Monsanto has declared war on another little guy.

[govegan]

The following information was initially presented by Robert Cohen, sometimes known as the NotMilkMan. Mods: He has encouraged others to share this information, and cares not about the copying (see note at bottom).

Monsanto has filed papers in federal court, arguing that
milk from cows treated with their genetically engineered
bovine growth hormone is no different from untreated milk.

That is a lie, of course, and Monsanto knows it.

It is well known that the defense industry and the energy industry are deeply involved with this administration through financial contributions and other means. What seems to be less well known is the heavy influence of Monsanto and other biotech giants.

Do we have any candidates who are willing and able to stand up to Monsanto, other biotech giants, and big agribusiness?


"Monsanto has declared war on another little guy.
Monsanto is a big bully, but I've got a secret
that will bring them to their knees.

Their timing was designed to create despair and suffering.
Their legal papers were filed on the Thursday before
the long July 4th holiday weekend. No time for attorneys
to review the complaint. A long Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday for Althea, Stanley, and William Bennett,
third generation owners of Oakhurst Dairy in
Portland, Maine.

Their timing is also unfortunate for Monsanto's stockholders.
As biotechnology is being debated around the world, as
the European Community considers easing rules regarding
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in American foods,
as George Bush blackmails African nations with loss of
American dollars in exchange for accepting GMOs, the last
thing Monsanto needs is a revelation of the manner of
duplicity that I will reveal in today's column.

The Bennett's crime was to market their milk with this
label:

"Our Farmers' Pledge: No Artificial Growth Hormones."

http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/milk07042003.htm

Monsanto has filed papers in federal court, arguing that
milk from cows treated with their genetically engineered
bovine growth hormone is no different from untreated milk.

That is a lie, of course, and Monsanto knows it.

I have evidence that Monsanto's own scientist (Margaret
Miller) confirmed the validity of an assay that can
determine the difference between genetically engineered milk
and normal milk. Scientist Margaret Miller left Monsanto in
the middle of the FDA approval process and went to work at
FDA where she analyzed her own research, which led to approval.

In approving Monsanto's genetically engineered bovine growth
hormone, the Food & Drug Administration determined that there
were no differences between "wholesome" milk and the new
genetically modified version. The FDA relieved Monsanto from
the obligation of developing a test for the new milk, stating
that there could be no test because the milks were identical.
Of course, this was a lie. Since Miller now worked for FDA,
she was aware of the lie. Since she once worked for Monsanto,
it is clear that the pharmaceutical giant knew of the lie,
too. How do I know this?

I filed a Freedom of Information Act request for Miller's
FDA job application. On that document, she boasts of having
performed that very test. Talk about smoking guns! I also
interviewed the scientist who holds the patent for that test.
He confirmed Miller's complicity.

Monsanto hired ex-Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, who stated
that the two milks were indistinguishable. After such confirmation
from the esteemed Dr. Koop, who needed a second opinion?

However, I have uncovered a previously unpublicized secret. I
am sharing this with you and Oakhurst Farm so that the truth
be known about genetically engineered milk. I am not a popular
person in this new America. The United States of Monsanto-land.
To the Monsanto government, I am a terrorist for revealing this
secret of state. If you doubt who runs things, review this:

http://www.notmilk.com/pelican.html

The milks are different, Monsanto claims?

Cornell University dairy scientist, Vitaly Spitsberg, owns a
patent for a method to detect hormonal treatment in animals
(US Patent #5,635,401).

The unbelievable part of this patent confirms that Cornell
University was given grant money by the United States
Department of Agriculture in 1992, two years before Monsanto
received official approval for the use of recombinant bovine
somatotropin (rbST) in dairy cows (Grant #92-27206-779). Who
says Monsanto and the U.S. government are not one big happy
family? Monsanto plays both sides of the political fence.
I have no information as to activities that occur behind
closed doors of the oval office, but President Clinton
praised Monsanto in his 1998 State of the Union Address.

Now to the evidence that will win the case for Oakhurst.
The same evidence that is a condemnation of genetic
engineering and biotechnology. Nature always finds a
way to tame the arrogance of man.

One feature of milk is that it is loaded with saturated fat.
These fat molecules are not entirely fat. They are actually
composed of many different layers. The thin outermost layer
is made of protein, and that is the key. While one would
assume that genetically engineered milk could be tested by
measuring the levels of bovine growth hormone or insulin-like
growth factor-I, the new patented test measures an unusual
protein in the membrane named "milk fat globule membrane" or
MFGM. Keeping this simple, the MFGM contains an unusual
protein named mammary derived growth inhibitor, which is a
fatty acid-binding protein (MDGI or FABP). The new patented
method measures the amounts of these new proteins so that an
easy test of milk can determine whether it has been genetically
engineered.

FDA's conclusion that the milk was identical is more than
a deception. It's more than a lie. It's a betrayal to the
American public. What I am revealing to you today just
adds more evidence that somebody knew the truth a few
years before final approval of Monsanto's genetically
engineered bovine growth hormone.

I am helping Oakhurst Dairy because it is the right
thing to do. If not for Monsanto, I would be developing
real estate. Monsanto taught me about genetic engineering
and milk. I've learned that all milk contains powerful
growth hormones.

Oakhurst Dairy is careful not to represent that their
milk is hormone-free. It is not. If you drink cow's milk,
genetically engineered or otherwise, you will be ingesting
powerful steroid and protein growth hormones.

Permission is given for you to share this column with
other persons or groups. The truth about genetic
engineering must be known. The Internet remains our
opportunity to level the playing field. I have risked
a lot by writing this column. Please do your part in
helping to get out the truth."

http://www.notmilk.com

[DagmarK]

1. I will tell you what HGH does......

it engorges the milk sacs and teats so much that they get all full of PUS! And that PUS is what increases the volume of milk! ICK!!!!!!!!

heck, PETA should give up on getting Hamburg to change their town name and get on this. I am *sure* this is cruel to the cows. ICK!

[White Dove]

2. I'm glad someone is doing something

I'm really glad you are doing something to fight Monsanto. Our government is conspiring with corporations to force food on us that is genetically engineered and contains harmful substances by keeping us from knowing the truth. If it were labeled, we would be able to choose and protect ourselves. But that would be bad for big business, and big business is more important than anything, including the people's health.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. So true! No long term studies and MONSANTO people have a

revolving door with the FDA to fastrack these franken foods! Welcome to DU, White Dove! :hi:

[NYC]

3. Thanks for posting this.

I have bought only one quart of milk in the past several years, and I did that after writing to the milk company.

Boycott genetically modified foods to the best of your ability.

[izzie]

5. Greed is very powerful and little people have trouble fighting it.

I think Soft drinks have taken over and now you have great corp even fighting in such places as schools to sell their items. Milk vs. soft drinks.You see it has gone to the home. Who drinks water?We were told as kids if you want something to drink, drink water or go with out, after having our milk at meal times. I let my self have a soft drink once a week and I just donot like milk anymore.Water became a habit and I felt it was to costly to feed my children solt drinks when they were kids. In their 40's they are starting to see this point but their kids have this soft drink habit. This age group are crazy about junk foods.I can recall a place that made pot. chips and as something special we went and got some.I may have had an odd way to eat. My mother was ill and we had to eat as she wished and she was a nut on eating for a women with a bad heart.

[Tinoire]

6. Monsanto won't be happy until they've patented the very air we breathe

I have been RAILING and RAGING and RANTING against Monsanto for 3 years. So happy to see other people who are as concerned!


(reposting my post from this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=4771&mesg_id=4771&listing_type=search#4826)

Edited on Wed Jul-09-03 09:40 AM by Tinoire
Last week they patented WHEAT! Nambe posted this story earlier

NEW DELHI: This is a new gene-grab story. After basmati and neem, Indian wheat has attracted foreign companies on the prowl for money-spinning genes and American seeds giant, Monsanto, has patented wheat invented by crossing a traditional Indian variety with another wheat line.

The wheat variety in question is Nap Hal, a primitive Indian land race. Monsanto says dough from its new wheat will be ideal for making bakery products like biscuits, crackers, wafers and crisps.

But gene-scientists and farmers here say this is a clear case of theft with the potential to stymie further breeding of high-quality varieties utilising this heritage wheat seed. Monsanto Technology was granted the patent last month by the European Patent Office based in Munich. The patent has been given both for the biscuits, flour, and dough produced from the wheat, as well as the plant itself. By owning this kind of patent, Monsanto could, in the future, potentially take legal action not only against farmers and scientists trying to breed wheat varieties with similar genetic traits, but also bakeries, confectioners and supermarkets if they produce or sell biscuits and other foods made from patented wheat.

--- International NGO Greenpeace, however, has much to say. In a statement on its website it says, "Monsanto is targeting and stealing from Indian farmers who have cultured this specific variety of wheat for centuries. This patent demonstrates the urgent need for a general legal ban on the patenting of genes, live organisms and seeds." Greenpeace intends to file an objection to the patent over the coming weeks. ---

http://www.oneworld.net/external/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corpwatchindia.org%2Fnews%

------------------------------------------------------------

THIS is one of the key issues of our age and should be a KEY issue for all Democrats. WHO WILL CONTROL THE WORLD'S FOOD? Most of the other issues we quibble about at DU pale in comparison to this and I hope we all pay close attention to this when selecting our candidates because the Democrat Party is as paid off by Monsanto as the Republican Party and FEW are willing to speak out. Will we speak out when it's TOO LATE? Will our reps finally pay post-mortem lip service to this when Monsanto has patented everything and indigenous and/or non bio-chemically engineered plants have been killed off by Monsanto's increasingly toxic "weed-killers" that poison the waters, our health and the fauna around it? Or will it be when our children get horribly sick and decripit from eating Monsanto's foods which WERE NEVER PROPERLY TESTED?

In case you were in doubt about Monsanto's motives for producing GE crops:
A Monsanto official told the New York Times, October 25, 1998, that the corporation should not have to take responsibility for the safety of its food products. "Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food," said Phil Angell, Monsanto's director of corporate communications. "Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA's job."

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.html

Now do a google on how many Monsanto men served in both Bush administrations AND Clinton's- top advisors, policy makers, supreme court judges, FDA, EPA- ALL over the place. That information is also posted in the thread below.

This link won't work until the old DU is back up but here goes: http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=6510&forum=DCForumID71&archive=

[annagull]

7. EVIL: Thy name is Monsanto

This is the most evil corporation that has ever existed. They poisoned and left Anniston, Ala, they create GM foods and sue poor, desolate farmers for profit.. they are truly THE most evil corporate empire in the world.

[Tinoire]

8. Monsanto and Fox: Partners in Censorship

<snip>

That, according to Florida TV station WTVT, was why it hired the husband-and-wife team ((Jane Akre and Steve Wilson ))with much fanfare in November 1996 to head the station's "news investigative unit." Now, in the wake of their firing barely a year later, the Fox network affiliate is accusing them of theft for daring to independently publish the script of the story that they were never allowed to air.

<snip> Fox 13 didn't want to kill the story revealing synthetic hormones in Florida's milk supply. Instead, as we explain in great detail in our legal complaint, we were repeatedly ordered to go forward and broadcast demonstrably inaccurate and dishonest versions of the story. We were given those instructions after some very high-level corporate lobbying by Monsanto (the powerful drug company that makes the hormone) and also, we believe, by members of Florida's dairy and grocery industries."

<snip>
The Florida dispute offers a rare look inside the newsroom at the way stories get spun and censored. It is also cracks the facade that Monsanto has erected through a highly effective, multi-million-dollar PR offensive aimed at preventing the news media from reporting the views of rBGH critics.

<snip>

By then, Webster had already given Wilson and Akre the editorial go-ahead for their first big investigative piece--an exposé about possible health risks of rBGH-treated milk, which also provided solid documentation of numerous disturbing facts about Monsanto and its product:

* Posilac® was never properly tested before FDA allowed it on the market. A standard cancer test of a new human drug requires two years of testing with several hundred rats. But rBGH was tested for only 90 days on 30 rats. Worse, the study has never been published, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has refused to allow open scientific peer review of the study's raw data.

* Some Florida dairy herds grew sick shortly after starting rBGH treatment. One farmer, Charles Knight--who lost 75% of his herd--says that Monsanto and Monsanto-funded researchers at University of Florida withheld from him the information that other dairy herds were suffering similar problems.

* Interviewed on camera, Florida dairy officials and scientists refuted Monsanto's claim that every truckload of milk from rBGH-treated cows is tested for excessive antibiotics.

* Also on camera, Canadian government officials described what they called an attempt at bribery by Monsanto, which offered $1 to $2 million to gain rBGH approval in Canada.

* A visit by Akre to seven randomly-selected Florida dairy farms found that all seven were injecting their cows with the hormone. Wilson and Akre also visited area supermarket chains, which two years previously had promised to ask their milk suppliers not to use rBGH in response to consumer concerns. In reality, store representatives admitted that they have taken no steps to assure compliance with this request.

* Finally, the story dwelt heavily on concerns raised by scientists such as Epstein and Consumers Union researcher Michael Hansen about potential cancer risks associated with "insulin-like growth factor-I" (IGF-1). Treatments of rBGH lead to significantly increased levels of IGF-1 in milk, and recent studies suggest IGF-1 is a powerful tumor growth promoter.

Read the rest here: http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/1998Q2/foxbgh.html

Further information about the Akre-Wilson lawsuit, Monsanto and the Dairy Insdustry is available on their website at <http://www.foxBGHsuit.com>.

[mrfrapp]

9. Misleading

"Monsanto has filed papers in federal court, arguing that
milk from cows treated with their genetically engineered
bovine growth hormone is no different from untreated milk."

This is obviously a nonsense argument from Monstanto, but the report is misleading. It's making it sound as though the problem is "genetically engineered bovine growth hormone" when in fact the issue is just "bovine growth hormone". That the hormone is genetically engineered is really of no importance here. It's a dangerous additive either way.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. Very good point

[leftchick]

10. kick...

monsanto's evil ass.... :kick:

[Mairead]

11. "Do we have any candidates...?" Yes: Dennis Kucinich

"Do we have any candidates who are willing and able to stand up to Monsanto, other biotech giants, and big agribusiness?"

Yes, Kucinich is on record as opposing the agribusiness takeover.