Whole Food, GMO’S, Monsanto, The Government, The Farmer, The Consumer, Altered Animals, WHY?

My eyes were opened, researching this article. There is an attack, against the whole food we eat, and it’s
not what you think, and processed food has already been attacked. Like some, I have heard about
GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organism). Think about it, that word alone, should scare the heck out of
you. Why? It sounds like something out of a Frankenstein movie, and what I found was even more
disturbing.

 The Wikipedia definition reads like this: A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically
engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using
genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA
technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule
to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or
novel genes. Transgenic organisms, a subset of GMOs, are organisms which have inserted DNA
that originated in a different species.

In plain English, it boils down to this; they manually take the DNA out of one species and place (force)
that DNA into another species. Why? Interestingly enough, this is what evolution has been doing for
billions of years, the natural way, the transferring of genes from one species to another in order to grow,
reproduce, make stronger and to survive. That diverse variety that can be seen, enjoyed and consumed
today is a product of billions of years in trial and error, all done naturally. So why would we do it any
other way?

Monsanto is a U.S based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation: the world’s leading
producer of genetically engineered seeds and the world’s leading producer of the herbicide, glyphosate,
marketed as Roundup. ; It provides the technology in 90% of the world's genetically engineered seeds.
Let’s look at Monsanto’s track record for a moment, besides genetically modified seed’s, Monsanto has
manufactured

 Polystyrene, discarded polystyrene does not biodegrade for hundreds of years.

 The herbicides 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), an acetic acid herbicide used to
defoliate broad-leafed plants.
 DDT (from its trivial name, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is one of the most well-known
synthetic pesticides, banned in the U.S in 1972.
 Agent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S.
military as part of its herbicidal warfare program.
 Aspartame (or APM) is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in
some foods and beverages. The most notable name brand of aspartame is Nutra-sweet.
 The recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), a genetically engineered hormone
manufactured by Monsanto, Sometimes referred to as Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), the
bioengineered hormone is injected in the cows every other week to force the cows to produce
more milk than their bodies normally would.
  Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) PCB production was banned by the United States Congress in
1979.

Now understanding all this and the track record outlined above, I keep coming to the same question,
why? Why would we allow Monsanto the “freedom” to genetically modify seeds?

Monsanto’s Government ties, A Monsanto official told the New York Times that the corporation should
not have to take responsibility for the safety of its food products. Phil Angell, Monsanto’s director of
corporate communications told the Times that “Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of
biotech food, our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA’s job”
Really? Let’s look at that for a moment.

 In 1991: Margret Miller was appointed Deputy Director of the FDA, and oversaw the approval of
genetically growth hormone, rBGH , Prior to this she was one of Monsanto’s top scientists
developing rBGH.
 Clarence Thomas was appointed to the Supreme Court, despite the nationwide disapproval,
Thomas was a lawyer for Monsanto and who cast the vote to put George W Bush in office
 In 1992: Michael Taylor was appointed to the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Policy. The
position was actually created to expedite the process of approval of genetically engineered
foods; Taylor was an attorney for the company and later went on to become Monsanto’s Vice-
President.
 In 1993: Rufus Yerxa was nominated as U.S. deputy to the World Trade Organization. Rufus was
Monsanto’s Chief Counsel.
 In 1996, Michael Kantor was appointed U.S. Secretary of Commerce, while also on the board of
directors at Monsanto.
 Carol Tucker, Former Monsanto & Tobacco Lobbyist as 'Consumer Representative' to Global
Biotech Forum.
 Anne Veneman the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, was on the Board of Directors of Monsanto's
Calgene Corporation.
 Donald Rumsfeld, The Secretary of Defense was on the Board of Directors of Monsanto's Searle
pharmaceuticals.
 Linda Fisher, was an assistant administrator at the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) before she was a vice president at Monsanto
 Tommy Thompson, The U.S. Secretary of Health, received $50,000 in donations from Monsanto
during his winning campaign for Wisconsin's governor.
 Larry Combest (Chairman of the House Agricultural Committee) Attorney General John
Ashcroft, The two congressmen receiving the most donations from Monsanto during the last
election.

And now the farmer: "As interviews and reams of court documents reveal, Monsanto relies on a
shadowy army of private investigators and agents in the American heartland to strike fear into farm
country. They fan out into fields and farm towns, where they secretly videotape and photograph
farmers, store owners, and co-ops; infiltrate community meetings; and gather information from
informants about farming activities. Farmers say that some Monsanto agents pretend to be surveyors.
Others confront farmers on their land and try to pressure them to sign papers giving Monsanto access to
their private records. Farmers call them the 'seed police' and use words such as 'Gestapo' and 'Mafia' to
describe their tactics" Monsanto has sued many a farmer when their GM crops have turned up on the
farmer's fields even though the farmers say they never planted them.

The Consumer: We are on the receiving end of all this GMO, political-governmental tidal wave coming at
us with seemingly no end in sight. Just look at the track record for Monsanto to be really concerned.
New products are being developed and “strong armed” through the process will little regard to the
millions that oppose it. I admit I had the blinders on when I first heard about all this and actually thought
it sounded like a good idea, that is until I opened my eyes and began understanding what damage was
being done, not just to the organisms themselves but to the animals, soil, water, air and especially the
human race. This only scratches the surface of what is being done and only what is made available to
the public. What do you think is “hidden away”, from the public eye that needs to be told?

I think the people, Government, Monsanto and everyone involved need to be held accountable for their
actions. I also believe, We as citizens need to say enough is enough and stop burying our heads in the
sand and have a single, none violent voice declaring we want our food to be non-genetically modified.
Don’t we have a right to eat the foods, the way nature has intended them to be, after billions of years
getting it right? One more question are we of the people, by the people, for the people or are we of
Monsanto, GMOed by Monsanto and destroyed by Monsanto with the Government sitting ideally by,
scratch that involved and not doing anything about it.