monsanto-s-7-deadly-sins

MONSANTOS PLEDGEAct as Owners to Achieve Results:We will create clarity of direction,roles and accountability, build strongrelationships with our customers andexternal partners; make wise decisions;steward our company resources; and takeresponsibility for achieving agreedupon results.TRUTH REVEALEDMonsanto vs. US farmersA 2007 report from the US based Centerfor Food Safety 15 (CFS) documentsMonsanto’s lawsuits against Americanfarmers, revealing thousands ofinvestigations, nearly 100 lawsuitsand numerous bankruptcies.At issue: Monsanto owns its GEseeds, and the seeds from plants grown fromthese seeds. Farmers have been sued for saving seeds from oneseason to plant in the next (an age old practice), and even when Monsanto’s GEcrops have accidentally contaminated farmer’s fields.After extensive research and numerous interviews with farmers and lawyers, CFS found that Monsanto hasused heavy-handed investigations and ruthless litigation. The largest recorded judgment made thus far infavour of Monsanto as a result of a farmer lawsuit is $3,052,800.00. Total recorded judgments granted toMonsanto for lawsuits amount to $15,253,602.82. Farmers have paid an average of $412,259.54 for cases withrecorded judgments. The patents that rest on Monsanto’s GE seeds have made US farmers almost defencelesswhen faced with litigations. It has led to a truly new era in which farmers are being sued and harassedfor doing what they have always done: saving seeds.No farmer is safe from the long reach of Monsanto. According to the CFS report, farmers have even beensued after their field was contaminated by pollen or seed from someone else’s genetically engineered crop;when genetically engineered seed from a previous year’s crop has sprouted, or “volunteered,” in fieldsplanted with non-GE varieties the following year.MONSANTOS PLEDGECreating a great place to work: We will ensurediversity of people and thought; fosterinnovation, creativity and learning; practiceinclusive teamwork;and reward and recognize our people.TRUTH REVEALEDFormer Monsanto employee“I left the company because I expressed myconcerns regarding the introduction of GM [GE]technology in Romania. I believed that neitherRomania nor the company were ready and able tomonitor and control the GM [GE] technology.” 16Dragos Dima, former general manager of Monsantoin Romania, who left the company in 1998.CASE CLOSEDMonsanto guilty as charged for crimes againstnature, crimes against the right of farmers togrow, and consumers to eat, GE-free crops and food.SENTENCETo stop the growing of GE crops and focus on GE-free cropand food production that is grounded in the principles ofsustainability, protection of biodiversity and providingall people to have access to safe and nutritious food.15 http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/Monsantovsusfarmersreport.cfm16 http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/gmo-lamy© Greenpeace/PaunGreenpeace InternationalOttho Heldringstraat 5,1066 AZ Amsterdam,The Netherlandst +31 20 718 2000f +31 20 514 8151www.greenpeace.orgMarch 2008Genetix Crime Unit