OK, I guess I have some homework to do, I'm not saying your wrong about swine DNA. I thought Monsanto discovered a bacteria happily living in their Roundup chemical dump. Then some genius thought it would be a great idea to splice it's DNA into food crops making them resistant to Roundup and that is where their thoughts of consequences ended and capital gain dominated. Of course, once successful I'm sure the first variety of DNA was just the beginning and they have tried all sorts combinations since.

IMO, the lack of inherit old heirloom crop(s) various/diversity is the most damaging effect.

gorgi, and others.....

Beware, and ponder, the USDA's motives.

Go to:  J.L. Hudson Seeds, and read about the USDA Docket No. 03-069-1, or, do a search for the "White List"...basically USDA proposals to ban the importation of seeds, and plant materials that the USDA deems invasive, competitive, not native, etc.  A form of botanical 'Fascism'.

This doctrine will have a very serious effect on  biodiversity, and will further shrink the gene pool of useful plants and seeds coming into this country.  Growing anything "exotic" may indeed become a thing of the past. 


Frank

Just wait for what is coming up to us by our big/huge government...

Human medical care will soon be 'dictated' by a not-so-friendly gov. branch; known as the IRS...

This olde free country of ours is slowly but surely being 'changed'.

People had always saved seeds and perpetuated the best plants. It was our heritage; and  we valued the regional landraces that developed over the years. But then, the seed companies and the government started to promote the thought that this practice was inferior; that the seeds would never grow true, and that their engineered varieties were the only smart (and civilized) manner in which to pursue agriculture. We bought into it wholesale in the U.S. (because why would our government ever lie to us?). The world followed our example, because we are supposed to have it all together. We were the mark to beat. Honestly, I think we merely have better public relations teams.

Another thought on the designer soil organisms - Will those new creatures outcompete the wild soil fungi and bacteria that make up healthy soil? Just as Monsanto and others have eliminated heritage plant varieties, this new "progress" could tragically destroy the balanced makeup of the soil. If that happens, it will cascade to the crops and to food production. It's a short-term plan that will benefit a select few and bankrupt the majority.

Sadly, most folks don't understand the complexity of living soil. To them, it's just dirt, a medium to an end, if you will. And that ignorance and apathy is why Monsanto and others succeed. If anyone is interested, "Teaming With Microbes" by Jeff Lowenfels is an excellent book that details the interplay of soil organisms and how we can all improve our soils.

sooner or later with all these genetic engineering, nothing will grow. suffering will be greater for the nations where they can not and will not control their population growth. we play with things we can't reverse. once soil is destroyed, all the other living things will go. money won't do any good to anyone by then. then again... i might be wrong :)

@ bullet: Unfortunately, no. On a balance of probability, I'd say you are more likely to be correct. I know this is not everyone's bag, but there are several very telling prophecies in Revelation (the last book of the Bible) that speak of famine on a global scale - ie not just confined to poor 3rd world countries. OK, I'm the first to admit that these are not the easiest to interpret, and I personally loathe an overly simplistic literal interpretation that locates their fulfillment in the last few years of Earth's history (the so-called futurist school of interpretation). But considering the way Monsanto is trying to hijack World food production, I do begin to wonder whether the futurists might be onto something that the preterists/historicists have overlooked.

Interesting; informative; disheartening; disgusting; controversial....... and, not necessarily in that order.

Main theme for this Sonata in F U major: ..... CONTROL by Gov't, and by corporations should never be tolerated....in any way, shape or form....or, we will continue to be slaves without the chains.

Monsanto is one of, if not the most powerful company in the world. A farmer found Monsanto wheat growing in his fields. Monsanto said they destroyed all there samples of wheat and weren't doing any testing on wheat.  Monsanto had a bill passed with the USA budget months before hand that offered broad protection from lawsuits, and other things.

It hurt the wheat market because genetically modified food is banned in over 50 countries. Several of which said they postpone or cancel wheat importation this year from the USA. It also stated that there seed could be marketed no mater what the Supreme Court said. So in short they had a broad protection bill added to the USA budget, and were put above and untouchable by the Supreme Court. At the same time saying they would, and could legally, market there seeds even if there was considerable know health risks. 

No company should be able to control our government like this, or be above the supreme court.

http://singularityhub.com/2013/07/02/monsanto-unapproved-gmo-wheat-escapes-into-oregon-fields-lawsuits-follow/

http://www.globalresearch.ca/monsanto-protection-act-signed-by-obama-gmo-bill-written-by-monsanto-signed-into-law


The Monsanto bill did get repealed in September it looks like, but still very scary to think a company can do this.

Hope the links are ok
Chad

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that they represent the biggest threat to biodiversity and safe food production since an asteroid slammed into the Yucatan Peninsula 65-odd million years ago, resulting in the mass extinction of up to 90% of all land life.

The studies showing the adverse effects of these GMO's on human physiology and health have already sounded the alarm bells, but when was the last time you heard or saw this reported in the mainstream media - which they 'own' by the way? My guess is never. The real surprise is the amount of inertia that apparently stops the general public from doing anything about it.

What will it take for people to sit up and start taking note, coz you sure as hell won't be able to do anything about it when you're too ill to even voice a protest. In the end, you get the quality of life your apathy will earn you. But you all know this, so I'd better call time on this sermon now.

Unfortunately, the government is allowing those companies to operate on an innocent-until-proven-guilty basis. Independent scientists should be allowed to test and evaluate the seeds before they are set loose. As it stands, nothing outside of the companies is being done. The Monsanto guys say it is OK; the government approves, and then, those without a financial stake have to lobby to even gain access to study what these new plants and products might do to us and the environment. At that point, it is far too late. Pandora's Box is opened, and hope is not left in the box.

capitalism at its best. money runs everything. 

"You don't see no hearses with luggage racks." - Don Henley

George Carlin described the situation well....

If you detest Monsanto and want to fight back then support companies like Jon and this one... http://www.rareseeds.com/news/

I think a lot of people on here do just that. I know, personally, I don't mind paying more or finding another way, if it means being one less person to generate profits for the bad guys. Do I think they feel the sting of not getting my dollars? Not likely, not yet.

Monsanto has been all but forced out of Europe, thanks to protests and boycotts of their products. And they get similar pushback in South America currently. It is mostly only here in the United States where they are still firmly in control. If more people would throw their support behind better companies, Monsanto would have to adapt or perish. Money can be made in more wholesome agriculture.

How much money do you suppose they spend on those investigators and lawyers they use to crush farmers to dust? If they were not spending that money on aggressive takeover, it might be easier to turn a profit by doing good things, things that have a longer view for humanity.

Again, it's only a matter of time before they gain a foothold in Europe through their 'special relationship' with the UK. I recently had to endure the obscenity of a British Member of Parliament (don't recall his name) spouting about the virtues of GMO's on prime time mainstream media. I wonder how much they paid him to do that, and whether it was declared in the Register of Members' Interests?

He actually said there was no evidence of any harm done to humans as a result of consuming this junk. Except he didn't call it junk. If he had called it poison instead, he might have been closer to the truth, because GMO's are often engineered to produce a pesticide - Roundup, in order to give them a 'natural' defence against pests. Next time he ventures that opinion, I intend to disabuse him by sending him the evidence myself.

But do you seriously imagine he will take any notice? As long as he's kept busy counting his filthy lucre, he could care less. Money talks, and eventually it will subvert the democratic process in Europe too.

I think it is safe to say that members of this forum are more or less aware of these kind of things because of our general interests in plants, environment, food supply.  That being said, do you actually think that the general public is the slightest bit knowledgeable about the Monsanto Dynasty?  For every one of us, there must be 1,000,000 of them.  Also, when was the last time the degenerates in Hollywood protested against the evils of Monsanto?  Hear anything about Monsanto from the "Occupy Wall Street" crowd?

And while I detest these kinds of programs and policies of genetic engineering, and tampering, used by Monsanto, and other billion-dollar corporations, in a free market, capitalistic society, things can be changed by education,  public awareness, and by NOT buying anything these companies produce.  I takes doing a lot of homework, and the informing of friends and family about these dangers, can be very difficult, if not impossible.

Yes, this is Capitalism at its worst, and Capitalism without the constraints of morality, always destroys something, but at least we have some alternatives.  It can be eliminated, over time, by education, information, and boycotts.  No one puts a gun to your head and says:...."buy Monsanto products, or else"! 

But then again, with the recent activist, Supreme Court rulings forcing people to purchase - by an unconstitutional, mandate - a Government sponsored product (Obama-Care)....nothing is off the table, in this country.  If they can force you, by law, to buy one thing....they can force you to buy whatever they want you to buy.....and, they'll keep doin' it until they're stopped.   Don't doubt me.


Frank

That's all very well BronxFigs, but you're overlooking one minor detail. I stand to be corrected if I'm mistaken, but I believe Monsanto have already subverted your legal system by ensuring legislation in at least some states that prohibits food labeling which would otherwise inform the consumer whether the item in question contains any gmo's!! You couldn't make this stuff up, but Monsanto's attitude to your right to know what you're putting in your own body simply beggars belief. How long do you imagine it will be before a law that guarantees the abolition of a right to know and the mockery that makes of consumer choice becomes statewide? And there's no excuse for ignorance. The truth is out there. But if they can't be bothered to look for it, then they get what they deserve. 

what we need is term limit on all politician and cut their salary to the national average, and their insurance policy to lowest level on obamacare. this might push only those who really care about the country and what happens to the people will run for the office. it will be a very small government. 

I think Frank is correct in that those who know about the threats are vastly outnumbered by those who neither know nor care. Apathy is far easier. A lot of folks would rather wait for an App to tell them what to think, eat or do, than to take a moment to actually consider making a choice.

GMOs are now in nearly everything, particularly the processed foods that make up most people's diets. Few know how to cook from scratch anymore because, somewhere along the line, it became too much work to cook and the belief became that it was someone else's job, like it was beneath one to actually chop and heat. The word "homemade" became dirty, inferior.

After World War II, the big pitch was for everyone to become better consumers. This killed off Home Economics classes and encouraged those who grew up on farms to seek "better" jobs in the cities. Many who live in our larger cities eat out for every meal. No kitchen required. As a result of this cultural shift, today we have hordes of know-nothings who would starve to death if the depended-upon flow of cheap and easy food suddenly ceased. I know people who absolutely have zero knowledge about what they are eating (they don't care) and could not create anything beyond a poorly-microwaved hotdog.

I cannot help any of these individuals, beyond offering opinions (and help if they ever ask) and leading by example. That is why we finally found a rural property. We plan to grow as much food as we can, including chickens, ducks and possibly a hog later on. I've been toting around a massive amount of trees, vines and other plants for years, all in containers, from rental to rental. It has been back-breaking, but I knew there would come a day when I would get them into the ground.

Now, I can make sure my son knows where food comes from and that he will be able to go outside and pick a healthy snack. I helped my grandfather on his enormous gardens every year. After he passed, his children ripped it all down, as they were products of the consumer generation. I know better and am gladly stepping back in time. Different property in a different state, but it will be a living homage to what once existed.

For crying out loud; my town had a policy/law prohibiting them simple hens (good egg laying chicks!).
Recently going 'green'; they are now allowing 3 hens for a limited # of (monitored) backyards.
A fee/permit is required, and of course no,no,no roosters are allowed.
(Now, I'd say, say where, where is that 'snooze' button ?!?)

Can anybody describe a more pleasant 'daybreak' sound other than an old fashioned rooster?
(I'll go for that 'wild-nighty' mocking bird song.)
(I'll pass on them 'random' modern vehicle emergency sirens and jumbo airplanes.)