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France Maintains Key Ban on Monsanto’s GMO Maize Crops
Natural Society / News Report
Published: Monday 17 September 2012
“Thanks to activism by French citizens and serious political outcry, Monsanto is now effectively blocked from Europe’s gigantic marketplace.”
In another massive victory against Monsanto and the spread of genetically modified crops, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayraul has announced that the nation will be maintaining a key ban on the only remaining GMO currently allowed in Europe. Known as Monsanto’s GMO maize crops, or MON810 maize, the original ban was brought forth back in March following the French court’s previous annulment on a November ban.
Thanks to activism by French citizens and serious political outcry, Monsanto is now effectively blocked from Europe’s gigantic marketplace. This is even more true when you consider that France is the largest agricultural producer in Europe. This move by such a large and influential nation will surely lead to similar legislation throughout the rest of the globe.
This decision comes in the face of emormous pressure from Monsanto to 'soften' its stance on GMOs (see first link). Monsanto has significant pull within governments around the globe, with the United States in particular being the ‘launch pad’ for the biotechnology movement. We now know thanks to WikiLeaks that United States ambassadors have actually threatened nations opposed to Monsanto’s GMO maize crops, going as far as to threaten them with ‘military-style trade wars’. When considering that this is but one leak, it is very concerning.
France has thwarted the political preasure and led the charge against Monsanto, even finding Monsanto guilty of ‘chemical poisoning’ earlier this year. According to the prime minister, the ruling was also part a wider plan to reduce the use of chemicals in farming.
Many countries have taken action against Monsanto and its many harmful creations. Peru has banned Monsanto’s GMOs for a total of 10 years, Hungary uprooted the company’s crops from its farmland, and even the agricultural giant California is seeking to label GMOs this November. From Agent Orange (known to kill 400,000 and cause 500,000 plus birth defects) to GMO maize, Monsanto’s time for experimentation may soon be up.
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ABOUT Anthony Gucciardi
Anthony is an accomplished investigative journalist whose articles have appeared on top news sites and have been read by millions worldwide. A health activist and researcher, Anthony’s goal is informing the public as to how they can use natural methods to revolutionize their health, as well as exploring the behind the scenes activity of the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA.
8 comments on "France Maintains Key Ban on Monsanto’s GMO Maize Crops"
September 18, 2012 1:21pm
iTwo ideas that I see to counter act Monsanto and GMO. First is that we demand labeling or we will be eating it without our knowledge. Second and this applies only to those that have an area to grow and raise your own food. We need to fight it the best way we can individually.
September 18, 2012 8:08am
Trying to stop Monsanto at the front end is very difficult, as they they have already been allowed into the political arena with their money. Recent decisions like citizens united that say, in effect, that money = speech only serve to reinforce the problem. Monsanto has power and influence because they've purchased it from our representatives, who put it up for sale in the first place. We have to get at the back end and work to remove the money from politics.
September 18, 2012 6:53am
Sad government we have. Allowing Monsanto GMO's is disgusting and just proves American Gov. is run by these multi-national corporations. Bill Gates another whore who praises the use of GMO's to save the starving people, while also giving speeches on how to stop overpopulation. hmmm... will the GMO's take care of the overpopulation problem or was it just the 500,000 shares of Monsanto stock Gates was given. Don't you (gates) and your scumbag family have enough money?
September 17, 2012 9:30pm
I believe that everyone should save seed especially Mexican corn which is naturally resistant to insects and drought. The world should stand together on the one truth of food that no one can own the dna of food even if you create something new by changing a few strands of dna. Whats next dna stranded slaves they can own them to plant more gmo corn. Let the people who create the dna eat it for 30 years and then study them for dna defects. Its bad enough to have our flouride levels ijncreased in our water and the govment raising the radio active level in our food saying it is safe why now. Put a cloned weinersnitchel in your mouth monsanto larger meatier less flavor and lots of dna excretions.
September 17, 2012 8:18pm
@ WILFRID
Many people almost always miss the little known fact that Monsanto has lobbied and gotten past laws that prohibit and make a felony any sort of scientific independent testing and reporting on their GMO products, even if something bad is found--and bad things have been found.
Do you really want to eat that shit, or have it grown in your neighborhood, that is, illegal to test products?
Did you know Monsanto also developed PCBs and labeled them "safe"? And, documents now show that Monsanto knew from the begging the health risks involved with PCBs--which are now illegal in the US.
Wow, Monsanto has a list of unsafe products that they have labeled as "safe" a mile long.
September 17, 2012 12:40pm
The executives , board of directors, and major stockholders, and the political pimps who shilled for Monsanto should be brought up on criminal charges; at the least, their corporation should be dismembered!
September 17, 2012 10:00am
Hooray! I live in France and it can be quite confusing at times. It is one thing to ban the seed so that GMO crops can't be raised here. It is quite another to ban the products...although GMO corn can't be grown in France, it is my understanding that France still buys corn from America to help feed its animals. Most of US corn is GMO, so I would be very surprised if GMO corn was not in the French food supply as feed for animals. I buy organic because I am still not sure. Labeling seems voluntary. There is only one brand of chicken in Normandy (LOUIE) which specifically states that the chickens were not fed any GMO grains. So what about the other brands? Anyone who can clear this up for me? I'd appreciate it!
September 17, 2012 5:55pm
The EU also wants to ban imports of all GMO from US. The dispute about this at the WTO is ongoing. Monsanto's corn (no.810) was licensed on a trial basis for the production of bio-fuel only and not for human or animal consumption.
The anglo-american press always seems to miss that small detail.