As if U.S. farmers weren't in enough trouble, now the "seed police" are after them. Monsanto, the world leader in genetically modified grains, is pursuing fines and jail sentences for farmers who use their seed in noncontractual ways-such as saving it and sowing it the next season. The Center for Food Safety has released an investigative review of Monsanto's use of U.S. patent law to crack down on farmers.
Monsanto has filed 90 lawsuits against U.S. farmers in 25 states that involve 147 farmers and 39 small businesses or farm companies, according to the report.
*500: The number of U.S. farmers under investigation annually by Monsanto.
*$10 million: Monsanto's annual budget (plus 75 staff) devoted to investigating and prosecuting U.S. farmers.
*$15,253,602: The total recorded judgments granted to Monsanto for farmer
lawsuits.
*$3,052,800: The largest recorded judgment in favor of Monsanto as a result of a farmer lawsuit.
*8 months: The prison sentence given to a Tennessee farmer convicted of violating an agreement with Monsanto.
Sources: "Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers 2005" (The Center for Food Safety); The Associated Press.
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/CFSMOnsantovsFarmerReport1.13.05.pdf LINKS:
http://www.percyschmeiser.com http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/seedsaving031405.cfm USAID forces other countries to use GE Crops and destroy Local Farmers:
http://manila.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=3763 USA forces Iraq to use GE Food:
Are our local Family Farmers next on the Hit List?
http://www.indymedia.no/newswire/display/18702/index.php GE Food:
http://www.grain.org/nfg/?id=319 http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/06/3713.php http://peru.indymedia.org/news/2005/06/17194.php http://www.gmfoodnews.com/in220505.txt http://www.gmfoodnews.com/gp100505.txt USA Chemical Pesticides are devastating Children worldwide.
Is your family safe?
http://www.bhopal.net http://www.calhealthyschools.org http://www.watoxics.org http://www.pesticidereform.org http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org http://www.safe2use.com USA corporation POISONS CHILDREN.
Is your family at risk? Is there a body bag with child's name on it?
http://www.bibleplus.org/health/ms_lupus.htm Keep our country and community strong like a rock. Please ban all GM foods from our country. Please refrain from purchasing or consuming any product containing GM materials. Please support LOCAL Organic FAMILY farmers. Please use sustainable technology. Please help disabled people, older people and poor people to grow their own organic food. Luke 10:29 THANK YOU for your help and God Bless America.
"THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE."
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