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Monsanto pays fine for bribery

Greenpeace marks a maize field with signs showing corn with a 'question mark' indicating that 1 in 200 maize crops can be genetically contaminated if the draft EU seed directive is passed . Enlarge Image

Will farmers pay for GMO contamination?

Genetically engineered (GE) crops, as any other living organism, grow and reproduce. That's why genetic contamination is a problem with the potential to multiply. A proposal in the EU aims to put the burden of controlling contamination onto farmers seeking to keep their fields GE-free.

Greenpeace marks a maize field with signs showing corn with a 'question mark' indicating that 1 in 200 maize crops can be genetically contaminated if the draft EU seed directive is passed . Enlarge Image

Monsanto: heading for disaster?

Monsanto, the company that gave us PCBs, Agent Orange, pesticides and beef growth hormones, is desperate to get us to plant their genetically engineered (GE) seeds, spray them with their herbicides and eat GE foods. Will they get away with it? Not according to a new study done by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors.

Greenpeace activists occupy the Monsanto’s European/African Enlarge Image

Monsanto challenged

Monsanto's European/African Headquarters in Brussels were occupied by activists who want the world's leading producer of genetically modified crops held responsible for spreading genetic contamination.

Greenpeace removing genetically engineered maize from trial farm. Enlarge Image

British GM maize plan 'disaster'

Planting genetically modified (GM) crops is a risk that isn't wanted or needed anywhere in the world. The general public in the UK and even the UK Government's own scientists and economists have all said no to GM.

We protested against GE maize in 1999 - 5 years later Bayer withdraws the crop from the UK. Enlarge Image

GM setback in UK

Following the controversial UK government approval of genetically engineered (GE) maize for commercial planting, the only company authorized to grow GE maize has withdrawn its application. It now appears unlikely the UK will see any commercialised GE crops before 2008.

Monsanto announced that it has suspended further development and open field trials of its genetically engineered, Roundup Ready wheat Enlarge Image

Victory: Monsanto drops GE Wheat

There's a reason to celebrate today: Monsanto has caved at last and given up on further development or open field trials of its genetically engineered "Roundup Ready" wheat. Monsanto won't admit it has bowed to overwhelming market rejection, but that's clearly behind their decision. It's a hard-won victory for every environmental group, every consumer, every cyberactivist who has said "no" to genetically engineered foods. The decision fits a pattern of industry retreat set last month by Bayer CropScience's decision to withdraw GE maize from the UK.

Monsanto took Percy Shmeiser to court because their crop contaminated his field. Enlarge Image

Monsanto wins right to pollute

After years of fighting against bio-tech giant Monsanto, Percy Shmeiser, a Canadian farmer who Monsanto claims did not acquire a licence to grow his crop of canola, has lost his appeal in the Supreme Court of Canada.

Traditional farming methods in India are safer from the biotech threat now that Bayer has terminated its GE projects. Enlarge Image

Bayer pulls out of India

Bayer has pulled out of GE research in India after sustained pressure from Greenpeace; this is the biotech giant's third defeat this year proving just how unsustainable and unwanted GE agriculture is.

Hendrik A. Verfaillie and Monsanto are wanted for crimes of genetic pollution. Enlarge Image

Monsanto are WANTED for crimes against the environment

Long time corporate scoundrels Monsanto are WANTED for their crimes against the planet. It started innocently enough with the production of Agent Orange for military use in Vietnam. Then came PCBs and Dioxin. Now they are after our food. Their goal: global food supply domination.

Wheat. Enlarge Image

Farmers at losing end of GE industry

Farmers, consumers, even people in developing countries are under intense pressure to accept genetic engineering as an improvement on nature. But a new report documenting 10 years of experience by North American farmers shows that virtually every beneficial claim for GE crops has been exaggerated. Genetically engineered crops have been an economic disaster in the US and Canada. Only time will tell whether consumers will also be at the losing end of the GE takeover of our food supply.

Monica Gibbs lives next to a chemical plant in south Louisiana and needs to wear a breathing mask. She has suffered from respiratory problems since birth. Her town is part of the infamous 'cancer alley', so called because of the huge number of chemical refineries in the area and illnesses related to the pollution from the plants. Enlarge Image

Dodgy deals and irresponsible care

A recently leaked document has revealed the secret plans of the American Chemistry Council to trash anti-pollution laws in California. The internal memo, a proposal from PR firm Nichols-Dezenhall, outlines tactics such as the creation of phoney front groups and spying on activists to undermine pioneering laws that protect the environment. Unfortunately the Chemistry Council is just one of many industry front groups dedicated to making sure nothing interferes with corporate profits.

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Greenpeace Opinion: Imagine™: The Monsanto slogan used to be "food, health, hope". As if this wasn't absurd enough, it has now been changed to "Imagine™". John Lennon must be turning in his grave.