1. Atomic Bombs, Nuclear Weapons and world domination
During WW2, Monsanto was involved in
Manhattan project and production of the first nuclear bomb that was later on
dropped on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although, the history written by the
powerful and rich claims that dropping atomic bomb was the ONLY way to end the
war with Japan, the documentary by Oliver Stone called “the untold history
of US” clearly shows that this isn’t true at all and America had already won
the war. Oliver Stone in his documentary shows how the war was over and there
was no need for the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima and Nagasaki which later on
President Harry Truman regarded as “an overwhelming successful
experiment.” As Oliver Stone in this documentary says “A
nation dominating the world by its technology will soon become a tyranny that
will be hated by those who are tyrannized. The bomb has allowed us to win by
any means necessary, which makes us believe because we win, we are right and
because we are right, we are therefore for good. As secretary of state
Madeleine Albright said but if we have to use force, it is because we are
America; we are an indispensable nation. But because we can and have threatened
the humanity with our bombs, are our mistakes forgiven and our cruelty
justified? But domination doesn’t last. Five major empires have collapsed in
the lifetime of a person born before WW2, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and
the Soviet Union.... ...Henry Wallace worried that if the US treated the
Soviets so badly when US was riding high economically and militarily, how would
the Soviets treat the US when and if the situation was reversed.
2. Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH)
The Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) is injected
to livestock for faster growth and production of more milk. rBGH growth
hormones can cause painful udder infections in livestock which forces large
commercial dairy farmers to give cows injection of antibiotics routinely. Human
beings are exposed to rBGH growth hormones and antibiotics when they
consume meat or dairy of livestock that are injected with hormones. Based on
many studies rBGH growth hormones are related to breast cancer in
women and prostate cancer in men. Hormones are also related to a wave of
chronic diseases including colon cancer, diabetes, heart
diseases and obesity. Both European Union and Canada have banned the
use of growth hormones in livestock. During George W bush’s presidency, the
French who have zero tolerance for using hormones, pesticides and carcinegens -
rejected to buy cows grown in America. Probably most people remember George
Bush’s famous quote "... that either you are with us or with the
enemy". Since no act of rebellion against the pesticide empire remains
unrewarded, the Bush administration retaliated by increasing steel import tariff’s
during GATT talks to punish the French government and accused them of being
anti-American.
3. DDT
In 1944, Monsanto among 15 other companies started
manufacturing DDT as a pesticide for killing weeds. Despite all the
claims of Monsanto that DDT was safe, the research in 1970s confirmed that DDT
was toxic and due to public pressure DDT were banned in 1972.
4. Dioxin and Agent Orange:
Monsanto and Dow were the main producers of dioxin
that was a byproduct of 2,4,5-T herbicide. 2,4,5-T herbicide was used as
an agriculture herbicide before 1950s. Since 1940s more than 300 million pounds
of dioxin laden 2,4,5-T has been sprayed on more than 400 million acres of
famers and agricultural property in US. Later on, 2,4,5-T dioxin-containing
herbicide was mixed with 2,4-D to create the chemical warfare called “Agent
Orange” against the Vietnamese. Both Monsanto and Dow were primary manufactures
of Agent Orange, although Monsanto’s formula had higher levels of dioxin
than Dow. 72 million liters of dioxin produced by Monsanto were dumped on more
than 4.8 million Vietnamese. Agent Orange killed more than 400,000
Vietnamese while half a million children were born with birth defects and up to
million people were disabled and suffered from chronic diseases. More than 3
million American troops and their offspring were also the victims of Agent
Orange. Many scientists have regarded dioxin as the most toxic and poisonous
small molecule on the planet. But if enough people hadn’t protested against
dioxin, Monsanto and Dow would be still selling their leftover Agent
Orange stocks.
5. Genetically Modified crops
Monsanto’s American dream to genetically modify
our seeds and food supply has turned into a nightmare for everyone
including US farmers, consumers and the economy. Although many independent
studies of concerned scientists have
linked GMOs to obesity, infertility, cancer and
even autism, Monsanto has been able to fully dominate and control our
seeds and food supply. The devastating results of GMO crops have cause more
than 250,000 deaths of Indian farmers in the last decade. Most
disturbingly, these farmers commit suicide by drinking Monsanto’s insecticide
“Roundup” that was shipped to them. GMOs have also caused 99% loss in
export of US agricultural products to Europe and according to the report
by Washington State University, the use of pesticides have grown by 404 million
pounds from the time they were introduced in 1996 through 2011. GM crops do not
grow on their own are just an expression of the willpower and control of the
biotech industry. Now Monsanto owns the seeds, owns the best selling herbicide
called “Roundup” and owns our food supply. Monsanto supporters and its
financially beneficiary have also done an excellent job of spreading lies and
misinformation to bash and manipulate the truth. Although the biotech industry
claims that GMOs are safe, the American public are waking up and finally
standing up for their rights. 30 other states have already required GMO
labeling and are fighting for the right of consumers to know if their
foods have been genetically modified.
6. Influence and domination of Monsanto over our foods
and seed supply More than 75% of processed foods are genetically modified and
more than 90% of all soy and corn grown in US are GMOs. 50% of US
farmlands are used to grow GMO corn and soy whereas only 3% of farms are
used to grown fruits and vegetables.Monsanto has been dominating our foods and
seeds for too long. One would wonder how a corrupted company like Monsanto
with its dark history can be in charge of our foods and seeds. Even Obama,
despite his promises to label GMOs appointed Mike Taylor as head
of FDA. He also appointed Roger Beachy, the former director
at Monsanto as head of USDA, Tom Vilsack and creator of Governors'
Biotechnology Partnership as the commissioner of USDA. He promised to label GMO
foods, but instead he signed Monsanto Protection Act that will give
Monsanto ultimate protection from both the legal system and the
government. Also despite all the sanctions against Iran, the US has been
selling Iran GMO wheat. This is when the US doesn't even sell Iran
commercial airplanes when hundreds of innocent civilians die every year because
of plane crushes.
7. Low calorie sweeteners (Nutrasweet) including both
Aspartame and Saccharin
In 1985, Monsanto bought Searle Company that
was the main producer of artificial sweetener called aspartame used
in carbonated beverages. Nutrasweet products are low calorie
sweeteners that have been linked to cancer, craving for sugar, obesity, diabetes and
chronic neurological disorders. This is when Monsanto among many other
powerful corporations in America donates millions of dollars to research
centers and facilities including the American Diabetes Association.
8. PCBs
In the late 1920s, Monsanto become the
largest producer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) used as hydraulic fluid,
cutting oil and lubricant for electric motors, capacitates and transformers.
PCBs were banned in 1970s but the remaining of it still exists along Dead Creek
in Sauget where Monsanto had its first PCBs plant. Monsanto’s first
PCBs plant was in the state of Illinois that has one of the highest rates of
immature death and birth defects. Now PCBs are widely banned and known as one
of the most dangerous chemicals related to cancer, immune system disorder,
birth defects and even death. Keep in mind that a recent study by University of
California in San Francisco shows that Monsanto’s PCBs still remains in the
blood of pregnant women. http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/01/8371/ucsf-study-identifies-chemicals-pregnant-women
9. Polystyrene
In 1940s, Monsanto focused on oil-based plastics
including synthetic polystyrene which is still widely used in food packaging in
US. Polystyrene foam is non-biodegradable and an environmental
disaster. Monsanto was involved in building several Disney land’s
attraction entirely built by non biodegradable plastic. When Disney decided to
tear them down they couldn’t even break the remaining pieces of the building by
chain saws or shovels so they had to squeeze big pieces of these non
biodegradable plastic into a truck.
10. Roundup
Soon after DDTs were banned in 1973 Monsanto developed
another toxic pesticide called Roundup (even more toxic than DDT).
The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate molecule used for killing weeds
and roots. Glyphosate has been linked to birth defects, reproduction
failure and deformities in animal laboratories. Roundup is now widely
used as a common weed killer and is marketed to 115 countries worldwide. After
selling Roundup, Monsanto’s sales grew by 20% and from 1980s to 1990s
Roundup has made up for 45% of the company’s income. Many concerned scientific
community and researchers among them Dr. Huber have warned the
officials about toxicity of Roundup. In fact, Dr. Huber wrote a letter to
Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture and the former governor of Iowa who
was awarded by biotech industries as the governor of the year and
described his concern that there is a link between Roundup and a mystery
organism. He explained how the mystery organism is causing birth
defect and infertility in laboratory animals. In his letter Dr Huber writes
“For the past 40 years, I have been a scientist
in the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural
and manmade biological threats, including germ warfare and disease outbreaks.
Based on this experience, I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen
is unique and of a high risk status. In layman’s terms, it should be treated as
an emergency.”
Dr Huber also asked the secretary of agriculture not
to approve GMO alfalfa that can contaminate organic and non-GMO crops
(since it’s pollinated by insects). However both FDA and Department of
Agriculture ignored and didn’t respond to any letters of Dr Huber.
And nowthat we are looking back at the American century, one
would ask if we have acted wisely and humanely in our relations to the rest of
the world? And that answer would be ,
unfortunately a Negative.
A world which the richest few hundred or a thousand or
couple of thousand have more wealth than the poorest three billion?”
******
As always, stay safe !
-Bird
***
