Monsanto MON810 genetically modified maize
Anne Sewell
Digital Journal, April 7 2012
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/322551
Warsaw – In Warsaw, Poland a ban has now officially been imposed on Monsanto's MON810 GMO maize. Recent protests by beekeepers and anti-GMO activists have a successful conclusion.
Digital Journal reported in late March on a protest by Beekeepers and Anti-GMO activists in Warsaw, Poland. The activists were demanding that the Minister of Agriculture, Marek Sawicki ban MON810 in the country.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/321905
The good news is that their protests have had a successful outcome.
Minister of Agriculture in the Polish Government, Marek Sawicki has set another international standard against Monsanto's controversial GMOs. Sawicki says that as well as being linked to range of health ailments, the pollen originating from this GM strain might actually be devastating to the already reduced bee population in the country.
According to AFP, Sawicki told the press: “The decree is in the works. It introduces a complete ban on the MON810 strain of maize in Poland.”
http://bit.ly/I4ShWJ
On March 9th, there was similar opposition to Monsanto GMO strains. On that date 7 European countries blocked the proposal by the Danish presidency to permit the cultivation of GMO crops on the entire European continent. The countries who blocked this proposal were Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Ireland and Slovakia. A week after this announcement, France imposed a temporary ban on the Monsanto MON810 strain.
In Lyon, France, a ruling was given by the court after Paul Francois, a grain grower, advised that Monsanto had failed to provide sufficient warnings on its Lasso Weedkiller product label.
Lack of warnings has caused neurological problems, including headaches and memory loss.
Following testimony, the court ordered an expert opinion to verify the link between Lasso and the illnesses that have been reported and also to determine the sum of damages payable. The result of the court hearing was that Monsanto was guilty, and this has paved the way for similar legal action on behalf of farmers in the future.
Further in France, the agricultural branch of the social security system has gathered approximately 200 alerts per year since 1996, in connection with pesticide-related sickness. Despite this, only 47 cases have been recognized in the last 10 years.
The fight against Monsanto continues with many countries fighting the GMO products, including India, who are slamming the agro-giant with "biopiracy" charges, and Hungary, who recently destroyed 1,000 acres of GM maize.
http://www.trueactivist.com/hungary-destroys-all-monsanto-gmo-corn-fields/
The victory in Poland is yet another notch in the belt of anti-GMO activists worldwide.
Poland imposes ban on