[imc-st.louis] [Fwd: Monsanto/BASF]

[Ben]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Monsanto/BASF
Date: 	Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:46:11 EDT
From: 	Chicherio at aol.com

Here is a letter that I sent to the Post Dispatch last Sunday and I have
not heard back from them and feel confident that they will not print
it.  If you are interested it could go into the Confluence or maybe up
on the IMC list or maybe both.  The article in last Sunday's paper (for
which this letter was a response) was titled 'Feeding Off Of Each
Other'.  Isn't that great!  Anyway, I hope you can use it as I think
that it is a good letter.

Letters to the editor
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
July 15, 2007

I opened Sunday’s Business section to read an upbeat, perky article
about the collaboration between Monsanto and BASF to create new
genetically engineered strains of soybeans, cotton and canola.  It is
important to recall the history of these two giants of industry.

Monsanto was initially a chemical company that evolved into
agribusiness, focusing on genetically engineered plants and holding
patents on life forms.  In 1901 Monsanto manufactured saccharin, the
first artificial sweetener found to be carcinogenic.  Later, Monsanto
was the sole producer in North America of PCBs, also found to be highly
carcinogenic and eventually banned.  Unfortunately, PCB is a persistent
environmental toxin that moves up the food chain and is virtually
impossible to destroy.  It remains a headache for the EPA in many areas
of the US.  Monsanto also produced Agent Orange, a herbicide/defoliate
used in Vietnam.   It continues to cause birth defects in Vietnam as
well as a variety of health problems for US Vietnam veterans and their
descendants.

BASF is a German chemical company that became part of the infamous I. G.
Farbin Industries during World War II.  Farbin/BASF actively cooperated
with the Nazis and created poison gases such as “Zyklon-B” used in the
gas chambers of the concentration camps.  After WW II BASF enjoyed
continued success in large part due to their capital investments made
during the war and was able to provide immunity and jobs for those
directly responsible for the manufacture of “Zyklon-B.”

Are these really the kind of individuals and companies that we want
fiddling with our food?  Monsanto’s agenda is to continue to develop and
patent genetically engineered plants and seeds and to ultimately control
the agricultural market, giving consumers little choice regarding what
we eat.  Concern for ethics and the general well being of the populace
is not on their “to do” list.  For-profit corporations have a fiduciary
responsibility to maximize profits for shareholders and CEOs.  As
citizens, parents, family members and friends our responsibility is to
insure the health and safety of those we love.  I do not want Monsanto
and BASF making these important decisions for me.

Barbara Chicherio
Coordinating Committee, Greens/Green Party USA


-- 
Ben West
westbywest at riseup.net
http://savetheinternet.org