The world according to Monsanto : pollution, corruption, and

notes to pages 199–208 347demned for deceptive advertising (The Guardian, February 28, 1999). In all, thirtycomplaints had been filed.42. The Ecologist 28, no. 5 (September–October 1998). This is essential reading.In addition, on July 1, 1999, the French weekly Courrier international published atranslation, to which Monsanto replied in the July 29 edition. The reply containedthe following: “With respect to Agent Orange, the writers for The Ecologist forgot tomention that detailed studies conducted for several years by the US Air Force andother bodies have shown that there are no major harmful health effects associatedwith this defoliant.”43. The Guardian, September 29, 1998.44. Justin Gillis and Anne Swardson, “Crop Busters Take on Monsanto: Backlashagainst Biotech Foods Exacts a High Price,” Washington Post, October 27, 1999. OnOctober 26, Monsanto stock was quoted at $39.18 on the New York Stock Exchange,compared to $62.72 in August 1998.45. Véronique Lorelle, “L’Arrogance de Monsanto a mis à mal son rêve de nourrirla planète,” Le Monde, October 8, 1999.46. Gillis and Swardson, “Crop Busters Take on Monsanto.”47. Michael D. Watkins and Ann Leamon, “Robert Shapiro and Monsanto,” HarvardBusiness School case, rev. January 2, 2003.48. Véronique Lorelle, “Le Patron de Monsanto, prophète des OGM, démissionnepour cause de mauvais résultats,” Le Monde, December 20, 2002. In 2002,the company recorded a net loss of $1.7 billion.10. The Iron Law of the Patenting of Life1. For more details on the patenting of life, see my documentary Les Pirates du vivant,broadcast on Arte on November 15, 2005.2. Monsanto, Pledge Report, 2005, 42 (emphasis added). The document can befound at http://www.monsanto.com/who_we_are/our_pledge/recent_reports.asp.3. Monsanto, Technology Use Guide, art. 19 (emphasis added). Quoted by the reportof the Center for Food Safety, Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers, November 2005, 20,www.centerforfoodsafety.org/Monsantovsusfarmersreport.cfm.4. Daniel Charles, Lords of the Harvest (Cambridge, MA: Perseus, 2002), 185.5. Ibid., 155.6. Ibid., 187.7. Rick Weiss, “Seeds of Discord: Monsanto’s Gene Police Raise Alarm on Farmers’Rights, Rural Tradition,” Washington Post, February 3, 1999.8. Center for Food Safety, Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers.9. Chicago Tribune, January 14, 2005.10. “Lawsuits Filed against American Farmers by Monsanto,” Administrative Officeof the U.S. Courts, http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.11. Quoted by Charles, Lords of the Harvest, 187.