I just finished watching the documentary "Life According to Monsanto" and it scared the living bejeezers out of me! I understand that documentaries can be tailored to manipulate the viewer into whichever perspective the creator wants, but watching this documentary coupled with a general understanding of how biotechnology works, it is hard to not be convinced that some pretty ugly stuff is going on in that corporation.
I think one of the scariest things I learned about was how they (Monsanto) are patenting all of these GMOs they are producing and virtually letting them run wild in the world. The examples used in the documentary are Round-up Ready Soy Beans and Round-up Ready Corn. These crops are very common in the US because of their genetically modified resistance to herbicide which allows for the destruction of weeds without harming the cash crop. The problem is that these plants are cross pollinating with other natural corn and soy species which cannot be controlled. Plants with the genetic information created by Monsanto are showing up in some of the most isolated agricultural regions of Mexico. Because these plants contain information owned by Monsanto, people who have these plants on their lands are being sued by Monsanto for royalties. If this continues to happen in mass as it has done, Monsanto could be receiving a royalty for all the corn and soy grown in North America; virtually controlling food!
Another scary feature of this documentary is how Monsanto has been allowed by the FDA to put these products on the market with little unbiased research. Scientists that expose Monsanto get shut down. This even happened in Canada when three doctors from Health Canada exposed the extremely harmful effects of Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH). This hormone is used to increase the production of milk from dairy cows. Not only does it cause irreparable damage to the cows, it has been found to cause cancer in the people that drink the milk. The Doctors that exposed Monsanto were fired from their positions and are currently in a lawsuit that has made national headlines.
I think when we talk about sustainability, we have to address these important issues that will only serve to make us more unsustainable. In my opinion, we cant just let these companies keep getting away with these things. It makes me think of the disconnection that exists between people, communities and their politicians. It always sounds like there are so many people in government that aren't serving the people that elect them. Why, in a free system, where the people are supposed to decide, do I feel so powerless? The more disconnected people become with their communities the less available we are to activate against our governments!
I really encourage anyone to rent/download this documentary. It will open your eyes to some of the real problems associated with GMOs!
I think one of the scariest things I learned about was how they (Monsanto) are patenting all of these GMOs they are producing and virtually letting them run wild in the world. The examples used in the documentary are Round-up Ready Soy Beans and Round-up Ready Corn. These crops are very common in the US because of their genetically modified resistance to herbicide which allows for the destruction of weeds without harming the cash crop. The problem is that these plants are cross pollinating with other natural corn and soy species which cannot be controlled. Plants with the genetic information created by Monsanto are showing up in some of the most isolated agricultural regions of Mexico. Because these plants contain information owned by Monsanto, people who have these plants on their lands are being sued by Monsanto for royalties. If this continues to happen in mass as it has done, Monsanto could be receiving a royalty for all the corn and soy grown in North America; virtually controlling food!
Another scary feature of this documentary is how Monsanto has been allowed by the FDA to put these products on the market with little unbiased research. Scientists that expose Monsanto get shut down. This even happened in Canada when three doctors from Health Canada exposed the extremely harmful effects of Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH). This hormone is used to increase the production of milk from dairy cows. Not only does it cause irreparable damage to the cows, it has been found to cause cancer in the people that drink the milk. The Doctors that exposed Monsanto were fired from their positions and are currently in a lawsuit that has made national headlines.
I think when we talk about sustainability, we have to address these important issues that will only serve to make us more unsustainable. In my opinion, we cant just let these companies keep getting away with these things. It makes me think of the disconnection that exists between people, communities and their politicians. It always sounds like there are so many people in government that aren't serving the people that elect them. Why, in a free system, where the people are supposed to decide, do I feel so powerless? The more disconnected people become with their communities the less available we are to activate against our governments!
I really encourage anyone to rent/download this documentary. It will open your eyes to some of the real problems associated with GMOs!
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