Monsanto Admittedly Influences Colorado GMO Ban, Launches Phony ‘GMO Co-Existence’ Protests
Bloated biotech giant Monsanto has admitted to using their influence to block an initiative introduced by Boulder, Colorado to ban the growing of genetically modified crops on county soil. While county officials and farmers claimed that Monsanto influence had nothing to do with the blocking of the health conscious legislation, the company itself has admitted to being involved. Furthermore, Monsanto may have actually setup phony ‘GMO co-existence’ protests in order to voice phony public support against the bill. After the admitted involvement of Monsanto and the curious protests, the county commissioners changed their formerly anti-GMO tune.
Instead of banning GMO crops, the Boulder County commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to allow for the growing of some GMO crops on county-owned open land.
Pro-Monsanto Farmers Deny Admitted Monsanto Involvement, Pushed for GMO Crops
Paul Schlagel was one of the farmers who originally pushed for GMO sugar beets in Boulder, Colorado. That year Schlagel wrote a letter to the Parks and Open Space Department, asking for permission to plant crops resistant to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide that has been known to cause cancer and pollute local water supplies. Citing claims fabricated by Monsanto that have proven to be false in the past such as a decrease in pesticide use, Schlagel urged country officials to allow for the planting of GMO crops.
Around this time, Monsanto was launching a major initiative to capture the sugar beet market, with 95% of sugar beets ultimately becoming Roundup Ready by the year 2009. Monsanto got their wish, thanks to pro-Monsanto farmers like Schlagel, and now Schlagel is denying any involvement with Monsanto or other biotech corporations in regards to the blocked GMO ban despite Monsanto actually admitting to influencing the decision.
Schlagel even responds to the accusations that Monsanto voiced by not only denying the claims, but also by issuing a strong response that would seem quite anti-Monsanto if you did not know the full story. ”Monsanto doesn’t own me,” Schlagel said in a statement to the press. Meanwhile, Thomas Helscher, the company’s director of corporate affairs, has stated their direct involvement through e-mail reported on by the Boulder, Colorado press.
“Monsanto is a stakeholder in these proceedings as our company name and our innovations have been repeatedly named in the public discussions, and the safety and benefits of those innovations has been questioned,” wrote Helscher. Therefore, we submitted official comments to the Commissioners and also testified at the Dec. 8 hearing. We also have answered questions asked of us by our Boulder County farmer customers during this public and open process.”
Is Monsanto Funding Phony ‘GMO Co-Existence Protests’?
As anti-GMO activists rage over the event, many informed Colorado individuals are questioning the peculiar ‘GMO co-existence’ protests that sprung up in Boulder, Colorado. Wearing hats with the slogan FAIR and parading around support for Monsanto, the group was well-organized and seemed to appear out of thin air. Even more telling is the fact that these individuals were not a result of a grassroots movement that any of the citizens were aware of, and seemed to have their agenda organized before hitting the streets in an orderly fashion.
Legitimate anti-GMO grassroots protests have also been ongoing in Boulder, voicing opposition against food tyrant Monsanto and Boulder officials. It is only a matter of time until revealing information regarding Monsanto’s full involvement is leaked to the media. Whether or not they will cover it is in question, but we sure will.
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Anthony is the Editor of NaturalSociety, producer, consultant, and seeker of truth. Anthony's work has been read by millions worldwide and is routinely featured on major alternative and mainstream news website alike, like the powerful Drudge Report, NaturalNews, Infowars, and many others. Anthony has appeared, oftentimes routinely, on programs like Russia Today (RT), The Alex Jones Show, Coast to Coast AM, and others. Anthony is also a founding member of Natural Attitude and the creator of the independent political website Storyleak
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Cosima,
To answer your question… the FDA and USDA.
They are supposed to keep food safe and work for The People. However, they do have ties to the biotech giant, Monsanto.
Obama appointed Michael Taylor as deputy commissioner to FDA (food safety) and he was a lobbyist for Monsanto but he did work at the FDA before that.
Obama also appointed USDA, Secretary Tom Vilsack, who is pro-GMO and did also lobby for Monsanto.
Vilsack defied a court order when he partially regulated GMO sugar beets. And, Vilsack approved GMO alfalfa despite emergency warning from scientist urging him not to; Dr. Huber had just discovered a new pathogen he believes is linked to Monsanto’s Roundup Ready GMOs. The new pathogen causing death and disease is said to affect plants AND animals (rare occurrence).
‘Don Huber Interview – Roundup Ready GMOs – PATHOGEN NEW TO SCIENCE’ – http://saynotocorporateamerica.blogspot.com/2011/…
‘Deeds of Destruction’ -
http://saynotocorporateamerica.blogspot.com/2011/…
Monsanto and government officials go way back…
* Justice Clarence Thomas worked as an attorney for Monsanto in the 1970s. Thomas wrote the majority opinion in the 2001 Supreme Court decision J. E. M. Ag Supply, Inc. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.|J. E. M. AG SUPPLY, INC. V. PIONEER HI-BREDINTERNATIONAL, INC. which found that “newly developed plant breeds are patentable under the general utility patent laws of the United States.” This case benefitted all companies which profit from genetically modified crops, of which Monsanto is one of the largest.
* Michael R. Taylor was an assistant to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner before he left to work for a law firm on gaining FDA approval of Monsanto’s artificial growth hormone in the 1980s. Taylor then became deputy commissioner of the FDA from 1991 to 1994.Taylor was later re-appointed to the FDA in August 2009 by President Barack Obama.
* Dr. Michael A. Friedman was a deputy commissioner of the FDA before he was hired as a senior vice president of Monsanto.
* Linda J. Fisher was an assistant administrator at the United States Environmental Protection Agency? (EPA) before she was a vice president at Monsanto from 1995 – 2000. In 2001, Fisher became the deputy administrator of the EPA.
* Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was chairman and chief executive officer of G. D. Searle & Co., which Monsanto purchased in 1985. Rumsfeld personally made at least $12 million USD from the transaction. source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto#Resistance_…
I can not imagine a legitimate environmental group supporting GMO anything! Monsanto didn’t work for farmers in India!
Ever wonder why we can’t get GMO labels?!
Or why anyone would want GMOs in a National Wildlife Refuge?
Thank you for covering this!!!
We really need to gain control of GOV Inc and ban GMO's like Germany did. Genetic engineering alters the very foundation of life that could have irreversible effects… but we can't even get GMO warning labels… we get GMO food labeled "100% Natural". Monsanto and their dirty tricks are nothing new but their arrogance is reaching new levels… it's like they are untouchable… oh yeah, they are.
I wish everyone would watch 'The World According to Monsanto' and 'The Future of Food'; two excellent documentaries about this HORRIBLE company. FDA and Monsanto's revolving door of execs is very busy and goes back 40+ years but most recently are Obama appointed Monsanto men, Michael Taylor to FDA and Tom Vilsack to Sec of USDA.
It's sad to see Boulder commissioners do this, but we won't forget. We will replace every corporate government official from Boulder to DC… we have to. 'We the People' can NOT give up because WE are the solution!
You are what you eat, buy/grow organic, support small local farms, save "heirloom seeds" (food for freedom for generations)… not Monsanto's frankenfood!
The religious right better be praying over this. If Monsanto continues and finds success we will need all of god's support as it's clear that they are out to take control of the WORLD's FOOD SUPPLY!!!!!!!!!!! They have to be stopped before it's too late. Monsanto is the most evil corporation in the world.
Cosima,
To answer your question… the FDA and USDA.
They are supposed to keep food safe and work for The People. However, they do have ties to the biotech giant, Monsanto.
Obama appointed Michael Taylor as deputy commissioner to FDA (food safety) and he was a lobbyist for Monsanto but he did work at the FDA before that.
Obama also appointed USDA, Secretary Tom Vilsack, who is pro-GMO and did also lobby for Monsanto.
Vilsack defied a court order when he partially regulated GMO sugar beets. And, Vilsack approved GMO alfalfa despite emergency warning from scientist urging him not to; Dr. Huber had just discovered a new pathogen he believes is linked to Monsanto's Roundup Ready GMOs. The new pathogen causing death and disease is said to affect plants AND animals (rare occurrence).
'Don Huber Interview – Roundup Ready GMOs – PATHOGEN NEW TO SCIENCE' – http://saynotocorporateamerica.blogspot.com/2011/…
'Deeds of Destruction' -
http://saynotocorporateamerica.blogspot.com/2011/…
Monsanto and government officials go way back…
* Justice Clarence Thomas worked as an attorney for Monsanto in the 1970s. Thomas wrote the majority opinion in the 2001 Supreme Court decision J. E. M. Ag Supply, Inc. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.|J. E. M. AG SUPPLY, INC. V. PIONEER HI-BREDINTERNATIONAL, INC. which found that "newly developed plant breeds are patentable under the general utility patent laws of the United States." This case benefitted all companies which profit from genetically modified crops, of which Monsanto is one of the largest.
* Michael R. Taylor was an assistant to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner before he left to work for a law firm on gaining FDA approval of Monsanto’s artificial growth hormone in the 1980s. Taylor then became deputy commissioner of the FDA from 1991 to 1994.Taylor was later re-appointed to the FDA in August 2009 by President Barack Obama.
* Dr. Michael A. Friedman was a deputy commissioner of the FDA before he was hired as a senior vice president of Monsanto.
* Linda J. Fisher was an assistant administrator at the United States Environmental Protection Agency? (EPA) before she was a vice president at Monsanto from 1995 – 2000. In 2001, Fisher became the deputy administrator of the EPA.
* Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was chairman and chief executive officer of G. D. Searle & Co., which Monsanto purchased in 1985. Rumsfeld personally made at least $12 million USD from the transaction. source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto#Resistance_…
I can not imagine a legitimate environmental group supporting GMO anything! Monsanto didn't work for farmers in India!
Ever wonder why we can't get GMO labels?!
Or why anyone would want GMOs in a National Wildlife Refuge?
Does anyone know of any legitimate environmental or food safety groups in North America (e.g., with those with no $$$ ties to the biotech industry) that have publicly stated their support *for* GMO crops?