducted, nor required any significant safety testing. Scientists around the world are calling for a moratorium on genetically-manipulated food ingredients and long-term, independent human studies lasting many years before these food are allowed for sale on the market. Because these government agencies are ignoring the hazards of genetically-manipulated foods, a very large alliance of scientists, consumer groups, environmental groups, and religious groups are suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  
  3.   "Europe and Asia are not making scientific evaluations of the issue, but relying on emotional arguments."
  
  Many of the top scientists around the world are speaking out about the hazards of genetically-manipulated crops/food ingredients. A small selection of these scientists have signed the following referenced document calling for a moratorium on genetically-manipulated crops. These are independent scientists who do not receive money from companies researching, creating or selling these genetically-manipulated crops and food ingredients. When U.S. officials make these sorts of public comments (quoted above), they are insulting much of the population of Europe and Asia and perhaps will strengthen the desire of European and Asian countries to avoid imports of food ingredients from the United States and Canada.
  
   4.  "Genetically-manipulated crops are safer because less pesticides and herbicides are used."
  
  In fact, recent research has shown that farmers growing genetically-manipulated crops use, on average, an equal amount or more pesticides than farmers growing non-genetically-manipulated, non-organic crops.
  
  5."Farmers are Reaping Rewards of Growing Genetically-Manipulated Crops."
  
  Farmers are being victimized as well. Evidence of problems they are experiencing include:
  
  Research showing reduced yields from genetically-manipulated crops.
   
  More money spent on herbicides and pesticides for genetically-manipulated crops.
  
  Potential of reduced farm land values.
  
  Possible lawsuits and intimidation from Monsanto.
  
  Increased costs in order to segregate their crops
  
  Risk of possible permanent damage to their soil by growing genetically-manipulated crops.
  
  The scientific journal Nature (September 9, 1999) has reported that some farmers are considering class-action lawsuits because the seed and chemical companies (e.g., Monsanto) were misrepresenting their products as benign. The Washington Post reported (September 18, 1999):
  
  "American farmers planted [gene-altered crops] in good faith, with the belief that the product is safe and that they would be rewarded for their efforts," the American Corn Growers Association said in a statement last week. "Instead they find themselves misled by multinational seed and chemical companies and other commodity associations who only encouraged them to plant increased acres of these crops without any warning to farmers of the dangers associated with planting a crop that didn't have consumer acceptance."
  
  Wheat farmers should prepare to avoid these genetically-manipulated seeds when they come on the market in the next year or two.
  
  6.   "Genetically-Manipulated crops have the potential to produce "functional foods" with extra nutrients and drugs which can save lives!"
  
  The reality is that these nutrients or drugs can be taken separately when needed. The high cost of drugs is largely due to drug companies trying to recoup the millions of dollars of research money spent and is rarely due to high production costs. The costs of developing a drug-producing, genetically-manipulated plant is quite high. The costs of drugs will remain high weather they are genetically-manipulated into plants or not. Therefore, these drugs and nutrients can be produced without genetic manipulation as been the case in the past. It is also important to keep in mind that Alternative Medicine techniques are now beginning to replace the use of pharmaceuticals in some cases of disease treatment.
  
  Originally, the corporate PR strategy was to say that genetically-manipulated crops would help "feed the world." But when it was pointed out that the world grows 1-1/2 times the amount of food needed to feed the population, that the problem was food distribution, and that genetically-manipulated crops have reduced yields, the companies changed their PR to say that genetically-manipulated crops will grow drugs and save lives.
  
  There is a very serious danger of pollen from these manipulated crops infecting normal crops of the same species or of different species leading to the unintentional ingestion of drugs by the general population. Pollen can travel a very long way from fields to infect other crops. In addition, scientists are concerned that accidental inhalation of pollen from these genetically-manipulated plants might lead to adverse health effects in some people.
   
  What You Can Do (7 Steps)
  
  1.   Do what you can to remove genetically-manipulated food ingredients from your diet and your family's diet. You can begin to do this by locating stores in your area which sell foods with organic soy, corn, dairy, and potato ingredients. The stores with the largest selection of such products include:
  
  Large natural food supermarket chains (e.g., Wild Oats Market, Whole Foods Market)
  Smaller health food stores
  Food Cooperative Markets ( directory 1, directory 2)
  Online Sources (e.g., Wild Oats Market, Whole Foods Market)
  
  2.   Print this web page out and share it with others!
  
  3.   Join others in creating web page links to the Soy Info Online! web page or this sub page.
  
  4.   Examine the organizations and web page resources below to determine which group(s) you want to work with so that we can keep food free of genetic manipulation.
  
  5.Keep up-to-date on the latest news by subscribing to a discussion group listed in the Resource section below and/or by checking the Ethical Investing page for news updates on genetically-manipulated food issues.
  
  6.Move your investments out of stocks, mutual funds, retirement funds, etc. which involve companies that produce genetically-manipulated crops and foods (Monsanto, Dupont, Novartis and Agrevo [Hoechst and Schering]). Europe's largest bank recently warned large investors that " GMOs [investments] are dead". These companies' stocks are falling quickly and you will lose money or certainly not make as much money as you can if you have stocks or mutual fund and retirement fund investments that involve these companies. Please check the list of mutual funds (e.g., Fidelity, Janus) that invest in Monsanto stock. Also, please join others by checking the Ethical Investing Web Page for ideas on moving your investments.
  
  7.   Please contact grocery stores to ask them to carry more organic foods including soy products, corn, potatoes and other produce. Contact food product manufacturers and ask them to replace any non-organic soy, corn, potato, dairy or canola ingredients they have with organic, non-genetically-manipulated ingredients. Sometimes the manufacturer will listen to consumer requests as is happening all over Europe. Sometimes they will claim that there are no non-genetically-manipulated sources for the ingredients they use. That is rarely the case as manufacturers all over Europe and Asia are removing genetically-manipulated ingredients from their products (Examples). Other times, they will respond with statements which originated with the genetic manipulation industry. However, it will only take a few major manufacturers in the U.S. to switch to non-genetically-manipulated ingredients and the rest will follow in order to avoid losing market share. So, please be persistent!
   
  Resources
  
  Organizations/Web Pages
        
  Campaign for Food Safety
  Consumer Association dedicated to protecting food safety. Excellent information on genetically-manipulated foods and actions you can take. They also have a 4-page GE Facts flyer that you can download.
  
  People's Earth Network
  Large and quickly-growing consumer organization managing a letter-writing campaign to encourage companies to eliminate GMO ingredients from their products. Campaign has had enormous success and is looking for others to get involved.
  
  Mothers for Natural Law
  "Mothers for Natural Law was founded in June 1996 to transform the overwhelming problems facing Americans into simple, practical action steps everyone can take to safeguard the future for us all. Our agenda originally embraced everything from the environment to crime, education, health and the economy. However, because of its extreme urgency, we have made genetic engineering our only focus, and put all of our other plans on hold." Impressive, easy-to-follow set of web pages including a detailed, How to Avoid Genetically Manipulated Food (How to Shop, What to Eat) web page.
  
  Women Say NO to GMOs
  "Like Paul McCartney and his family, we believe GMOs to be one of the most important issues we face in our lifetime. Should it go wrong, genetic engineering could have devastating consequences for our health and the environment. This is why as women we feel we have to make a stand TODAY." Petition signing. Press releases. How you can help section.
  
  Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology
  Articles from the top scientists around the world. Scientists and Physicians are encouraged to become a member.
  
  Genetic ID Inc.
  Testing Lab that offers "Non-GMO Certification" to all growers, processors, handlers and manufacturers of non-genetically modified food products. Also offers the industry's first dual certification: Farm Verified Organic plus Genetically Natural (TM)
  
  Campaign to Ban Genetically Engineered Foods
  An international organization which provides many useful articles and perhaps the most comprehensive News on genetically-manipulated food issues.
  
  Ethical Investing
  Dedicated to provided resources to help make responsible investment choices. Helpful for removing investments from mutual funds, retirement accounts, etc. which help support the genetic manipulation industry.
  
  Greenpeace International
  Greenpeace has been effective in getting European and some U.S. manufacturers to remove genetically-manipulated food ingredients. They have a web site specific to genetically-manipulated foods. On the Greenpeace USA page, you can join the GE Action Network or sign up to receive action alerts.
  
  True Food Campaign
  Sponsored by Greenpeace, the True Food Campaign aims to ban GM food, phase-out industrial farming, and promote organic food. The website will tell you about the issues and how to get involved in the campaign - not just in terms of the food you buy, but through action to set a proper agricultural agenda.
  
  Friends of the Earth (FoE) USA Safer Foods, Safer Farms Campaign
  A federation of autonomous environmental organizations. Great place to get addresses of food companies to write and ask them to use organic ingredients to eliminate genetically-manipulated foods. FoE UK site has extensive information and action suggestions for those in the United Kingdom. International FoE site has links to FoE web pages around the world. You can join FoE as well.
   
  UK Genetic Engineering Network
  A network of most of the UK organizations working to eliminate genetically-manipulated crops. Network was set up to exchange information between groups. Sponsors an online discussion group and newsletter.
  
  Wild Oats Supermarket Chain
  Excellent page on genetically-manipulated foods. Includes a easy-to-understand "Claims vs. Facts" section.
  
  Norfolk Genetic Information Network (ngin)
  Excellent United Kingdom-based site with UK and international news, articles, news releases and GM food guide (applicable to residents of the United Kingdom only). NGIN has a great links page that links to additional useful and fun web sites.
  
  Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI)
  International organization dedicated to the conservation and sustainable improvement of agricultural biodiversity and to the socially responsible development of technologies useful to rural societies. RAFI was instrumental in getting Monsanto to distance themselves from their own deadly Terminator Technology.
  
  Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
  "To create a national grassroots consumer campaign for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the President to pass legislation that will require the labeling of genetically engineered foods in the United States."
  
  Natural Law Party
  A growing political party that recognizes the hazards of genetically-manipulated foods and is willing to stand up for the people.
  
  Genetix Snowball
  "A Campaign of Nonviolent Civil Responsibility." Publishes the handbook, "A Guide to Safely Removing Genetically Modified Plants From Release Sites in Britain." The Campaign section has articles, press releases, chronology of the campaign, GE Data Center, legal action Monsanto and others have brought against the campaigners, statements, photos, etc.
  
  Alliance for Bio-Integrity
  An alliance of scientists, consumer groups, environmental groups and religious groups "dedicated to the advancement of human and environmental health through sustainable and safe technologies." The alliance filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 1999.
  
  Edmonds Institute
  The Institute is a non-profit, public interest organization committed to the health and sustainability of ecosystems and their inhabitants. The Edmonds Institute has published some groundbreaking scientific and policy-oriented publications including A Manual for Assessing  Ecological and Human Health Effects of Genetically Engineered Organisms and A Brief History of Biotechnology Risk and Policy Debates in the US.
  
  Third World Network: Biotechnology/Biosafety
  Articles written by experts from around the world relating to biotechnology and biosafety. International news updates.
  
  Biotechcentury.com: A Project of the Foundation on Economic Trends
  Jeremy Rifkin's organization that is helping to spearhead a multi-billion dollar antitrust lawsuit against companies involved in genetic manipulation of foods.
  
  Australian Gene Ethics Network
  Information on genetics ethics and genetically-manipulated foods (in the "Food" section).
  
  Richard Wolfson, PhD Web Page
  Articles, Information on Subscribing to Genetic Engineering News.
   

  
  "Content Provided By Hawaiiseed.org".




ALERT: Hawai'i County Mayor vetoes no-GMO bill

Hawai'i County Mayor Harry Kim has vetoed Bill 361, the no-GMO bill passed unanimously by the Hawai'i County Council

The good news is, the County council has the ability to override the mayor's veto.
Neighbor islanders and those not in the islands, your support is also welcome!

Council Chair Hoffmann is holding a special hearing for this
sometime November 10th-14th.  We need to get 1,000+ testimonies to
council members and 100+ people in the room to testify in person.

Basic facts:

Bill# 361 protects taro and coffee from genetic engineering
on the Big Island.  It was unanimously passed by the Hawai'i County Council
on October 8th in response to overwhelming public support and testimony.

Call your council member and tell them to stand firm and override the Mayor's veto of their unanimous approval of Bill # 361!

961-8225 is the number for council member offices - call and ask for your council member.

Also send your testimony to the entire council at this address:

counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us

 

Individual council member e-mails are:
Brenda Ford: bford@co.hawaii.hi.us
Stacy Higa: shiga@co.hawaii.hi.us
Pete Hoffmann: phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us
Donald: Ikeda: dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us
Bob Jacobson: jjaco@co.hawaii.hi.us
Emily Naeole: enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us
Angel Pilago: kapilago@co.hawaii.hi.us
Dominic Yagong: dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us
J. Yoshimoto: jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us

 

From SEED's Paul Normann comes the following:

Bill# 361 protects Taro and Coffee from Genetic Engineering on the Big Island.  It was unanimously passed by the HI County Council on October 8th in response to overwhelming public support.

While disappointing, Mayor Kim's veto is no surprise.

Here a few thoughts that I hope will inspire you to keep up the fight:

1st - Bill# 361 is important!  If it wasn't important, they wouldn't be fighting us so hard.

2nd - The struggle to pass bill# 361 is not over!  While the bill sat on Harry Kim's desk there has been a lot of back door politicking.  The opponents to this bill have regrouped and will make a strong push to kill the bill.

3rd - We can win!   We will once again have the opportunity to go before the County Council and overcome corporate greed and influence with people power.

Call your council member and tell them to stand firm!
Together we can overturn Mayor Kim's veto and say no to GMOs.

About HB 1226

HB 1226 would prohibit state and county government from banning or otherwise regulating activities related to genetically modified plant organisms

From the text of HB 1226:

"Description:
Prohibits state administrative regulatory actions and county regulatory actions from banning or otherwise regulating activities related to genetically modified plant organisms, with certain exceptions (HB1226 HD1)"

HB 1226 revokes the regulatory authority of not only our county councils but also the state.
In other words, the regulation, oversight and monitoring of any and all
creating, testing, planting, labeling, handling etc. of genetically
engineered plant organisms would be entirely up to the Federal Government.

Imagine our local authorities having no say over what GMOs
are grown or where... and then imagine the state having no say either!
This is a very dangerous precedent to set, regardless of one's beliefs about GMOs.

Preemption laws have been introduced last minute (often added on to other bills) in some states, in some cases resulting in the states no longer having any control
over pesticide use, fertilizer dumping, tobacco/clean-air policies, and
more!

For more information on this subject: http://www.environmentalcommons.org

Maui County council has unanimously passed a resolution

opposing HB 1226.

 

Hawai'i County council is currently voting on a similar resolution, which did not pass its first reading - more support and testimony is needed!

Resolution No. 81-09, introduced by
Council Member Pete Hoffman, opposes HB1226 and Supports Local
Governance and our right to Home Rule.


Email testimony to the Council

at large:

counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us

 

 

Call or E-mail Your Council Member directly:

961-8225, then ask for your council member by name. If you do not know who your council member is, the office can tell you. E-mail addresses are:

• Guy Enriques: genriques@co.hawaii.hi.us
• Brenda Ford: bford@co.hawaii.hi.us
• Pete Hoffmann: phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us
• Kelly Greenwell: kgreenwell@co.hawaii.hi.us
• Donald: Ikeda: dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us
• Bob Jacobson: jjaco@co.hawaii.hi.us
• Emily Naeole: enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us
• Dennis "Fresh" Onishi: donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us
• Dominic Yagong: dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us
• J. Yoshimoto: jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us

 

Talking points:

For the state to strip county authority is unacceptable! It is our
right to have input on our food systems and to exercise local,
democratic control over our health, safety and well-being.

Taking away local voters' rights on any issue is a serious threat to democracy! If our County council is stripped of local control, we the people are also!

The federal government has not shown the capability to protect the
people! (peanut butter, foods and toys from China, inadequate GMO
regulation, etc.)

More and more local authorities (30 states in the past 10 years!)
have passed legislation to regulate GMOs; why would Hawai`i move in the
opposite direction?

Thank you for taking action today!!

Article below from Campaignforliberty.com

HR 875 The food police, criminalizing organic farming and the backyard gardener, and violation of the 10th amendment





Posted by LydiaScott on 03/06/09 03:36 AM Last updated 03/29/09 06:36 AM [Newer: HR 875 is being steamrolled thru the House and we have to pick up the pace!][Older: Fed lends Two Trillion with no oversight!]




 HR 875  http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c111:1:./temp/~c1112RD9bb:e11439:  

This bill is sitting in committee and I am not sure when it is going to hit the floor.  One thing I do know is that very few of the Representatives have read it.  As usual they will vote on this based on what someone else is saying.  Urge your members to read the legislation and ask for opposition to this devastating legislation.  Devastating for everyday folks but great for factory farming ops like Monsanto, ADM, Sodexo and Tyson to name a few.

I have no doubt that this legislation was heavily influenced by lobbyists from huge food producers.  This legislation is so broad based that technically someone with a little backyard garden could get fined and have their property siezed.   It will affect anyone who produces food even if they do not sell but only consume it.  It will literally put all independent farmers and food producers out of business due to the huge amounts of money it will take to conform to factory farming methods.  If people choose to farm without industry standards such as chemical pesticides and fertilizers they will be subject to a vareity of harassment from this completely new agency that has never before existed.  That's right, a whole new government agency is being created just to police food, for our own protection of course.

 DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, READ THIS LEGISLATION FOR YOURSELF.  The more people who read this legislation the more insight we are going to get and be able to share.  Post your observations and insights below.  Urge your members to read this legislation and to oppose the passage of this legislation.

Pay special attention to

• Section 3 which is the definitions portion of the bill-read in it's entirety.
• section 103, 206 and 207- read in it's entirety.

Red flags I found and I am sure there are more...........

• Legally binds state agriculture depts to enforcing federal guidelines effectively taking away the states power to do anything other than being food police for the federal dept.
• Effectively criminalizes organic farming but doesn't actually use the word organic.
• Affects anyone growing food even if they are not selling it but consuming it.
• Affects anyone producing meat of any kind including the processing wild game for personal consumption. 
• Legislation is so broad based that every aspect of growing or producing food can be made illegal.  There are no specifics which is bizarre considering how long the legislation is.  
• Section 103 is almost entirely about the administrative aspect of the legislation.  It will allow the appointing of officials from the factory farming corporations and lobbyists and classify them as experts and allow them to determine and interpret the legislation.  Who do you think they are going to side with?  
• Section 206 defines what will be considered a food production facility and what will be enforced up all food production facilities.  The wording is so broad based that a backyard gardener could be fined and more.
• Section 207 requires that the state's agriculture dept act as the food police and enforce the federal requirements.  This takes away the states power and is in violation of the 10th amendment.
• There are many more but by the time I got this far in the legislation I was so alarmed that I wanted to bring someone's attention to it. (to the one person who reads my blog)

Didn't Stalin nationalize farming methods that enabled his administration to gain control over the food supply?  Didn't Stalin use the food to control the people?

Last word...... Legislate religion and enforce gag orders on ministers on what can and can't be said in the pulpit, instituting regulations forcing people to rely soley on the government, control the money and the food.  What is that called?  It is on the tip of my tongue..........

I haven't read any of the Senate's version of the bill as I have been poring thru the House's version.  Here is the link and I hope some of you can take a look and post your observations and insights below.  One thing I am pretty sure of is that very few if any Senator's have actually read the legislation and when it comes up for a vote they will more than likely take someone else's word on how they should vote.  The other thing I am pretty sure about is that the legislation was probably written by lobbyists and industry experts.

S 425  http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s425: 

Things you can do

1. Contact your members at 202-224-3121 and ask them to oppose HR 875 and S 425.  While you are at it ask them if they personally have read the legislation and what their position is? If they have not read the legislation ask them to read it and politely let them know that just because other representitives are not reading the legislation and voting on it does not mean they can do the same.  
2. Get in touch with local farmers and food producers by attending a local farmers market and asking them how business is.  
3. Attend a local WAPF meeting, this is a good start to learning about what is going on in farming and local & state initiatives .  The website is http://www.westonaprice.org/localchapters/index.html
4. Check out the Farmers Legal Defense Fund at http://www.ftcldf.org/index.html
5. Find out who sits on your states agriculture and farming committee and contact them with your concerns.
6. Continue to contact your elected officials and let them know your position on legislation and why.
7. Get active at the local and state levels, this is the quickest way to initiate change.

 


"Petition Provided By Responsibletechnology.org".

Petition to President Obama to Support Mandatory Labeling of GM Foods

Dear President Obama,

We represent the 9 out of 10 Americans who enthusiastically support your campaign promise to require mandatory labeling of genetically modified (GM) foods. We want to be clear about our comprehensive labeling expectations, so they are not diluted by lobbyists for corporate interests.

SPECIFICITY: 

“GM” or “Derived from GM”

All foods in which any single ingredient is intentionally or accidentally derived from genetically modified plants or animals must be labeled. (The European Union law provides a working example of this.)

“Fed” or “Injected”

In addition, all products derived from animals that have been fed GM feed or injected with GM hormones (such as rbGH) must also be labeled.

Immediate Action

This issue has greater bipartisan support than perhaps any other campaign issue.   We want to know which foods contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) now. Please announce that labeling GM food is on your first year legislative agenda, so we can have a choice!

Thank you for giving us the choice we need and deserve.


 

Yes, I want to sign this petition to President Obama! "Petition Provided By Responsibletechnology.org". "Content Below Provided By Seedsfodeception.com". Campaign for Healthier Eating in America   Genetically modified foods are linked to toxic and allergic reactions, sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ studied in lab animals. (See summary in Genetic Roulette.) They are banned by food manufacturers in Europe and elsewhere, yet GMOs are present in the vast majority of processed foods in the US. Non-GMO Shopping Guide  A must-have for every trip to the supermarket. No more confusion about which brands to buy or what ingredients you need to cross off your list. Download or Purchase in Bulk  MANUFACTURERS  Enroll your non-GMO products FOR FREE. RETAILERS Order FREE Non-GMO Shopping Guides and GMO Health Risks brochures. Display them in the Non-GMO Education Center. Consumers are already moving away from milk from cows injected with genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rbGH or rbST). The next big consumer tidal wave will be the complete rejection of remaining GMOs in food products. The purchasing power of the tens of millions of health-conscious shoppers will inspire a new tipping point where GMOs can be pushed out of the entire food supply in the US. Join the Campaign NOW! Educate yourself and use the materials in the Campaign Kit to help educate and inspire others.  Ask your natural foods retailer to place a Non-GMO Education Center in their store, or get one for your organization to use.

Doctors Call for GMO Moratorium The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has called for a moratorium on GM foods, long-term independent studies, and labeling. They called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.” Full story.            AAEM Press Release         AAEM Position Paper  ___________________________________ Kansas Governor Sebelius Vetoes Anti-labeling Bill!  This bill would have restricted any national US dairy from properly labeling their milk products as free from genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rbGH or rbST).   Full Story. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this effort!




Sign the Petition to President Obama for MEANINGFUL GMO labeling!

Sugar Beets –  Don't let them mess with sugar!  
Help stop the introduction of sugar from GM sugar beets, grown in 2008 and now being processed and sold!
Read the facts.  
View the list of companies who have pledged not to use GM Beet Sugar.


               Order 

The World According to Monsanto, a film by Marie-Monique Robin, documents  the devastating cost of Monsanto’s race over the last decade to genetically engineer and patent the world’s crops. Ms. Robin has traveled the globe in an effort to capture the human toll of Monsanto’s drive for GMO market domination. Her interviews with scientists, legislators, agricultural officials, farmers, shepherds, and  families affected by GMOs, has made this picture critically-acclaimed in every country where it has opened. To purchase or to learn more about U.S. distribution click here.    

Inform others!  Organize a public showing or house party with the help of our Showing Guide.

"What Monsanto is trying to do is control the food chain."
An Interview with journalist Marie-Monique Robin 

___________________________________



 Blogs:


  

 

 

 



 

Read Jeffrey Smith's blog on Huffington Post
Executive Director, Jeffrey Smith spells out his views and takes his turn debunking GMO myths in his regular blog in the Green and Politics Section. 

Read additional news in their Food Section.

___________________________________


  
Are Biotech Foods Safe?
Real experts going head-to-head on issues
you care about. Each side presents their arguments in their own words. Read Jeffrey Smith’s response.   

___________________________________

 

In the News:


 

Our news reports have been featured hundreds of publications including: The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC World Service, Nature, The Independent, Daily Telegraph, The Hindu, New Scientist, The Times (London), The Irish Times, The Herald Sun, Associated Press, Reuters News Service, LA Times, Time Magazine and Genetic Engineering News.

Our campaigns are supported by thousands of consumers via YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.  Blogs include the Huffington Post, Dr. Greene and Opposing Views.

 Our monthly columns and radio interviews appear on thousands of websites, including Dr. Oz on Oprah and friends



Farm Groups Oppose GM Wheat

Fifteen groups in the top wheat-exporting countries of Canada, the U.S. and Australia released a joint statement of opposition to GMO wheat on Monday. It follows the May 14 call by GM wheat supporters in the three countries for synchronized production of GM wheat.  Joint Statement






Superweed' Explosion Threatens Monsanto Heartlands






Maine Seeks to Track GM Crop Plantings
 





GE Crops Have Failed to Increase Yields as Promised 
     (Summary in Q & A format)






GM Crops banned from Wildlife Refuge 






GM Food Producers Condemned by the Pope 






Illegal Human Feeding Trials of "Golden Rice" 






Where Are Pesticides Made? Perhaps Inside Your Belly.






Franken-Fighter - Coverage of Jeffrey M. Smith’s Hawaii tour 






More US farmers planting non-GMO soybeans this year






Crop Scientists Say Biotechnology Seed Companies Are Thwarting Research   (requires free registry to site)



More.....>

___________________________________

 

International Media Releases: 

Read breaking news about the latest studies from governments and researchers around the world. 

Colombian cotton growers to sue Monsanto 

GM crops - poisoning the planet 

Greece Expands Ban on GM Corn 

Call for Moratorium on GMOs for Europe

Roundup could cause birth defects 

Germany to ban cultivation of GMO Corn 

Brazilian Government AG Research Corp opposes Transgenic Rice 

GM maize fails to produce in South Africa

EU Parliament wants labeling of meats raised on GM Feed 

EU Considering Making GM-Free Zones a National-level Decision 

German Ministers want GM-free zones 

Hunger Strike for a GMO-Free Poland 

Biggest Brazil soy state loses taste for GMO seed

Monsanto's Uphill Battle in Germany 

African Farmers & Environmentalists Speak Out Against a New Green Revolution in Africa 

EU upholds Austria, Hungary right to ban GM crops 

Biotech Industry Fakes Growth of GM Crops 
       See also, 2009 GM Crop Fact File 

Yes, It's True: GMOs Contaminate Mexican Corn 

Monsanto's Bt Cotton Kills the Soil as Well as Farmers 

More.....> 

___________________________________

 

Recent Government Studies

Roundup could cause birth defects The herbicide used on genetically modified soy – Argentina's main crop – could cause brain, intestinal and heart defects in fetuses, according to the results of a scientific investigation released Monday. Although the study "used amphibian embryos," the results "are completely comparable to what would happen in the development of a human embryo,” embryology professor Andres Carrasco, one of the study's authors, told Efe. 

Different RoundUp Formulations Lead to Embryonic, Umbilical cord and Placental Cell Death and Are Poorly Assessed (France) For the first time, the toxicity mechanisms of four different Roundup formulations were studied in human cells. They act at doses where they are not herbicides anymore. The cells were neonatal cells freshly isolated from the umbilical cord, or less sensitive cell lines specially used to measure pollutant toxicity. The various components of these major herbicides were tested because they are among the most common in the world. Their residues are among the major pollutants, and moreover they are authorized as residues contaminating GM foods and feed at the tested levels. Full Story 

Government Study Confirms Genetically Modified (GM) Crops Threaten Human Fertility and Health Safety (Austria) A long-term feeding study commissioned by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, managed by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health, Family and Youth, and carried out by Veterinary University Vienna, confirms genetically modified (GM) corn seriously affects reproductive health in mice

Is Bt cotton: causing human allergies and reproductive problems and deaths of animals. (India) Investigators find human and animal health problems linked with Bt cotton in India. These include allergic reactions in cotton workers, reproductive problems in buffalo and herds of sheep and goats (reduced fertility, aborted foetuses, premature deliveries and calf deaths), toxic effects leading to sudden unexplained animal deaths, as well as reduced milk yields and fat content.

GM Corns Disturbs Immune System in Young and Old Mice (Italy) The Italian government’s National Institute of Research on Food and Nutrition has just published a report online in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry documenting significant disturbances in the immune system of young and old mice that have been fed the GM maize MON 810.

___________________________________

 

 

Many of the articles on this website are in Adobe Reader PDF format. To download a free copy, click here.

___________________________________ Russian Scientists: H1N1 linked to Genetically Modified Food

Monday, 22 June 2009

Scientists from Russia’s Ministry of Health are warning in a secret report to Prime Minister Putin that they have discovered a ‘critical link’ between the H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu) virus and genetically modified amylopectin potatoes that are consumed in massive quantities nearly exclusively by Westerners and sold in fast food restaurants as French Fries. According to these reports, the protease enzyme genetically modified in the potatoes being sold through Western fast food restaurants as French Fries to protect against Potato virus X causes an “explosive” replication of the H1N1 influenza virus by increasing the acidic conditions of the endosome and causing the hemagglutinin protein  to rapidly fuse the viral envelope with the vacuole's membrane, then causing the M2 ion channel to allow protons to move through the viral envelope and acidify the core of the virus, which causes the core to dissemble and release the H1N1’s  RNA and core proteins into the hosts cells. Evidence confirming these dire findings by top Russian scientists is also supported by the World Health Organization who in their reporting on the current Influenza Pandemic, clearly shows that the H1N1 virus is nearly totally confined to those Western Nations allowing their citizens to consume these genetically modified potatoes, and which include: The United States with over 17,000 cases being reported with 45 deaths; Canada with 2,978 cases; the United Kingdom with 1,226 cases; and Australia with 1,823 cases. Important to also note about the World Health Organization’s statistics on the spread of the H1N1 Pandemic influenza virus is that the South American Nation of Chile is the only country in the World outside of The United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia to allow the planting of these genetically modified potatoes due to their Free Trade Pact with the US and who are reporting 1,694 cases of this disease. Also important to note are that most of the World’s largest Nations do not allow the planting of these genetically modified potatoes and therefore are reporting very limited outbreaks of the H1N1 Pandemic influenza, including Russia with 3 cases, China, the World’s most populated country, with 318 cases, and India, the World’s second largest country, with 16. These reports further state that with the linkage between the H1N1 Pandemic influenza virus and fast food French Fries made from genetically modified potatoes the most venerable people to being infected are the youngest who, by far, are the largest consumers of these types of cheap Western foods, and which was recently confirmed by the Washington Post News Service that reported: “Of the 5,000 confirmed and more than 100,000 probable cases of swine flu, the average age of infected people is 15; two thirds are younger than 18.” These reports further warn that though the genetic history of this insidious man-made influenza seems to initially offer some protection for those Nations not consuming these genetically modified potatoes, to believe so would be a “grave mistake” as new evidence is emerging that this H1N1 Pandemic influenza virus is rapidly mutation, and as we can read from these two reports: “The new strain of influenza appears to have mutated to become more infectious for humans, the online edition of science magazine Nature reported Monday, referencing research by a team including Prof. Yoshihiro Kawaoka of Tokyo University's Institute of Medical Science. The surface of influenza virus particles are covered with thorn-shaped proteins called hemagglutinin (HA), which allows the virus to stick to human cells. After analyzing multiple samples of the new flu virus, the team ascertained that in some cases the HA of the new H1N1 strain have mutated, allowing the strain to stick to human cells more easily. According to Kawaoka, the same mutations have been found in HA of the H5N1 strain of influenza, the highly virulent bird flu, which kills about 60 percent of those it infects. Kawaoka said the virus is still in the process of mutating into a form even more infectious to humans.” -and- “Brazilian scientists have identified a new strain of the H1N1 virus after examining samples from a patient in Sao Paulo, their institute said Tuesday. The variant has been called A/Sao Paulo/1454/H1N1 by the Adolfo Lutz Bacteriological Institute, which compared it with samples of the A(H1N1) swine flu from California.” More ominously to be examined in these reports is the response of the United States to this Pandemic which, to date, is the World’s largest infected Nation (reporting 7 more H1N1 flu deaths today) and which has already declared a Public Health Emergency and, just yesterday, passed a bill in its Congress allocating $7.7 Billion to prepare themselves for this catastrophic disease.