Today was the March Against Monsanto, happening in 50 countries and in every state in the US. I was so happy to be able to participate in a cause I believe so strongly in. We were able to listen to some speak on the collapse of the bee population which is so sad. I was sad to see the bill in Washington allowing states to require labeling failed, it's absurd to me when 80% of the population wants labeling that Washington is so out of touch that they can't vote for the people. I wrote to both of my senators and received a letter back from Senator Orrin Hatch saying that he believed GMOs to be safe and would have to vote according to what he knows. Turns out Monsanto is a contributor to his campaign and he is considered one of the 13 "friends of Monsanto" in the senate.
Good luck having him vote for the people, he votes for the campaign trail. Luckily this is his last term and
hopefully he will be replaced with someone who puts people over profit. Senator Lee didn't vote for it because he won't vote for anything that gives the Federal Government more power to tell the states what to do. He is trying to get back to smaller government and allow the constitution to rule, which I respect. I disagree with his vote but I respect his stand.
GMOs are in 70% of the products in the grocery store and people are eating them without knowing. It's absurd to me that the FDA gives a statement saying that GMOs are just as safe as organically grown non-GMO food when they have yet to run any tests or do any research on GMOs. I remember I used to think that when a product went before the FDA that they had their little lab and they would run tests and do research to determine if a product was safe for the citizens of the USA. I felt protected by this. Yet it turns out they do no such thing. In actuality what happens is a company brings their product to the FDA with their own research for approval.
If you've ever helped out with research you know how easily it can be skewed to get the outcome that you are looking for. As the saying goes, "You get what you look for." When Monsanto first introduced GMOs the FDA committee reviewing them said they had further questions and couldn't determine whether or not they were safe for human consumption and that they
recommended further research. Then it went to the head of that department and he happened to be a former Monsanto attorney and went ahead and approved the use of GMOs. Monsanto has former executives in the FDA and they rotate through. Here is a link with information on the revolving door plus a funny photo of former VP for Monsanto and President Obama, just mocking what a grown child of theirs would look like since Obama promised to keep Monsanto out of any appointed office but then went ahead and went back on his word and appointed Michael Taylor.
If you've ever helped out with research you know how easily it can be skewed to get the outcome that you are looking for. As the saying goes, "You get what you look for." When Monsanto first introduced GMOs the FDA committee reviewing them said they had further questions and couldn't determine whether or not they were safe for human consumption and that they
recommended further research. Then it went to the head of that department and he happened to be a former Monsanto attorney and went ahead and approved the use of GMOs. Monsanto has former executives in the FDA and they rotate through. Here is a link with information on the revolving door plus a funny photo of former VP for Monsanto and President Obama, just mocking what a grown child of theirs would look like since Obama promised to keep Monsanto out of any appointed office but then went ahead and went back on his word and appointed Michael Taylor.
In other news about Monsanto in government (not the latest but last September) link and this link gives a table of different positions held by Monsanto Executives.
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