France does what America doesn't seem to be able to do. HMM
Breaking: Monsanto Found Guilty of Chemical Poisoning in France
Anthony Gucciardi
NaturalSociety
February 13, 2012
In
a major victory for public health and what will hopefully lead to other
nations taking action, a French court decided today that GMO crops monster Monsanto is guilty of chemically poisoning a French farmer.
The grain grower, Paul Francois, says he developed neurological
problems such as memory loss and headaches after being exposed to
Monsanto’s Lasso weedkiller back in 2004. The monumental case paves the
way for legal action against Monsanto’s Roundup and other harmful herbicides and pesticides made by other manufacturers.
In a ruling given by a court in Lyon (southeast France), Francois says that Monsanto failed to provide proper warnings on the product label. The court ordered an expert opinion to determine the sum of the damages, and to verify the link between Lasso and the reported illnesses. The case is extremely important, as previous legal action taken against Monsanto by farmers has failed due to the challenge of properly linking pesticide exposure with the experienced side effects.
When contacted by Reuters, Monsanto’s lawyers declined to comment.
Monsanto’s Deadly Concoctions
Farmer Paul Francois was not alone in his quest to hold Monsanto accountable for their actions. He and other farmers affected by Monsanto’s deadly concoctions actually founded an association last year to make the case that their health problems were a result of Monsanto’s Lasso and other ‘crop protection’ products. Their claims were also met by many other farmers. Since 1996, the agricultural branch of the French social security system has gathered about 200 alerts per year regarding sickness related to pesticides. However only 47 cases were even recognized in the past 10 years.
Francois, whose life was damaged by Monsanto’s products, has now set the powerful precedent in the defense of farmers.
“I am alive today, but part of the farming population is going to be sacrificed and is going to die because of this,” Francois, 47, told Reuters.
It is also important to note that Monsanto’s Lasso pesticide was actually banned in France back in 2007 following a European Union directive that came after the ban of the product in other nations.
Thanks for the post, Carpy!
I am glad to see this! Monsanto is not only killing individuals, but entire cultures and way of life for millions of people in 3rd world countries. Prince Charles has taken this on as a cause and I champion him going against such a huge machine. Our corporate culture does not promote fights such as this one...but I hope this is the beginning of more to come.
It's my understanding that they have been kicked out of the entire EU. I've also heard Israel, but have been unable to confirm.
Have you seen this?
http://www.nationofchange.org/300000-organic-farmers-sue-monsanto-federal-court-decision-march-31st-go-trial-1329059467
I found this particularly alarming:
Michael Taylor, a former VP of Monsanto, was appointed as Sr. Advisor to the Commissioner at the FDA. The FDA is responsible for “label requirements” and recently ruled under Michael Taylor’s time as FDA Food Czar that GMO products did not need to be labeled as such, even though national consumer groups loudly professed the public’s right to know what is genetically modified in the food system. Sadly to remember: President Obama promised in campaign speeches that he would “let folks know what foods are genetically modified.” These are the conflict of interests that lead to the 99% movement standing up for the family farmers.
Pay attention, your government is not working for YOU.
Hopefully this will start a revolution of sorts. Monsanto has way too much power and control.
edit for spelling
Perhaps if we got their former employees out of the government and their money out of campaigns we'd make better progress. You can thank the Koch Brothers and their Citizens United for undermining our electoral process that now allows unlimited money and resources for super PACs that directly lead to the cronyism enjoyed by the likes of Monsanto.
IF there was a way to turn this into a class action suit in the us, from all the people directly harmed by Roundup with proof from their doctors....hmmm :)
The goverment needs to stop protecting monsanto.
The government needs to get out of its pocket.
Quoting matreshka:
IF there was a way to turn this into a class action suit in the us, from all the people directly harmed by Roundup with proof from their doctors....hmmm :)
The goverment needs to stop protecting monsanto.
VP Picks. Who's Your Fave?
- Carpy
on Feb. 13, 2012 at 8:30 PM