Two million people on March against Monsanto

Two million people in more than 50 countries united for the March against Monsanto on the weekend of 25 May 2013, according to information from the organisers. A spreadsheet was designed on http://occupy-monsanto.com/ to catalogue all of the March against Monsanto media that was generated over the last week. From local TV coverage to unedited Youtube videos to Facebook photo galleries of the march, revealing the success, the list currently consists of over 170 different items. Some of the videos, speaking for themselves, can be watched below.



Protests will continue with the Moms Across America March taking place at Independence Day parades across America on Thursday, July 4, 2013. Parents, kids and other concerned citizens are encouraged to join to declare their independence from Monsanto. More information is available here.



Senators in the USA have recently debated whether states could require food labeling for products with genetically engineered ingredients. The legislation, introduced by Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, has failed, however.

The good news: Monsanto announced to cancel production of genetically modified seeds in all of Europe and focus on hybrids and pestizids. According Investigative Reporting Denmark only Spain, Portugal and Czech Republic grew MON810 GM corn. ”In Europe, Monsanto only sells GM corn in three countries. GM corn represents less than 1% of the EU’s corn cultivation by land area. Field trials are only in progress in three countries. We will not spend any more money to convince people to plant them,” states Brandon Mitchener, Public Affairs Lead for Monsanto in Europe and Middle East, in an interview with Investigative Reporting Denmark. 


 

This is not surprising, knowing that BASF stopped its biotech research in Europe in 2012 and Syngenta moved its research years before. It will influence the international expansion of GMOs on a global scale, according to Klaus Sall. Mr. Sall has been studying the politics of the GMO industry for several years, and is now working as a strategic business adviser. He has just written a status report on the development of GMOs in the EU for Organic Denmark (Økologisk Landsforening). All in all the protests are a huge success keeping Europe free from GMO.