March against Monsanto GR
2 to 5 p.m.
Saturday May 25
Ah-Nab-Awen Park, Grand Rapids
Reposted from March against Monsanto GR
Who is Monsanto, and why do we march?
Monsanto Corporation is a leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed and of the herbicide glyphosate, which it markets under the “Roundup” brand.
Research studies have shown that Monsanto’s genetically-modified foods can lead to serious health conditions such as the development of cancer tumors, infertility and birth defects.
In the United States, the FDA, the agency tasked with ensuring food safety for the population, is steered by ex-Monsanto executives, and we feel that’s a questionable conflict of interests and explains the lack of government-lead research on the long-term effects of GMO products.
Recently, the U.S. Congress and president collectively passed the nicknamed “Monsanto Protection Act” that, among other things, bans courts from halting the sale of Monsanto’s genetically-modified seeds.
For too long, Monsanto has been the benefactor of corporate subsidies and political favoritism. Organic and small farmers suffer losses while Monsanto continues to forge its monopoly over the world’s food supply, including exclusive patenting rights over seeds and genetic makeup.
Monsanto’s GMO seeds are harmful to the environment; one example is scientists have indicated they have caused colony collapse among the world’s bee population.
What are solutions we advocate?
- Voting with your dollar by buying organic and boycotting Monsanto-owned companies that use GMOs in their products.
- Labeling of GMOs so that consumers can make those informed decisions easier.
- Repealing relevant provisions of the US’s “Monsanto Protection Act.”
- Calling for further scientific research on the health effects of GMOs.
- Holding Monsanto executives and Monsanto-supporting politicians accountable through direct communication, grassroots journalism, social media, etc.
- Continuing to inform the public about Monsanto’s secrets.
- Taking to the streets to show the world and Monsanto that we won’t take these injustices quietly.
We will not stand for cronyism. We will not stand for poison. That’s why we March Against Monsanto.
It’s Time To Get Involved!
We are asking for community support in this very important cause which effects us all on a very basic human needs level. Participating, donating and volunteering helps our community show Monsanto, and our government leaders, that Grand Rapids Area Businesses, organizations, and farmers will not tolerate the use of GMO’s. We’d like to do this by providing our community with a living example of the businesses, goods and professionals who are already operating on this standard.Through this event and our research we are developing a “Local NO-GMO Directory” which will feature all of the local, mindful and sustainable options we have available to us already. This will be a valuable source of information for people to start connecting with these professionals and businesses who are already available to them. Do you and your business belong in this directory? Send us your info! We’re open to including everyone, but are also offering featured listings and advertisement spaces for businesses to help us cover costs of this event (plus, 10% of ALL proceeds will be directly contributed to No GMO for Michigan).
Last week, the U.S. Senate voted down an amendment by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to restore $4.1 billion in food stamp cuts—by reducing corporate welfare to a handful of crop insurance companies, mostly based overseas. Only 26 senators voted “yes.”
Twenty-eight Senate Democrats (including Stabenow) joined with all voting Republicans to defeat this crucial amendment. If these cuts are allowed, around 500,000 low-income households will lose an average of $90 in monthly benefits.
Our Kitchen Table 