5 Million Farmers Sue Monsanto for $7.7 Billion

reply to post by longjohnbritches



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Great find longjohn!

I dont care if 50 million farmers sue them. Obama appointed the VP of monsanto to be senior advisor of the FDA. And we all know that nothing can be done to Obama OR his friends.

Originally posted by steve1709
Doesn't work like that infin, there was a bloke who had a farm WITHOUT Monsanto madness but pollen from NEXT DOOR blew in ...

You're thinking of the case of PERCY SCHMEISER.

Its not as simple as the "poor little David against big evil Goliath" story that is often told, and its clear to me at least that Percy is being less than honest with his story of how he came to have some "contamination from pollen".


From the ruling:

...of the farms licensed to grown Roundup Ready canola in 1996 the closest field to the defendants’ field number 2, from which seed was saved in 1997, was approximately five miles.

Not next door.
Five miles.

And the "contamination"? Testing showed:

At the University of Saskatchewan in the fall of 1997, four seeds of each sample were planted and two, three or four of the seeds germinated from each sample. When these reached the two or three leaf stage they were sprayed with Roundup herbicide. More than three weeks later all plants from five of these samples had survived the spraying.

Total, 100 percent "contamination" of his entire crop from pollen???

More testing:

The subsequent application of Roundup herbicide left surviving all of the plants which germinated from the seed, demonstrating they were glyphosate tolerant.

Again, total 100 percent Monsanto product.

More testing:

Each sample, from all the locations, tested positive for the presence of the tell-tale protein.

More testing:

As a result of tests by Monsanto all of these samples were positive for the presence of the patented gene.

More testing:

The results of these tests show the presence of the patented gene in a range of 95-98% of the canola sampled.

And that is why the judge decided:

I am persuaded by evidence of Dr. Keith Downey, an expert witness appearing for the plaintiffs, that none of the suggested sources could reasonably explain the concentration or extent of Roundup Ready canola of a commercial quality ...
whose evidence scientifically demonstrated the limited distance that canola seed blown from trucks in the road way could be expected to spread. ...
on a balance of probabilities none of the suggested possible sources of contamination of Schmeiser’s crop was the basis for the substantial level of Roundup Ready canola growing in field number 2 in 1997.

Excellent, good luck and my best wishes to the farmers. This could be a huge step forward in the fight for freedom and liberty if they win this case. Water and foods, genetically modified or not, are the very last things we should allow our government (or corporations) to completely tax and control! How absurd!

Since when did life become patentable? I didn't see any copyright symbols on my natural fruit and vegetables last time I checked, so who gave us the authority to start such ridiculous behaviour?

I can't help but notice that all the appointments except for two, were done by dems. Are they not aware that the majority of the worlds population is against Monsanto's products? It's all about the money. If we really knew, our disgust would be tenfold.....or a hundredfold....but that's not a word.

reply to post by Nspekta


Monsanto will just pay it off, they have that much money that 7.7 billion is like taking away their allowance for a month.
Add three or four zeros between the 7 and the decimil point and it might be an ampount that will have a chance of stopping Monsanto's reign of terror.

Originally posted by Apollumi
Who is the terrorist?? Who could it be? Is it SATAN! No, he's imaginary. Maybe, it's MONSANTO...!

Imaginary my @$$... this is one of the most disgraceful companies ever.


Go onto google and type: “monsanto is”
here are the suggestions you get…

“monsanto is evil”
“monsanto is bad”
“monsanto is THE DEVIL”

Monsanto means ‘Sacred Mountain’ in Spanish, and ‘my saint’ in Italian. There is nothing sacred or saintly about this company or its treatment of Mother Earth and her children.

The real tragedy is greed replacing common sense. I think that any good crop is worth reseeding from the place it was grown. Each generation of plants becomes more climatized and resistant to pests and blight. Every harvest the plants natural tendency to adapt and produce higher quality and quantity will improve the farmers yields with less loss. Given that all things are equal and drought or pest doesn't wipe it out, any farmer knows how to adapt along with his crops, selection the few higher and higher grade statins to reseed next year or add other strains in the field to let natural selection work for him by cross breeding to add even more desirable traits.

That is the age old science and skill of the farmer that Monsanto turns completely upside down.

Simply replanting the same first generation seed from single source Monsanto is a dead end street. Their product can only get weaker and weaker over time. Plus their seed is non reproductive.

You want to know why the Indians dependent upon that felt like when they harvested, and reseeded and nothing sprouted?

That is the real tragedy. GMO that doesn't resprout and they didn't tell the farmers that until after the fact.

"Oh yah, didn't you know? You have to buy our seed every year. Sorry about that". No wonder these subsistence farmers are killing themselves. That is a crop failure and that is a death sentence, either way.

Originally posted by steve1709

Originally posted by Infi8nity

This is just idiotic!!!

If you do not want to get charged fees for using there seeds a THEN DONT USE GMO SEEDS!!! Dont support a evil corporation that is openly screwing over famers from the start. I hope they lose just because they are growing this crap. There has to be another alternative for them to make ends meet. They do not have to use the GMO seed.

edit on 5-6-2012 by Infi8nity because: (no reason given)

Doesn't work like that infin, there was a bloke who had a farm WITHOUT Monsanto madness but pollen from NEXT DOOR blew in and then his family were taken to court by "you know who" 400K BEFORE it went to court, advised that it would be 1 MILLION for the actual fight in court, so they had to roll over. Watch food inc, it REALLY opened my eyes. It says that they will even go to court even if they might lose, just to send a message. They threaten, they harrass, really lovely people.

Originally posted by speculativeoptimist
reply to post by Infi8nity

 

If you do not want to get charged fees for using there seeds a THEN DONT USE GMO SEEDS!!! Dont support a evil corporation that is openly screwing over famers from the start. I hope they lose just because they are growing this crap. There has to be another alternative for them to make ends meet. They do not have to use the GMO seed.

Seems simple enough, however the waters are muddied even further because farmers fields that are adjacent to Monsanto brand plants are subject to liability if their crops become pollinated by Monsato's crops. Crazy huh?!?!
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Additionally, these guys are so powerful that they have peeps in all aspects of judicial and political arenas, so even a 'fair' pursuit of justice may be tainted with conflicted interests.
As mentioned, I believe conveying one's displeasure to the store that carry these foods may make a difference, or choosing to shop at stores that are aware of this situation and offer alternatives. The thing is, their(Monsanto's) genie is already out of the bottle, and harm has already been done that could be long lasting if not permanent.

I think this situation may pose an opportunity for us as concerned citizens to redirect some of our consumer efforts, and get to know our local stores, farmers and markets. Develop relationships with our local farmers, support them and let them know they are both needed and appreciated.

Peace,
spec

We are not dealing with the same country and its 5 million farmers not 1. All 5 million of them are not experiencing the same problem. The obviously like the crop. They are suing monsanto's so they DONT have to pay fines because they want to continue to grow it.

Originally posted by alfa1

Originally posted by Infi8nity
If you do not want to get charged fees for using their seeds a THEN DONT USE GMO SEEDS!!!
They do not have to use the GMO seed.

In the effort to make the poor farmers look like helpless innocents, the articles from naturalsociety and blacklisted news have conveniently removed some of the story.
Let me put it back in...

Illegally smuggled into Brazil 14 years ago, transgenic soy has proved a boon to domestic farmers and now accounts for 85 percent of total production.

The first transgenic soy seeds were illegally smuggled into Brazil from neighboring Argentina in 1998...

At the same time, transgenic soy cultivation is spreading like wildfire across Brazil, despite protests from environmentalists...

No, they dont *have* to use it, but clearly they love it.
Love it so much they're willing to break the law to use it.
Love it???? Want to use it???? The blacklistednews selectively edited version of the AFP story didnt tell

Seeing them get sued is nice, but I'd really like to see their headquarters bombed.

I'm not even joking.

Originally posted by Nspekta
reply to post by longjohnbritches

 

source

Great find longjohn!

Interesting and Romney would protect them because he thinks they are "people" in need of protection.

Thank the Gods, this is good news. This is a battle that needs to be won. Corrupt corporations trying to stifle poor countries out of food production, for Christ's sake, how much lower can you get?

What a stupid idea, what a false story!!
Five million farmers sue for 7,700,000,000
This would award $1540. to each farmer and Monstersanto could easily laugh that amount off for all of the money they make.
Have these farmers suffered only a couple of grand in problems due to the frankenfoods company?
What a joke.

Originally posted by g146541
What a stupid idea, what a false story!!
Five million farmers sue for 7,700,000,000
This would award $1540. to each farmer and Monstersanto could easily laugh that amount off for all of the money they make.
Have these farmers suffered only a couple of grand in problems due to the frankenfoods company?
What a joke.

It may seem like a little amount when its divided up, but its the bigger picture here friend... A 7.7 bil lawsuit... Thats bigtime and it shows that people are standing up to them.

Originally posted by Nspekta

Originally posted by g146541
What a stupid idea, what a false story!!
Five million farmers sue for 7,700,000,000
This would award $1540. to each farmer and Monstersanto could easily laugh that amount off for all of the money they make.
Have these farmers suffered only a couple of grand in problems due to the frankenfoods company?
What a joke.

It may seem like a little amount when its divided up, but its the bigger picture here friend... A 7.7 bil lawsuit... Thats bigtime and it shows that people are standing up to them.

Big time to you and me yes, but to a MEGACORPORATION like that, it is a joke.
Can you not see that?
How much in damages have they caused?
Even if it was just stressing a farmer, 7.7billion is a joke.
Corporations are "people" according to some legalese, for this I see execution fitting of the crime, menacing the peoples of the USA.
7.7 billion is a joke.

Finally some good news regarding Monsanto.... the possible start of their demise. As far as I'm concerned this monster should cease to exist and all its executives tried for crimes against humanity. Actually skip that last part and get straight to life imprisonment in solitary darkness. The fact that these corporate psychopaths are even tolerated on Earth makes my blood boil.

Originally posted by Zcustosmorum
Quite right, hope justice is done here.

Farmers farm, corporations rule, always good to see the little people fighting back.

edit on 5-6-2012 by Zcustosmorum because: (no reason given)

Hello fello Om!

Farmers farm, corporations rule, and people eat; regardless of the lurking dangers of GMO.

I wish that Monsanto would burn down to the ground and life as God created it will be once again accept as sufficient, well intended and clean. I can't stand Monster-anto!!! OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

Originally posted by g146541

Originally posted by Nspekta

Originally posted by g146541
What a stupid idea, what a false story!!
Five million farmers sue for 7,700,000,000
This would award $1540. to each farmer and Monstersanto could easily laugh that amount off for all of the money they make.
Have these farmers suffered only a couple of grand in problems due to the frankenfoods company?
What a joke.

It may seem like a little amount when its divided up, but its the bigger picture here friend... A 7.7 bil lawsuit... Thats bigtime and it shows that people are standing up to them.

Big time to you and me yes, but to a MEGACORPORATION like that, it is a joke.
Can you not see that?
How much in damages have they caused?
Even if it was just stressing a farmer, 7.7billion is a joke.
Corporations are "people" according to some legalese, for this I see execution fitting of the crime, menacing the peoples of the USA.
7.7 billion is a joke.

Ok, so if its a joke, what is a better solution? One lawsuit, like this, may spur others and could eventually take down the giant? I do see what you are saying, but its gotta start somewhere, no? Other than violence, please provide a better solution

Originally posted by Nspekta

Originally posted by g146541

Originally posted by Nspekta

Originally posted by g146541
What a stupid idea, what a false story!!
Five million farmers sue for 7,700,000,000
This would award $1540. to each farmer and Monstersanto could easily laugh that amount off for all of the money they make.
Have these farmers suffered only a couple of grand in problems due to the frankenfoods company?
What a joke.

It may seem like a little amount when its divided up, but its the bigger picture here friend... A 7.7 bil lawsuit... Thats bigtime and it shows that people are standing up to them.

Big time to you and me yes, but to a MEGACORPORATION like that, it is a joke.
Can you not see that?
How much in damages have they caused?
Even if it was just stressing a farmer, 7.7billion is a joke.
Corporations are "people" according to some legalese, for this I see execution fitting of the crime, menacing the peoples of the USA.
7.7 billion is a joke.

Ok, so if its a joke, what is a better solution? One lawsuit, like this, may spur others and could eventually take down the giant? I do see what you are saying, but its gotta start somewhere, no? Other than violence, please provide a better solution

For the crime I'd say execution of the company.
Fold the company and seize all of its patents, equipment, contracts, fire all involved and barr them from dealing in that arena forever.
Or accept lethal injection, either or works.
Big corp tramples the peoples everyday without regard, we should treat them the same.

Originally posted by g146541
This would award $1540. to each farmer and Monstersanto could easily laugh that amount off for all of the money they make.
Have these farmers suffered only a couple of grand in problems due to the frankenfoods company?
What a joke.

Did you even bother to read the story before replying?
The farmers arent "suffering" any problems at all.
They love the Monsanto product and wish to continue to use it, and buy it.

This issue is about the question of a 2 percent royalty fee on top of the initial purchase price, thats all.

In the last decade, this extra 2 percent royalty has been paid, but the farmers dont wish to pay it.