Marches Against Monsanto are planned today and this weekend in 52 countries and 47 US states.
One country where the citizens may not be marching is China. That isn't for want of commitment, but because the police in the past have refused permission for the demonstrations. Chinese citizens will be showing their support for marchers in other ways (see item 2).
March Against Monsanto website:
http://www.march-against-monsanto.com/
Live coverage of the March Against Monsanto:
http://sustainablepulse.com
1. Global anti-GMO action: People unite against Monsanto dominance
2. On May 23 Beijing citizens submitted a letter of protest to the Monsanto Beijing representative office
---
---
1. Global anti-GMO action: People unite against Monsanto dominance
Russia Today, May 24, 2014
http://rt.com/news/161176-global-march-against-monsanto/
Over 400 cities worldwide will see millions marching against the US chemical and agricultural company Monsanto in an effort to boycott the use of Genetically Modified Organisms in food production.
Marches are planned in 52 countries in addition to some 47 US states that are joining in the protest.
MAM supports a sustainable food production system. We must act now to stop GMOs and harmful pesticides,” said Tami Monroe Canal, founder of March Against Monsanto (MAM) in a press release ahead of the global event.
The movement was formed after the 2012 California Proposition 37 on mandatory labeling of genetically engineered food initiative failed, prompting activists to demand a boycott of the GMO in food production.
“Monsanto’s predatory business and corporate agriculture practices threatens their generation’s health, fertility and longevity,” Canal said.
The main aim of the activism is to organize global awareness for the need to protect food supply, local farms, and environment. It seeks to promote organic solutions, while “exposing cronyism between big business and the government”.
Activists claim that Monsanto spent hundreds of millions of dollars to “obstruct all labeling attempts” while suppressing all “research containing results not in their favor”.
Birth defects, organ damage, infant mortality, sterility, and increased cancer risks are just some of the side-effects GMO is believed to cause.
“That is what the scientists have learned about, that the genetically modified foods will increase allergies that they are going to be less nutritious and that they can possibly or very contain toxins that can make us ill,” Organic Consumers Association's political director Alexis Baden-Mayer told RT.
GMOs have been partially banned in a number of countries, including Germany, Japan, and Russia but yet in most countries across the globe still feed GMOs to their animals.
Citing the US example, Baden-Mayer told RT that “it is hard to distinguish the company Monsanto from the players in the US government.”
“Most of the genetically modified crops grown in the US, almost all of them end up in factory farms, concentrated in animal feeding operations,” stating that US has enough grassland to pasture and raise “100 percent grass-fed beef” and produce even more grass fed beef than is raised on “modified corn and soy”.
One year ago over 2 million people in 436 cities in 52 countries worldwide marched against the largest producer of genetically engineered seeds.
---
---
2. On May 23 Beijing citizens submitted a letter of protest to the Monsanto Beijing representative office
Beijing citizen anti-GMO attention group, May 23, 2014
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4bb17e9d0102edsq.html
slightly edited by GMWatch for clarity
The former "Zhongzhong International Seed Company, Ltd." [which] is [currently named] "Zhongzhong Dika Seed Company", is a joint venture between Zhongzhong Group Co., Ltd and Monsanto. It specializes in developing, breeding, and promoting seeds for corn and other large agricultural plants. This joint venture in Aug 2012 entered the Zhangye state grade corn seed industry zone, mainly produces and operates business of the "Dika" series hybrid corn seeds. Upon approval by the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Asset Administration Committee, in April 2013, investment from both parties of the joint venture were increased, and the name of the joint venture was changed to "Zhongzhong International Seed Company, Ltd.", with the Chinese party holding 51% equity and Monsanto Singapore holding 49% equity.
Chinese citizens submitted applications to the police authorities in various cities in China to stage demonstrations against Monsanto. All of these applications were rejected. Accordingly, it is possible, as in 2013, that no legal demonstrations will be staged in Chinese cities on May 25 in 2014. As an alternative, Chinese citizen on May 25 will organize and post protest to Monsanto self-photos on the internet.
On May 23, the Beijing citizens prepared and submitted a strong protest letter to the Monsanto headquarters in Beijing, to indicate their solidarity with the March Against Monsanto to be held on May 25, 2014 around the world.