Political activists here in Wichita took part in a march
against Monsanto and their Genetically Modified Organisms (seeds) or GMOs. They
joined people in more than 250 cities in the U.S. today, who are concerned that
the seeds Monsanto sell to farmers are unsafe.
“I was motivated to meet here with people from all over this
country who want the freedom to know what they are eating,” said Charlie King,
a local activist and a member of the Peace and Social Justice Center of South
Central Kansas.
One main point to these protests is the "Monsanto
Protection Act," which some members of the U.S. Congress tried to overturn
last week. That act protects Monsanto from selling seeds that may prove to be
harmful. Monsanto is also protected from having to label its seeds with any
ingredients that are considered dangerous.
“If you are so proud of
your products, why are you so afraid to put what’s in your product on your
labels?” King asked of Monsanto rhetorically.
At least 200 people
attended the march which started at out from the Farmers Market at 1st and
Mosley and went towards the Warren Old Town Theater square.
“There were a lot of good
signs and artwork,” King said.
One sign used in the march
said:
“Mattresses require a
label, why not food.”
Another had a drawing of Mr.
Mackey, the bumbling elementary teacher from the cartoon show South Park:
“GMOs
are
Bad
M’Kay”
are
Bad
M’Kay”
“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.”
Also the Huffington
Post reported
that congress people who supported Monsanto only considered the needs of the
big seed company and the impact such changes in the law will have on them. They
completely ignored the protection act’s effects on the consumers and
environment.
Genetic altered seeds are
causing all kinds of problems for consumers and environmentalists and as has
happened in recent years, our national congress persons have disregarded any
possible problems for the consumers. They only care about Monsanto and their
needs.
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