The Deadly History of Monsanto Corporation

[marmar]

from Vanity Fair, via ReclaimDemocracy!:



The Deadly History of Monsanto Corporation



By Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele
First Published by Vanity Fair, May 2008 issue



Editor's note: This lengthy report by two of America's finest journalists is well worth the time for those seeking to understand Monsanto (the historical account begins midway into the article). This is among several fine stories in the magazine's May 2008 "green issue."

Gary Rinehart clearly remembers the summer day in 2002 when the stranger walked in and issued his threat. Rinehart was behind the counter of the Square Deal, his “old-time country store,” as he calls it, on the fading town square of Eagleville, Missouri, a tiny farm community 100 miles north of Kansas City.

The Square Deal is a fixture in Eagleville, a place where farmers and townspeople can go for lightbulbs, greeting cards, hunting gear, ice cream, aspirin, and dozens of other small items without having to drive to a big-box store in Bethany, the county seat, 15 miles down Interstate 35.

Everyone knows Rinehart, who was born and raised in the area and runs one of Eagleville's few surviving businesses. The stranger came up to the counter and asked for him by name. “Well, that's me,” said Rinehart.

As Rinehart would recall, the man began verbally attacking him, saying he had proof that Rinehart had planted Monsanto's genetically modified (G.M.) soybeans in violation of the company's patent. Better come clean and settle with Monsanto, Rinehart says the man told him—or face the consequences.

Rinehart was incredulous, listening to the words as puzzled customers and employees looked on. Like many others in rural America, Rinehart knew of Monsanto's fierce reputation for enforcing its patents and suing anyone who allegedly violated them. But Rinehart wasn't a farmer. He wasn't a seed dealer. He hadn't planted any seeds or sold any seeds. He owned a small—a really small—country store in a town of 350 people. He was angry that somebody could just barge into the store and embarrass him in front of everyone. “It made me and my business look bad,” he says. Rinehart says he told the intruder, “You got the wrong guy.” ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://reclaimdemocracy.org/articles/2008/history_monsanto_corporation.php

[KT2000]

1. Actually a must read

for everyone.
This monster needs to be dissolved. Surely by now they have blatantly violated their charters. Their tactics are nothing but extortion. They are not using guns but are out to destroy farmers so their corporate farms will prevail and take control.

[TriggerGal]

14. I'd say... WORSE!!

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7529

"Doomsday Seed Vault" in the Arctic
Bill Gates, Rockefeller and the GMO giants know something we don’t
by F. William Engdahl
author of:

[The2ndWheel]

2. As long as the energy is cheap

Monsanto, or whatever the conglomerate will be called eventually, will only increase its power. Monsanto is nothing more than humanity's concentrated drive toward control on a global scale. We don't build what we've built by having to take up time worrying about food. As long as we live in a world where we can all chase our dreams, then we will also live in a world where Monsanto exists.

[AdHocSolver]

5. We do NOT live in a world "where we can all chase our dreams", as long as corporate monopolies exist

Monsanto was very energetic in stopping Mr Rinehart from chasing his dream, not to mention all the other farmers they targeted for destruction.

Most of humanity does not strive for control on a global scale. Only rabidly totalitarian individuals or corporations want everything, including what belongs to their neighbors, for themselves.

Moreover, if the "rest of the world" doesn't wake up to the destruction corporations like Monsanto and Big Oil are inflicting on the environment of this planet, and do something to stop them, civilization will not survive. Drought, famine, and catastrophic climate change destroyed earlier civilizations (not to mention chronic warfare, disease, and pestilence), and our civilization is NOT immune to these effects.

[The2ndWheel]

12. Fair enough

"Monsanto was very energetic in stopping Mr Rinehart from chasing his dream, not to mention all the other farmers they targeted for destruction."

That's true. We all can't chase those dreams. However, most people in the developed world aren't farmers, and don't dream of being one. Most people don't have to be. Most people have no direct contact with food other than buying it. That's why something like Monsanto can exist. We're all part of the problem.

"as long as corporate monopolies exist"

I'd say any kind of monopoly.

"Most of humanity does not strive for control on a global scale. Only rabidly totalitarian individuals or corporations want everything, including what belongs to their neighbors, for themselves."

True, but most of humanity is caught up in the machine. Or, the machine wants to catch most of humanity. What is the history of the last few thousand years but monopolies of corporate or government nature rapaciously striving for total control?

"Moreover, if the "rest of the world" doesn't wake up to the destruction corporations like Monsanto and Big Oil are inflicting on the environment of this planet, and do something to stop them, civilization will not survive. Drought, famine, and catastrophic climate change destroyed earlier civilizations (not to mention chronic warfare, disease, and pestilence), and our civilization is NOT immune to these effects."

No it isn't immune, that's quite right. Our civilization is at war with the environment of the planet. Always has been. Especially this current one, since we can't sail west anymore and accidentally hit a large land mass that we can monopolize. We have no place left to go.

So the question ends up being; is civilization possible without monopolistic power?

[AdHocSolver]

3. Monsanto is so bad for planet earth that it is difficult to know where to begin.

Monsanto is using the same tactics that the robber barons of the late 19th century used, and which brought about the antitrust laws. This company should be prosecuted for antitrust activities, but since the right-wing has taken over the government, don't hold your breath.

I have seen other articles about Monsanto that have touched on the environmental disaster looming from the use of the Roundup system. Some noxious weeds belong to plant varieties that are related to food crops. The fear is that the pollen from Roundup plants will fertilize seeds of noxious weeds and transfer immunity to weed killers to the noxious weeds. Then the noxious weeds, now immune to herbicides, will infest the good farmland and displace the food crops leading to massive famine.

Between aggressive, unregulated monopolies such as Monsanto, and the oil corporations, and the cartel mandated trade and financial agreements such as NAFTA, the WTO, the IMF, and the World Bank, together with the corporate control of the Federal Reserve, this planet is so screwed.

[marmar]

7. "this planet is so screwed."

You know it.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

4. Anti-trust laws may as well be erased from the books because they're no longer enforced.

x(

[NightWatcher]

6. go to google and enter "monsanto" and "clinton"

Going Backwards:
Clinton Administration Appoints A Former Monsanto Corp. Lobbyist To Represent US Consumers On Genetically Engineered Food Issues
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/072600-03.htm

Hillary Clinton Cozy with Monsanto Lobbyists & Front Group
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7940.cfm

Hillary Clinton, Monsanto and GMO
http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/626639

[Kurovski]

11. She's such a right-winger at heart.

Doesn't give one steaming shit for people when you get right down to it.

[AdHocSolver]

8. Let's K & R this post to get it to the greatest page. It exemplifies what's wrong with this country.

[ProgressiveFool]

9. k & r - an incredible read

Monsanto is pretty much an ancient evil, a corporate bad actor from the start, and now they get the keys to the world's food supply?

edit: off to greatest, too :)

[Kurovski]

10. K&R. (nt)

[Kurovski]

13. Kick. (nt)

[varelse]

15. Corporate thugs

who need a good class-action lawsuit or two to put them back in their place.

:kick: