Posted on

Monsanto Lawsuit

It’s been mentioned now by several people, and I haven’t posted about it yet.  This is big news, especially for those of you in the US I think.

Most major OP/Heirloom seed companies (more than 60 plaintiffs) in the US have gotten together to pre-emptively sue Monsanto to prevent being held liable if genes from Monsanto’s new GM varieties should end up in seeds belonging to others.  In addition, they are challenging the validity of some of Monsanto’s patents.

Notable in their absence is the Seed Savers Exchange, who has better things to spend their money on then suing Monsanto (with about $800,000[updated] cash on hand according to recent financial filings):

I appreciate the discussion here. As a non-profit, Seed Savers Exchange uses its limited resources to maintain our collection and seed bank here at Heritage Farm and promote participatory preservation through our membership. This is a full time job. We leave advocacy and policy work to other organizations, such as Organic Seed Alliance and ETC Group, two groups that we often partner with. We believe our mission speaks for itself and offers a counterpoint to the agribusiness model, which is at the heart of the litigation you speak of.

John Torgrimson
President and Executive Director
Seed Savers Exchange

Have a look at the page Baker Creek put up about the lawsuit for more information.

What do you think?  Is it going to help?  Will they win?

Posted on

Brussels Action 17-18 April 2011 — The Message

With our tractor in the lead, on Monday the 18th we marched!

In addition to the demonstration on Monday, there were workshops on Sunday with equally compelling messages.

Olivier de Schutter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, gave his message in a video. His position is clear. The European seed laws are a violation of human rights.

Representatives of Turkey and India spoke about the problems they have in their countries because of European seed laws.  However bad it might be for us here in Europe, it can be far worse for people living in other countries.

Please, no matter where in the world you live, make your voice heard on the new EU seed laws!

Posted on

Brussels Action 17-18 April 2011 — Looking for Videos and Pictures

Were you at the seed swap and demonstration?  I didn’t have a video camera with me, and of course I couldn’t be everywhere at the same time.  If you have any pictures or videos you’d like to share with me for publishing on the Internet, please send me an email!  You can find my email address in the Contact tab on the front page of this blog, or leave a comment here and be sure to give a valid email address.

Of particular interest would be pictures or videos of the workshops.

Posted on

Brussels Action 17-18 April 2011 — The GMO Garden

The conclusion of the events was the planting of a mock GMO garden in the center traffic circle of the EU Parliament complex.  They grew square tomatoes and lime green pears.  They sprayed everything with chemicals.

Everything was carefully managed by their foreman.

shown here with his assistant at his side.

At the end they appropriately decorated the statue.  The blue-green flag belongs to Via Campesina, the organization who called on this and other demonstrations around the world on the same days.