Surveillance, massive patent litigation, and toxic trails are just a few of the atrocities that are part and parcel of the global giant Monsanto. They do not just produce a lot of the worlds GE crops but some MAJOR FUD with real muscle as this disturbing in-depth article demonstrates . Whether it is their shadowy, relentless fight against American farmers to “protect” their patents or their fight to scare dairy farmers from labeling their milk BST free, they deploy an astonishing range of legal and extra-legal tactics to make sure they stay on top.
Below is a smattering of some of their creepiest tactics, which kinda make the RIAA look angelic in comparison.
“To gather leads, the company maintains an 800 number and encourages farmers to inform on other farmers they think may be engaging in “seed piracy. Once Pilot Grove had been targeted, Monsanto sent private investigators into the area. Over a period of months, Monsanto’s investigators surreptitiously followed the co-op’s employees and customers and videotaped them in fields and going about other activities. At least 17 such surveillance videos were made, according to court records”
“Studies by health authorities consistently found elevated levels of PCBs in houses, yards, streams, fields, fish, and other wildlife—and in people. In 2003, Monsanto and Solutia entered into a consent decree with the E.P.A. to clean up Anniston. Scores of houses and small businesses were to be razed, tons of contaminated soil dug up and carted off, and streambeds scooped of toxic residue. The cleanup is under way, and it will take years, but some doubt it will ever be completed—the job is massive. To settle residents’ claims, Monsanto has also paid $550 million to 21,000 Anniston residents exposed to PCBs, but many of them continue to live with PCBs in their bodies. Once PCB is absorbed into human tissue, there it forever remains.”
The company contends that advertising by Kleinpeter and other dairies touting their “no rBGH” milk reflects adversely on Monsanto’s product. In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission in February 2007, Monsanto said that, notwithstanding the overwhelming evidence that there is no difference in the milk from cows treated with its product, “milk processors persist in claiming on their labels and in advertisements that the use of rBST is somehow harmful, either to cows or to the people who consume milk from rBST-supplemented cows.”
Monsanto called on the commission to investigate what it called the “deceptive advertising and labeling practices” of milk processors such as Kleinpeter, accusing them of misleading consumers “by falsely claiming that there are health and safety risks associated with milk from rBST-supplemented cows.
Monsanto seems to be one of the single most dangerous entities on the planet at the moment.
There’s a very good documentary done over 3 years by an independent French filmmaker called “Le monde selon Monsanto” (The world according to Monsanto).
It details all the cases you’ve talked about in your post, and more. It was aired on the french/german cultural channel “arte” not long ago, and you can order the dvd from their homepage.
There was an english-subtitled version available on video.google.com, but I think it was removed. I think it’s a must watch for anyone interested in the case, containing multiple interviews with scientists and farmers who have been threatened by Monsanto.
Cheers,
Florian
Comment by Florian Zimmermann — May 6, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
Thanks Florian,
I will have to check it out. Do you know if there are english subtitles?
Best,
Biella
Comment by Biella — May 6, 2008 @ 5:37 pm
It would sure be interesting to know why the English-subtitled version was removed (if it was). What is it with documentary film makers? The film is over 3 years old now. The makers should be *putting* it on YouTube, or archive.org, or wherever will store it. Along with all their notes and outtakes.
Re that last item in the post: wow, they’re essentially claiming that the simple factual statement “no rGBH” is to be taken as a form of libel against anything that does have rGBH, is that right? It amounts to a war on independent thinking. Monsanto is saying that no one should be allowed to market to consumers’ conjectures about what is healthy or unhealthy. Amazing. Biella, you’ve made my blood boil tonight
.
Comment by Karl Fogel — May 6, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
There are rumours that the Google video post has been removed by Monsanto, but IMO this isn’t very realistic (albeit possible). I guess the filmmaker’s label has filed a DMCA notice because the film is still being sold.
There are english subtitles included with the DVD. Here’s a link, it states “Langues sous-titres : allemand, anglais, français”.
And here’s a link to an English version on youtube, I haven’t watched it in its entirety but it should be ok.
Comment by Florian Zimmermann — May 7, 2008 @ 11:08 am
Hmm no longer available. I think I will check my library, which has TONS of awesome videos. Thanks again for pointing me to it.
Comment by Biella — May 9, 2008 @ 5:25 am
Aw, man…Monsanto, what an easy target. Agribusiness is so creepy and they’re right up there as head creeps.
A friend of mine worked with Deborah Garcia (Jerry’s widow) to make a doc called The Future of Food (http://www.thefutureoffood.com/), which is a more general critique of bio-engineered seeds/pesticides and promotion of local organics, but which certainly takes some swings at Monsanto. I saw Michael Pollan speak at the SF premiere and I would agree that he’s right on the money on a lot of food issues. I am a little embarrassed to admit I haven’t read his books yet.
Comment by looby — May 11, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
Now this is starting to creep me out, usually videos don’t get removed that swiftly (it was still available when I posted). But who knows…
Comment by Florian Zimmermann — May 12, 2008 @ 1:35 pm