Vandana Shiva: Our Corporate Farming System Is to Blame for …

AlterNet – San Francisco, CA

Last month, the world got a glimpse of an epidemic that has hit India in the last decade when news reports alerted readers to the suicides of 1,500 farmers in the Indian state of Chattisgarh.

But this has been only a fraction of the suicides committed by farmers since 1997, says Vandana Shiva, Ph.D., a physicist, environmentalist, feminist, science policy advocate and director ofNavdanya and the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology.

While initial news reports blamed the recent suicides on falling water levels, Shiva explains that the suicide epidemic in India is a lot more complicated and far-reaching.

“Rapid increase in indebtedness is at the root of farmers’ taking their lives,” she wrote recently. “Debt is a reflection of a negative economy. Two factors have transformed agriculture from a positive economy into a negative economy for peasants: the rising of costs of production and the falling prices of farm commodities. Both these factors are rooted in the policies of trade liberalization and corporate globalization.”

At the heart of this is a circle of indebtedness that has resulted from the so-called Green Revolution, which exported industrial agricultural practices to places like India and in doing so, made seeds, a once-renewable resource for farmers, into something that had be bought from corporations.

“In 1998, the World Bank’s structural-adjustment policies forced India to open up its seed sector to global corporations like Cargill, Monsanto and Syngenta,” Shiva wrote. “The global corporations changed the input economy overnight. Farm-saved seeds were replaced by corporate seeds, which need fertilizers and pesticides and cannot be saved. … The shift from saved seed to corporate monopoly of the seed supply also represents a shift from biodiversity to monoculture in agriculture.”

In an interview with AlterNet, Shiva explained how Monsanto’s Bt cotton has exemplified what can go wrong with industrial agriculture; what happens to farming communities when traditional farming methods are replaced by corporate sponsored mono-cropping; and how to stem the tide of farmer suicides.

Genetically Modified Foods Pose Huge Health Risk
Opposing Views – Los Angeles,CA,USA

LOS ANGELES — This week, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) 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.” They called for a moratorium on GM foods, long-term independent studies, and labeling. AAEM’s position paper stated, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GMfood,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”

More and more doctors are already prescribing GM-free diets. Dr. Amy Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist, and board member of AAEM says, “I strongly recommend patients eat strictly non-genetically modified foods.” Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles says “I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it.”

Genetically Modified Foods
[see full article for more...]

Therefore, because GM foods pose a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic, physiologic and genetic health and are without benefit, the AAEM believes that it is imperative to adopt the precautionary principle, which is one of the main regulatory tools of the European Union environmental and health policy and serves as a foundation for several international agreements.¹³ The most commonly used definition is from the 1992 Rio Declaration that states: “In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”¹³

Another often used definition originated from an environmental meeting in the United States in 1998 stating: “When an activity raises threats to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken, even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context, the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof (of the safety of the activity).”¹³

With the precautionary principle in mind, because GM foods have not been properly tested for human consumption, and because there is ample evidence of probable harm, the AAEM asks:

• Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.

• Physicians to consider the possible role of GM foods in the disease processes of the patients they treat and to document any changes in patient health when changing from GM food to non-GM food.

• Our members, the medical community, and the independent scientific community to gather case studies potentially related to GM food consumption and health effects, begin epidemiological research to investigate the role of GM foods on human health, and conduct safe methods of determining the effect of GM foods on human health.

• For a moratorium on GM food, implementation of immediate long term independent safety testing, and labeling of GM foods, which is necessary for the health and safety of consumers.

(This statement was reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine on May 8, 2009.)

Submitted by Amy Dean, D.O. and Jennifer Armstrong, M.D.

Bibliography: Genetically Modified Foods Position Paper AAEM

1. World Health Organization. (Internet).(2002). Foods derived from modern technology: 20 questions on genetically modified foods. Available from: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/index.html
2. Smith, JM. Genetic Roulette. Fairfield: Yes Books.2007. p.10
3. Freese W, Schubert D. Safety testing and regulation of genetically engineered foods. Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews. Nov 2004. 21.
4. Society of Toxicology. The safety of genetically modified foods produced through biotechnology. Toxicol. Sci. 2003; 71:2-8.
5. Hill, AB. The environment and disease: association or causation? Proceeding of the Royal Society of Medicine 1965; 58:295-300.
6. Finamore A, Roselli M, Britti S, et al. Intestinal and peripheral immune response to MON 810 maize ingestion in weaning and old mice. J Agric. Food Chem. 2008; 56(23):11533-11539.
7. Malatesta M, Boraldi F, Annovi G, et al. A long-term study on female mice fed on a genetically modified soybean:effects on liver ageing. Histochem Cell Biol. 2008; 130:967-977.
8. Velimirov A, Binter C, Zentek J. Biological effects of transgenic maize NK603xMON810 fed in long term reproduction studies in mice. Report-Federal Ministry of Health, Family and Youth. 2008.
9. Ewen S, Pustzai A. Effects of diets containing genetically modified potatoes expressing Galanthus nivalis lectin on rat small intestine.Lancet. 354:1353-1354.
10. Kilic A, Aday M. A three generational study with genetically modified Bt corn in rats: biochemical and histopathological investigation. Food Chem. Toxicol. 2008; 46(3):1164-1170.
11. Kroghsbo S, Madsen C, Poulsen M, et al. Immunotoxicological studies of genetically modified rice expression PHA-E lectin or Bt toxin in Wistar rats. Toxicology. 2008; 245:24-34.
12. Gurain-Sherman,D. 2009. Failure to yield: evaluating the performance of genetically engineered crops. Cambridge (MA): Union of Concerned Scientists.
13. Lofstedt R. The precautionary principle: risk, regulation and politics. Merton College, Oxford. 2002.

source: http://www.aaemonline.org/gmopost.html

Law to punish makers of harmful GMOs sought

By Delmar Cariño

Inquirer Northern Luzon 04/19/2009

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The country should pass a special law to define the liability of those responsible for injuries arising from the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), an environmental advocacy group recently said.

The Third World Network (TWN) said the government’s current rules allowing victims to seek redress for harm caused by GMOs have been purely administrative remedies (with no civil and criminal liabilities) and could not provide sufficient relief for victims.

In a paper titled, “Liability and redress in GMOs in the Philippines,” the TWN said even laws on criminal and civil liabilities were not prepared to confront GMO-related disputes since the kind of damage caused by GMOs have been uncommon.

Get ready to clean out your cupboards on Earth Day

April 18, 7:21 AM

Influential local food blog, Real Food Media, is leading a rolling challenge about the dangers of genetically modified foods set to launch on Earth Day. Go to Real Food Media to learn how to clean out your cupboards and stop eating GMOs.

Similar to the Eat Local Challenge the No GMO Challenge gives consumers a way to organize, educate and build awareness around the serious health and environmental risks of genetically modified food.

Founder of Real Food Media, Ann Marie Michaels says, “The majority of Americans don’t trust GM foods and want GMOs labeled. The sad thing is, there’s so little information about genetically modified food. Most of us are eating it every day and we don’t even know it.”

Most processed foods contain corn, canola or soybean oils, soy lecithin, or high fructose corn syrup.

According to PEW, CBS and ABC polls:
• 52% believe GM foods are unsafe
• 93% say the government should require labels on food saying whether it’s been genetically modified

US jury rules for Monsanto in PCB pollution case
Reuters UK – April 14, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 14 (Reuters) – A jury in Alabama ruled on Tuesday in favor of the old Monsanto company, now Pharmacia, in a case in which it was accused of manufacturing PCBs that caused arthritis and diabetes. Five plaintiffs who lived in Anniston, Alabama, where the company made polychlorinated biphenyls until the 1970s and had been dumping chemicals into local creeks, brought individual lawsuits against Monsanto at a state court. The five are all senior citizens who suffer from arthritis or diabetes. They are the first of around 3,000 individuals filing lawsuits, according to plaintiff attorney Frank Davis.

Last Updated on Monday, 10 August 2009 12:55Written by Jane BurgermeisterMonday, 13 April 2009

I have filed criminal charges in Austria against Baxter and Avir Green Hills Biotechnology for producing and distributing contaminated bird flu vaccine material this winter, alleging that this was a deliberate act to cause a pandemic, and also to profit from that pandemic.

Avir and Baxter AG are headquartered inside the Vienna City limits, where I live, and so fall within the jurisdiction of the Vienna City Prosecutor.

In the paperwork I filed with the Vienna City Courthouse on Wednesday, April 8th, 2009, after consulting lawyers, I present evidence  of intent to cause harm by Baxter and Avir, citing, among other things, the fact that Baxter uses Biosafety Level 3 regulations to prevent just such a contamination of ordinary flu with the bird flu virus.

Also, I suggest that there are reasonable grounds for believing that Baxter is part of a secret bioweapons programme and that there are plans to release weaponised bird flu on the world’s population soon.

Furthermore, I present evidence to support the notion that Baxter is a smaller entity operating within a bigger aggregate of entities that belong to an international organised crime group, which I maintain can be identified with the group known informally as “The Illuminati”.

I allege there is evidence the US “Illuminati”-controlled government plans to release the bird flu on the US population in the near future, citing bird flu drills, FEMA camps, mass graves among other facts.

Flowing from their obligations as a signatory to the UN Convention for the Punishment and Prevention of Genocide, I argue that Austrian courts are bound by law to prosecute any individuals or organisations when there is reasonable proof that they are involved in planning any genocide, including US officials.

In an era of global crime organisations, I argue it is more necessary than ever that Austrian courts leverage international laws to protect the Austrian people as well as people all around the world against the bird flu and other threats, posed in particular by the “Illuminati” global racketeering influenced organised crime syndicate.

As evidence for Baxter’s participation in a secret, black international bioweapons programme, I cite reports that the “bird flu” virus was resurrected by US bioweapons scientists from the Spanish Flu virus in 1996 and also note that Baxter has patented a highly pathogenic bird flu virus mutation, something difficult to account for if Baxter is not doing research into weaponised bird flu strains.

As evidence that Baxter deliberately manufactured and distributed the contaminated material, I note the way the Biosecurity Level 3 regulations were systematically subverted at Baxter’s facilities in Orth an der Donau.

I also note the reports in the media that the contaminated material was sent to 16 laboratories with a false or incorrect llabel as evidence of intent to deceive staff in outside laboratories into thinking they were handling relatively harmless material and into taking fewer precautions, so increasing their risk of being infected by the bird flu and acting as pandemic bird flu carriers into the general population.

I argue the fact that at least 36 to 37 laboratory staff were treated preventatively for bird flu and normal flu in hospital underlines the danger that they could have been infected with the bird flu, and could have sparked a pandemic.

In addition, I present arguments for classifying Baxter’s production facilities for the vaccination material for the bird flu — specifically the use of 1,200 liter bioreactors and vero cell technology — as a dual biological weapons programme. This is because it would allow a huge amount of contaminated vaccine material to be produced rapidly if any live bird flu virus material ever got into the bioreactor in the first place.

I argue that the production and distribution of contaminated bird flu material by Baxter to 16 labs this winter showed that every safety control failed – and that another such a systematic “safeguards” failure cannot be ruled out again and nor can it be ruled out that contaminated material ends up in  1,200 liter bioreactors. I cite opinions that the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919 was spread by contaminated vaccines.

I contend that a motive for Baxter for sparking the pandemic is profit.

In 2006, Baxter sealed a contract with the Austrian Health Ministry to supply 16 million doses of bird flu vaccines in the event of a “pandemic”. This action fits the pattern of deriving an income from illegal activities which is typical of an organised crime racket.

[Note: The Austrian Health Minister who signed the deal with Baxter in 2006 is Maria Rauch-Kallat, the wife of Alfons Mensdorff-Pouilly, who was released from jail in Austria on April 3rd, 2009, after being held in custody for five weeks in connection with bribery and money-laundering involving British weapons maker BAE systems.]

I also allege that the Austrian and international authorities are involved in a cover up.

As evidence for the cover up, I cite the fact that no action has been taken by the authorities. Little to no information has been released to the public.

While none of the political parties has made a statement, a few members of parliament apparently acting on their own tabled questions to the Austrian Health Minister on March 20th to obtain information.

Questions tabled include: “Can a threat to the Austrian people be ruled out?” “What steps have been taken to stop a repeat?”

In my charges, I argue that the people of Austria have a right to be fully informed about the incident and any investigation.

I suggest the notion that Austria has a “state within a state” or a “secret army” , a group of agents who act on the orders of Illuminati and who have annexed key positions in Austrian government and authorities, and who provide cover that allows Baxter and Avir to operate more or less outside the law.

I allege that persons in charge of the Austrian mainstream media are part of the cover up of this crime syndicate. The media in gross dereliction of its duty as the fourth estate to call organisations to account has been pretty much silent about the incident here in Austria.

Because so few Austrians have heard about the way Baxter produced and sent out the pandemic material this winter, they will be more willing to allow themselves and also their children to be injected with a vaccine supplied by that same company Baxter in the event of a pandemic, I argue. The silence of the media is, therefore, I contend a necessary element in carrying out this crime.

Should millions of Austrians and Europeans die as a result of the bird flu pandemic and/or contaminated vaccine material, their homes, property, savings, farms, companies and other assets could fall to the state authorities controlled by organised crime, and so could be transferred into private hands with ease.

I argue there is a robbery motive to the murder of millions of people throughout the world by use of  weaponised bird flu. I present evidence that the “Illuminati” have planned the current global financial collapse to enrich themselves, and they are now using the relatively inexpensive and efficient weaponised bird flu as part of a pre meditated plan to eliminate huge numbers of their robbed victims before these can regroup and obtain retribution.

If the  international organised crime syndicate I designate as the ”Illuminati” manage to kill millions or billions of people by unleashing a pandemic bird flu, they are in a position to take control not only of personal assets of their victims but also of natural resources of entire countries, resources that are increasingly valuable at a time of global warming, I argue.

You can read the document I submitted to the prosecutor in German below. Some of the quotes are in English.  I’ll  post up the English translation as soon as it’s ready.

I would appreciate any information, articles or tips relevant to the bird flu case, so that I can submit these to the  prosecutor to reinforce the case.

As for the next step, I was told my file would be assigned a case number and allocated to a state prosecutor who will review the information and, if there is enough evidence of violations of laws,  authorise criminal charges to be brought against Baxter and Avir.

If you want to contribute or help out, contact me, Jane, at jmburgermeister@gmail.com .

I  would like to bring more such cases, also in other European countries, in a bid to reign in the crime spree.

Any donations to defray costs are welcome.

http://www.theflucase.com/

Monsanto’s GM Soy Causes Illness and Death
OpEdNews – April 6, 2009

The results of intensive cultivation of Monsanto’s GM soy, as reported by DW-TV: dead soil, resistant weeds, increased pesticide use, human illness, and animal deaths.

Testimony heard on health effects of PCBs
Trading Markets – April 2, 2009

First, that the former Monsanto company negligently released polychlorinated biphenyls into Anniston’s land and waterways. Second, that PCBs cause diabetes and other illnesses. Ask Anniston residents to weigh in on those issues and many people — particularly on the west side of town, where the plant produced PCBs — will emphatically say Monsanto leaked poisonous chemicals and made them sick. Five claimants are represented in the current trial, but more than 3,000 are represented in the other 47 suits. Their lawyers say these claimants were left out of two Calhoun County cases jointly settled in 2003 for $600 million. About 21,600 claimants sued the company in those cases. Dr. David Carpenter, a New York public health physician, testified until noon Wednesday for the claimants, and said PCB exposure causes diabetes.

Biosafety leak feared at Kawanda research station
Daily Monitor – Kampala, Uganda – March 29, 2009

Uganda has violated an international environment convention that prohibits the leaking of confined live Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into the environment, a Sunday Monitor investigation has uncovered. The leak of potentially hazardous bio-waste is being blamed on careless disposal practices by scientists at the National Agricultural Research Laboratory (NARL) in Kawanda, Wakiso District. The scientists disposed of parts of GMO banana bunches that were still under investigation into the open environment contrary to international regulations. Birds, cats, rats and other living organisms have been seen on the dumping site, feeding and exposed to the GMOs, whose risk level has still not yet been ascertained as per the requirement of the World Health Oragnisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture FAO) recommended Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety guidelines.