The Hidden Battle to Control the World's Food Supply

[Pharaoh]

Food riots are breaking out across the planet. We must re-examine corporate control of the food supply.



The rise in global food prices has sparked a number of protests in recent weeks, highlighting the worsening epidemic of global hunger. The World Bank estimates world food prices have risen 80 percent over the last three years and that at least thirty-three countries face social unrest as a result. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned the growing global food crisis has reached emergency proportions.

In recent weeks, food riots have also erupted in Haiti, Niger, Senegal, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. Protests have also flared in Morocco, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Mexico and Yemen. In most of West Africa, the price of food has risen by 50 percent -- in Sierra Leone, 300 percent. The World Food Program has issued a rare $500 million emergency appeal to deal with the growing crisis.

Several causes factor into the global food price hike, many linked to human activity. These include human-driven climate change, the soaring cost of oil and a Western-led focus on biofuels that critics say turns food into fuel.



http://www.alternet.org/story/82632/

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Is my understanding correct that these GM seeds sold by

Monsanto and others are not viable? They will produce a crop, but the crop will not reproduce? Thus, once you go to Monsanto seed, you have to keep buying from them because you cannot produce seed crop from their seed?

Also, the revelation that these crops are actually less productive than non-modified crops?

Sounds like it's planned that way, if true.

[fed-up]

3. only some of the GM seed was the "terminator seed"-yes, farmers are NOT allowed to SAVE seed

they also are charged and forced into a contract if seeds from a neighboring farm or truck driving by get onto their land

here is a simple explanation of terminator technology and consequenses for farmers from an older website
http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GEFood/Terminator.asp

and more
http://www.banterminator.org/

sorry, I am running out the door and don't have time to find more current links

basically-"he who controls the seed, controls the food supply"

and said at a Monsanto board meeting years ago-something along the lines that they (Monsanto) wanted to control the seed supply
there is a video of that out there somewhere that I have seen


you can connect the dots

[klook]

6. Success story - Percy Schmeiser vs. Monsanto

Canadian canola farmer Percy Schmeiser finally won an out-of-court settlement from Monsanto - see http://www.percyschmeiser.com/

The company charged him with stealing their seed when it drifted into his fields, contaminating his crop.

This case could set a precedent for fighting GMOs, at least for farmers whose fields are infiltrated the way Schmeiser's was.

[Karenina]

9. Check how many YEARS that took

and how he was destroyed in the process...

[Pharaoh]

11. Right here..............

Monsanto's plan to contol the worlds food supply.....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-842180934463681887


You won't see this shown on american TV, this is corporate Fascist greed at it's best.

Kill everybody and the Planet as long as we can make a buck....

[ColbertWatcher]

18. Thank you!

I've been looking for some dirt on Monsanto to post on their "wiki page" (cough, cough).

Anyone else want to play along is welcome.

[Uncle Joe]

2. I believe everyone should start growing gardens, whether in the city or not.

They can be grown on rooftops, vacant lots, start forming neighborhood cooperatives, condominium associations should start them. We've become too dependent on limited sources of food even here in the U.S.

With the escalating cost of energy, the increasing threat of global warming climate change, agribusiness switching over from food crops to energy crops and the disappearance of bees needed for approximately 30% of food crop pollination. This crisis will only worsen unless lifestyles are drastically changed.

Thanks for the thread, Pharaoh.

[bobbolink]

12. right away, sir. We homeless people can plant gardens in our car glove compartment.

Don't "should" on me.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Who's to say the homeless can't partake in a community sponsored garden

on a vacant lot? I'm speaking of everyone being involved.

If you believe it's too much trouble give me a solution, I'm trying to come up with ideas that work.

[bobbolink]

21. Walk in my shoes.

Take the sneers of the "liberals" here, who don't give a rip.

Quit thinking that we poor folk don't have "ideas".

We just aren't taken seriously.

[Uncle Joe]

22. I just asked for your ideas.

I'm listening.

My proposal of community gardens was intended to help everyone regardless of where you live, the city, suburb, condominium, apartment, your car or under a bridge. I didn't intend it to be the total answer to everything, I just think it's part of the answer.

The way I see it, if we as a society don't become more self-sufficient in obtaining our food, the homeless population will dramatically increase, while people able to give to food banks will drop in tandem.

[bobbolink]

23. "My proposal of community gardens was intended to help everyone"

What I have been trying to do is to get "everyone" to realize that there are people who you don't know, who don't fit into all your easy categories.

I've become very weary of all the DU pronouncements of what "everyone" should do in order to be better citizens, to survive the downturn, to be "green", etc.

All these pronouncements are very middle-class, and all of you seem to easily forget that not everyone is like you. If you can't remember that, then you will continually be surprised when people don't vote the way you think they should. Specifically, because they are FORGOTTEN when it comes to these very practical matters.

So, you want "ideas"... well, please chew on this:

1. There are many people who are too disabled or ill to participate in "community gardens". What about them?

2. The "community gardens" I've seen require $$$$ to participate. What about those who aren't even making it at all???

3. It takes a commitment of time to participate in "community gardens". What about those who are working 2 and even 3 jobs? What about those who are single parents to small children? Are you offering child care?

4. What about those who are simply too old to participate? Let 'em eat cake?

5. Many communities have NO "community gardens", and I know your response will be "Start one". You would demand that the most vulnerable, the most sick, the most already stressed take more time and energy to probably push an impossible suggestion uphill. We don't have any time and energy to waste.

What would REALLY help is if you were to REMEMBER those of us who aren't like you when you propose these things, instead of having to be reminded, and getting upset when you ARE reminded.

[Uncle Joe]

24. I'm not upset with you, bobbolink,

when I put a proposition out there, I'm looking for criticism along with affirmation, as I stated above, I don't have all the answers, but that's what I believe the Internet works well as, a pooling place of ideas and you can't have an action before you have an idea.

I understand you're on the front line of harsh reality now, and I don't want to come across as cold, but I want that number reduced, so some of these ideas such as the gardens may or may not apply to everyone. Having said that if it keeps more people off the street and fewer dependent on going to food banks and competing for limited resources, wouldn't that be of some help to the homeless even if in an indirect way?

But to answer your questions, here goes.

1. Regarding the disabled or ill, maybe the tax laws can be changed to give a tax credit or subsidy to those that can work gardens and use some of the produce toward feeding the disabled or ill in their neighborhoods.

2. Regarding those not making it at all, again the tax laws can be changed to give a credit for seed, supplies purchase of vacant or unused lots, maybe even labor. If local stores purchased maybe 10%-15% of the produce and sold it, the profits could go in to a fund to help cover the ongoing cost. After so many years, maybe the tax credit could be reduced as the fund grows.

3. Regarding child care and single parents, the communities need to pull together and help one another, maybe the gardens could spark that dynamic and give them a common ground. If someone isn't physically able to work a garden, maybe they could babysit for someone who can. This could be their contribution. For people working two or three jobs, maybe a tax credit could be given to their employer to pay their employees to work the gardens instead.

4. Regarding the old, answer number one for the disabled and sick could apply to them as well.

5. Regarding communities with no gardens, I believe tax credits could be given to banks or credit unions to finance the start up costs.

I see two other side benefit for the poor having gardens.

1. The poor have the worst nutrition, high in fat and sugar, low in fiber not able to afford good food. I believe there would be fewer sick and ill should their nutrition improve with more fresh vegetables and or fruit which is high in fiber.

2. The other is exercise from working gardens, not all but many poor suffer from diabetes and being overweight and thus lead sedentary lives, lacking energy because they don't have the calories to burn.

As I said at the very beginning, I don't have all the answers, however I believe the more this can adopted as a national strategy to combat poverty and hunger, the better off everyone will be and that most certainly includes the poor and homeless.

One other point you said no one is listening to your ideas, if you have any suggestions or criticism or some other idea, I haven't thought of, I'm listening and my feelings wont get hurt.

[bobbolink]

25. Again, I will say, try walking in my shoes.

"some of these ideas such as the gardens may or may not apply "

What I'm saying is, try being invisible like this for a while, and see what it does to you. People think that as long as their ideas work for some, that it's OK. They don't think of what it feels like to always be left out, forgotten, ignored.

While I'm sure you see your ideas as best for the majority, try understanding what it feels like to those of us who are forgotten. It does very damaging things to our self-confidence, and our sense of self.

"One other point you said no one is listening to your ideas, if you have any suggestions or criticism or some other idea, I haven't thought of, I'm listening and my feelings wont get hurt."

Thank you. I do believe you care, and I appreciate that. I hope you can understand what I'm getting at.

[Uncle Joe]

26. I have no doubt walking in your shoes

must be hell, I'm trying to tell you, I haven't forgotten about you.

If you have any other ideas or suggestions, I'm open to them.

If you want to, tell me about how you live, is it in a car? Is it mostly the city where you live or more suburban?

Edit for P.S. If you would rather P.M. me with your circumstances, feel free to do so.

Peace to you,
UJ

[Karenina]

4. Hidden? Monsanto has been BRAZEN for years

:kick:ing in hopes the proles wake up.

[Hydra]

5. The Proles aren't the problem

Most of us at the bottom would happily replace our system with something that works. The problem is the "Outer Party"- the poor fools that think if they serve the system faithfully, that they will be allowed into the ranks of the Uber-Rich. They're smoking crack...but their efforts are allowing the "elite" to starve all of us. Kissenger and Co. found that to be the most economical way to control the population- take away their food.

[Karenina]

7. I read sometime back that

19% of the U.S. population believe they are in the top 5%. I don't think we disagree at all.

"the poor fools that think if they serve the system faithfully, that they will be allowed into the ranks of the Uber-Rich."

This includes SALARIED people who are deluded that they are NOT proles.

Water is next.

[Hydra]

8. You've got it

Most of the working class think that they are the middle or upper class. I like the test for that:

Can you spend 6 months or without a job and live on what you have put away right now? If you can't, you aren't more than working class.

As for the water, that's already happening. I know people who are privatizing public water piece by piece. You can bet they'll want more than money for that once they've bought it all.

[Karenina]

10. Bingo!

[bobbolink]

13. "You can bet they'll want more than money "

Body parts?

[Hydra]

14. How about compliance

"You want a drink? You do what we say...ANYTHING we say."

[bobbolink]

15. At the least. That feeling of power is seductive.

:(

:hi:

[ColbertWatcher]

19. Agreed.

It's the very same argument DuBois was having with Washington and why the Rice family disagreed with the Kings.<http://www.counterpunch.org/chestnut11192005.html>

[Hydra]

20. That's an awesome article

So many useful tidbits contained within. Thank you!

[underpants]

16. Excellent article

I can't rec it but it is a very good read. thanks