“Seeds of Sour Grapes Being Sewn by the System” by Pheonyx Roldan Smith “Barack Obama recently signed a bill into law that was written by the billion-dollar corporation that will benefit from it. The Monsanto Protection Act allows Monsanto to override United States federal courts on the issue of planting experimental genetically engineered crops all across the US. The government has no power whatsoever to stop Monsanto and other biotechnology corporations from planting and harvesting. After Obama signed H.R. 933, the provision was final, there can be no litigation against these corporations at all. Corrupt food corporations are now allowed to plant and sell their genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically engineered (GE) seeds. It wasn’t long ago that Monsanto rejected multiple studies on GMO crop risk. We are seeing the power of the fact that multinational corporations own the government.” -via collective-evolution/2013/03/29/obama-signs-monsanto-protection-act Apparently this report IS true. I just googled “did Obama Sign Monsanto Protection Act?” (aka “Section 735″) to make sure AND it actually happened back in March of this year. Although, I can’t see how this bill could be constitutionally legal (of course, we are talking about the U.S. here and we deal with that issue all the time, now don’t we?), I’m sure it will have to go through due process requiring U.S. citizens to take the powers that be all the way up to the Supreme Court and over ruling this law (assuming the SC hasn’t been bought by Monsanto as well. oh wait, it sorta has… Clarence Thomas… former Monsanto lawyer… hmmmmm.) However, a most recent report at the top of the google search dated May 17th states the “Monsanto Protection Act” might be repealed in Senate. The article more clearly states… “Deep within the nearly 600-page spending bill, Section 735 includes language that lets biotech companies that experiment with genetically-engineered and genetically-modified crops test and sell lab-made products even if legal action is taken against them. The provision would strip federal courts of the authority to halt the sale and planting of an illegal, potentially hazardous GE crop while the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) assesses those potential hazards,” dozens of farmers wrote the House of Representatives before the bill was passed in March. Further, it would compel USDA to allow continued planting of that same crop upon request, even if in the course of its assessment the Department finds that it poses previously unrecognized risks. But despite pleas from agriculturalists around the world, both the Senate and House approved the spending bill — with Section 735 in tow — and the act was signed into law just days later by US President Barack Obama.” -via rt/usa/protection-repeal-act-monsanto-444 Now, those of you who know me know I don’t like to get political. However, I’m also part Filipino and Filipinos LOVE to eat. So, when you start messing with our food like Monsanto has been doing and is now trying to skirt around the legal issues that there Genetically Modified Foods (that’s what GMO stands for folks, for some of you who may just be becoming aware of this subject just now… sleep under rocks much? I love you.), then I’ve got something to say about it. Of course, I’m paying attention to all this unfolding half-way around the world, but the GMO issue has become a world-wide epidemic and whole countries are taking a stand and actually BANNING Monsanto seed and presence within their own countries (examiner/article/what-countries-have-banned-gmo-crops), and what I love about all of this is that it really causing people to look/wake up and pay attention and literally come together on this very important issue… our food source! Of course, for many of us that live in the western more industrialized world, we have choices! Starving nations and third-world, war-torn, politically-corrupt, poverty-stricken nations, admittedly not so much. For now anyway. But what choices do we have, you say? Well for one, pay attention to what you buy. I know it’s hard and full disclosure of whether or not something is GMO (aka “Genetically Engineered” or GE). If you shop at a big-box, corporate grocery store, here’s a quick tip to tell if your produce is on the up and up by paying attention to the barcodes… Using Price Look-up Codes (PLUs), the Nutshell. PLU codes are four digit numbers that identify different types of produce. -For example, #4011 is the code for a standard yellow banana. -The number 9 prefix added to a PLU signifies that an item is organic. For example, #94011 is the code for an organic yellow banana. -A number 8 prefix added to a PLU signifies that an item is genetically engineered (GE). For example, #84011 is the code for a genetically engineered yellow banana. -PLU codes and their organic prefixes are in wide use but GE codes are rare at best. You can read more and watch a simply to understand video at blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2012/11/20/food-labeling-how-to-identify-conventional-organic-and-gmo-produce if you really want to educate yourself on how to identify what safe(r) for you and your family. However, since labeling GMO/GE foods is not currently required, the next best option would be to know your food source. Who grows it, where they grow, it and how. Enter in your local farmers’ market which are popping up more and more all over the place. You don’t have to live in the rural countryside to have access to fresh produce any longer. Although that’d be great, and I do highly recommend it if you can swing it. However, for all you city-dwellers, with the growth in urban gardening and a resurgence of smaller, collective farming co-ops near major cities (thanks Monsanto!), people from Atlanta, to San Francisco to New York City can now find fresh organic produce, flowers, honey, herbs, breads, and even free-range grain/grass fed eggs and meat at least once or twice a week, especially on weekends. It’s going to take you a little work to make some changes, and it may not be as “convenient” as running down to the local corporate grocery store for a quick restock, but plan ahead and shop a couple times of in the week, and remember that this is your life we’re talking about. Okay, option numero tres… I know some of you reading this have big beautiful back yards. Probably manicured once or twice a week in the summer time. There’s no doubt a flower garden somewhere with a lovely birdbath for those lazy days of enjoying doing nothing but watching nature play in your well-kept back yard. Well, how about a vegetable garden?! Think about getting your hands dirty and perhaps even getting the kids and spouse involved! Don’t, can’t, won’t do it on your own? Then find a friend! Surely there’s someone you know who just can’t wait to play in the dirt and would most likely be happier than a kid with cake to show you the ropes and help you design the perfect little patch of potatoes, pumpkins or parsnips any time. Got a green thumb that wants to be itched but would rather be a part of something a little larger? Join or start your own local gardening group and share in the labor as well as the rewards of having your own fresh produce. Live in the city? Don’t have a yard? Noooooooo problem… “Americans cultivate an estimated 18,000 community gardens, and now more of their growing is taking place in city lots and building rooftops. Urban gardeners see numerous benefits, from a heightened sense of empowerment to a lighter grocery bill to lowered crime rates.” -via civileats/2013/03/26/five-tips-for-launching-an-urban-garden. Look, the world wide web is your friend. Use it. All this information was pulled up in a matter of minutes, some even within a few seconds, just to get you this far. (You’re welcome. I love you.) And all I was going to do was make a little comment about Obama and his marriage with Monsanto at the moment. Change is going to take a little time and a lot of effort on all of our parts. The problem didn’t get created over night, and the solutions will require a shift in our overall consciousness in how we do things. The Truth is, most of us have gotten pretty lazy, yes? Come on, admit it. Grocery stores, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, microwaves (btw, please stop using those), frozen foods… all of it has made living in the modern era quite “easy”. However, while you are were sleeping and not paying attention, someone altered the source and safety of the food you require to live by in order to enjoy all these modern conveniences. So, what are we to do? Well, for starters, it’s time to pay attention. Join a movement of increased global consciousness and say no to companies like Monsanto. You can write your congress person, but I’m going to tell you right now that that MIGHT work, but not likely. I mean if it did, the “Monsanto Protection Act” would not have passed and we would not be having this discussion at the moment. As difficult as it may be for some f you to accept even still right now, DOLLARS MAKE DIFFERENCES. The politicians know this. The corporations know this. The lobbyists know this. Now it’s truly time that YOU know this. Every dollar that you spend casts a vote. Spend it on Genetically Modified foods from the local grocery store and you tell the grocer and the supplier that you are IN on GMO’s! It’s really quite simple. Spend your dollars at the gas pump instead of biking or carpooling or taking public transport, then you send a message to your local petroleum company that you are IN on gas-guzzling and to bring on more please! The only reason the supply exists is because you/I/we have created demand for it. It may have been an unconscious demand in the beginning, that’s true. They didn’t tell us they were going to genetically modify our foods and/or bully, buy up or run out of business small farmers around the world. No, and when the signs began to appear, we still thought, “No, that’s not possible. Is it?” Well, kids, play time is over, and the time to speak up is now. Sure, keep marching against Monsanto! No problem. It raises awareness for those who still might be sleeping under their own rocks. Sure, keep writing and calling your congress people and even the president. Be a fly in their ointment and let them know you are paying attention. However, take away the source for their demand and you will take away their ability to supply. Look corporations (and politicians mostly) speak one language… money, dollars, green backs… you name it. And with every dollar you cast a vote. every single day. Vote local. Vote sustainable. Vote green. Vote non-GMO. Vote with your heart and your mind and feed your body something other than what they have to sell you… a bill of goods that grows more sour and rotten by the minute. Now who’s really in for that?? I didn’t think so. Oh, and did I say that I love you? Good, the reason why I’m even taking the time to do this is because I do. Please pass this information along to the people you love, too. Together, we truly are making a difference. Together, there is nothing we can not change. Until next time, Pheonyx Image Source: photography.nationalgeographic/photography/photo-of-the-day/cornfield-sao-paulo Shared via On Common Ground and theOCGproject online community and resource site for the awakened and awakening alike via facebook at https://facebook/photo.php?
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 05:00:30 +0000
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