Three-Pronged System Enables GMO Takeover of American Agriculture

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> Geez, this is all over these days!! > > I fail to understand how they can do these things when they are well > aware of the death rates and health issues increasing drastically > since they began their "program" on agriculture. I have always said > the problems were preservatives and additives. I figured that out > when we lived in Virginia and I cooked a turkey. I had no idea that > states who did not have their own turkey farms got meat that was so > gross with preservatives. The smell of the meat there when cooking > will always be in my mind.> > :-D> ============ ===> > Three-Pronged System Enables GMO Takeover of American Agriculture> by Turpen, citizen journalist> Originally published March 29 2010>>

(NaturalNews) Genetically modified organisms (GMO) or genetically > modified crops (GM Foods) are fast becoming the only type of staple > crops grown in the United States. Over 90% of soybeans, over 70% of > corn, and more are all grown from GM seeds. The number one producer of > GM seeds is Monsanto and that company has been busy ensuring it has a > strong say in every aspect of agriculture and food labeling in America > - one large market shares in every type of seed grown in the U.S. (not > just corn and soybeans).>> NaturalNews readers are not new to the evils of GM foods, of course.^1 > From immune system problems to organ failure to severe harm to the > environment, the negative impacts of GMO seeds and crops are > well-documented. If that's the case, then, why is it that they are so > common and why do the GMO giants seem to be ever-growing and >

encroaching on more and more farms and foods?>> Through bullying, lobbying, and putting key figures into key positions > of government. That's how.>> Of course, this three-part frontal assault wasn't invented by the GM > seed makers. It's been used by Big Pharma, the Military-Industrial > Complex, Banking and Wall Street, and plenty of others before.>> To execute the three-pronged attack, Monsanto had to gain control of > the agricultural markets first, so it targeted individual crops with > its GM seeds. It did this by making seeds that were herbicide tolerant > (HT ready) and marketing them alongside it's flagship product, > RoundUp. RoundUp is an herbicide (plant killer) derived from > Monsanto's first product, commonly known as Agent Orange. That history > should explain where Monsanto learned the corporate three-punch > takeover game:

from the Military-Industrial Complex where it was born.>> Once a relatively large share of the seeds being planted were owned by > the company, Monsanto then moved into politics, pushing to make more > and more of their wares legal and accepted. This required lobbying > efforts on a large scale. In 2009 alone, Monsanto spent over $8.5 > million lobbying in Washington and untold millions in individual > states.^2 They also began intimidating farmers and using strong-arm > tactics to continue their market share growth. Eventually, of course, > their political lobbying would not be enough and more direct control > would be needed.>> Inside control. That came recently with some key appointments. ^3>> Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has been appointed Secretary of > Agriculture while , a former chief lobbyist for > Monsanto, is a new

senior adviser for the U.S. Food and Drug > Administration (FDA).>> Vilsack has long been a supporter of GM crops and factory farming. > is the Deputy Commissioner for Foods and is in charge of policy > for food safety for the FDA. Both are key positions of power over > America's food supply.>> It's this three-pronged encirclement of American agriculture and foods > that is giving Monsanto total control over our food supply. Which > means no amount of health reform will make you well if the very basis > of your health, food, is unhealthy.>> Resources:> 1 - Feature articles on GMO <http://www.naturaln ews.com/GMO. html>, > NaturalNews>> 2 - Monsanto Co 2009 > <http://www.opensecr ets.org/lobby/ clientsum. php?year= 2009 & lname= Monsanto+ Co & id=>, > OpenSecrets. org>> 3 - /Why are Monsanto Insiders Now Appointed to Protect Your Food > Safety?/ > <http://articles. mercola.com/ sites/articles/ archive/2009/ 10/10/Obama- Monsanto- Alliance- Too-Close- for-Comfort. aspx> > by Dr. Mercola, Oct. 10, 2009>> /Monsanto, Big Ag has 'troubling' control over seed market, report > finds/ > <http://iowaindepend ent.com/24537/

monsanto- big-ag-has- troubling- control-over- seed-market- report-finds> > by Waddington, The Iowa Independent, Dec. 29, 2009>>> About the author>> Turpen is a professional writer living in Wyoming in the USA. He > is also the Director of Gateway's Needy Animals, a local animal > shelter and rescue in the eastern Wyoming area. His blog covers > organic/sustainable living and environmental considerations at > sEnvironMental .com <http://www.aaronsen vironmental. com/>.>> > http://www.naturaln ews.com/028459_ GMO_agriculture. html