I find myself writing more and more about genetically modified (GM) foods. Maybe because there are more and more GM foods grown in the U.S.
You may wonder why GM foods are so bad?
For one, they are made from crops genetically engineered to withstand glyphosate (Roundup), the toxic pesticide made by the agribusiness giant Monsanto. So when a farmer sprays his crops with glyphosate, it kills everything in its wake except the GM crops.
Farmers all across America now treat their GM crops with heavy doses of glyphosate. And as a result, the farmers suffer less crop loss from bugs and pests. But independent research shows glyphosate causes leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancers in humans associated with a “pesticide-specific” gene mutation.
Monsanto and other GM agribusinesses declare GM foods are safe. And the FDA turns a blind eye. In fact, the FDA exempted GM foods from the strict testing and safety standards required of all other foods and drugs. So the safety of GM foods remains, at best, an open question. At worst, GM foods are human health hazards and ecological disasters of epic proportions, which brings me to my second big concern about GM crops…
Roundup poses a greater risk to life
Glyphosate kills native plants, destroys biodiversity, and kills pollinators such as bees and butterflies. In fact, it has decimated the Monarch butterfly population, which requires wild flowers such as milkweed.
My third major concern has to do with life itself on this planet.
If we don’t do anything to stop it, Monsanto will eventually create a monopoly on U.S. soil. Eventually, the only plants capable of surviving in this country will come from Monsanto’s GM seeds. I believe if we can’t stop Monsanto and big agribusiness, they will eventually ruin human health, destroy the natural environment, and destroy the ecology of the planet.
Of course, big business doesn’t see it this way. They say GM foods are good for famers and good for business. But they’re only good for THEIR farmers and THEIR business.
Can Monsanto be stopped in the U.S.?
In a word: yes.
I believe the tide is turning against GM foods. But you must speak up and must vote — both at the polls and with your wallet — to reject GM foods, as they have done in Europe and Vermont.
Enlightened politicians like Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) question crony capitalist government and the lack of government oversight. Last month, Sanders left the campaign trail to oppose the approval in the U.S. Senate of the Obama administration’s nominee to the FDA. The nominee is a Monsanto puppet.
Of course, voters in the state of Vermont lead the way in opposing GM foods. They voted last year to require GM labeling beginning in July 2016. Two other New England states passed similar legislation.
As a result, food giants like Campbell’s, General Mills and Nestle have just agreed to label GM foods nationwide. Furthermore, General Mills recently agreed not to use GM foods and artificial ingredients in any of their products.
Until every other food manufacturer follows suit, I feel a duty to write about GM foods. I believe, as part of the free press, I should help inform and educate citizens in the U.S. about these crimes conducted in our midst. Some call the press the “fourth branch of government” or the “fourth estate.”
Yes — good, solid, factual, and investigative reporting is more important than ever in our culture. Especially since so many news organizations and scholarly publications — including Science, Lancet, and The New York Times — have all experienced scandals in recent years.
You can always count on me to thoroughly research the story and get the facts right.
Of course, when it comes to glyphosate, the evidence is clear, so my work isn’t all that hard.
Your role is important too — take a stand in your state. And speak out against GM foods as they’ve done in Europe and the green mountain state. I believe we, as informed citizens, can still lead society onto a better course.