|
Monsanto's crimes and lives revealed
|
MASIPAG
|
Jun 16, 2003 00:31 PDT
|
Monsanto’s crimes and lies revealed
Boycott Monsanto campaign launched
June 5 – With the Bt-corn controversy far from over, farmers, scientists
and NGOs in the country intensify their protests by condemning one
company that is responsible for numerous atrocities against farmers,
consumers and the environment – the Monsanto Corporation.
MASIPAG, a farmer-led network of people’s organizations, non-government
organizations and scientists working for a sustainable agriculture will
launch a book that exposes the crimes and lies of Monsanto, a major
agrochemical corporation based in St. Louis, Missouri. Monsanto has
established operations in more than 60 countries and produces chemical
fertilizers and pesticides such as Roundup, Machete, Harness Xtra and
seeds such as Cargill, Dekalb, and the genetically engineered Bt-corn
known as Yieldgard. MASIPAG, along with RESIST (Resistance and
Solidarity against Agrochemical TNCs), a broad alliance of 40
organizations opposing the control of agrochemical transnational
corporations in agriculture and PressurePoint, a Seattle based
organization dedicated to addressing unchecked corporate power will
denounce Monsanto by launching a boycott campaign.
Sarah Wright, a PhD candidate from the Washington University and
research fellow of MASIPAG, will present the book entitled “Selling
FOOD. HEALTH. HOPE. ™ The Real Story Behind Monsanto Corporation,” whose
information she has gathered from personal interviews and other
significant documents.
“It is important that this information is made available to the people
of the Philippines to help them make informed choices,” said Ms. Wright,
the author. “Monsanto has been selling itself as a clean, green and
trustworthy company. Unfortunately their record shows this is not true.”
she added.
“Monsanto does not care if it destroys our environment, our livelihood,
our life. They are only interested in gaining profits by controlling our
agriculture.” Igmedio Facunla, a farmer from Nueva Ecija and chairperson
of the Board of MASIPAG said. “We urge our fellow farmers to stop
patronizing Monsanto’s products such as Cargill, Dekalb and Machete and
the Bt-corn variety, Yieldgard. Instead, we should adapt organic farming
or other sustainable agricultural practices that are healthier, cheaper,
safer to the environment and increasingly more in demand by consumers.”
Facunla further said.
Since 1987, MASIPAG has assisted farmers in the development of new rice
and corn selections with the use of traditional varieties and developed
sustainable farming practices that produce better yields with minimum
pest infestation. The practical work of MASIPAG proves that even without
the use of dangerous GMOs, farmers can produce safe, clean and
nutritious food in a profitable manner.
For more info, contact:
Manny Yap, National Coordinator Mobile No. 0917-501-8384
Eloisa Bosito, Advocacy Officer Mobile No. 0919-7099663
Telefax: (049) 536-5549
Email: masi-@mozcom.com
|
|
 |
|
