March Against Monsanto

March Against Monsanto, Vancouver, Canada; May 25, 2013

March Against Monsanto (MAM) is an international grass roots movement as well as a protest against the Monsanto corporation and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The movement consists of multiple groups and seeks to “bring awareness to health, agricultural, environmental and political issues associated with Monsanto" through various actions.

On May 25, 2013, an estimated 2 million supporters participated in marches and rallies in 436 cities around the world.

Founded by Tami Canal in February 2013, the movement was created in response to the failure of California proposition 37. Canal said that the movement would continue its "anti-GMO cause" beyond the initial event. A "follow up" march is scheduled for July 20, 2013.

MAM supports mandatory GMO labeling laws and opposes the Farmer Assurance Provision (labeled the "Monsanto Protection Act" by critics).

Background

March Against Monsanto was formed by Tami Monroe Canal, a "stay-at-home mom" from Farmington, Utah. A first-time activist, Canal credits her "motherly inclinations", saying that where the health of her children is concerned, it "didn't take much" for her to get involved. The movement was spurred by Canal's frustration over the failure of California proposition 37 which would have required companies to label genetically engineered food.

Canal first promoted the concept via Facebook on Feb 23rd, 2013. The group posted a mission statement on their Facebook page that read:

For too long, Monsanto has been the benefactor of corporate subsidies and political favoritism...Organic and small farmers suffer losses while Monsanto continues to forge its monopoly over the world’s food supply, including exclusive patenting rights over seeds and genetic makeup.

By May 21st the Facebook page had attracted 85,000 members. Canal and activists Emilie Rensink and Nick Bernabe utilized various social media sites to promote the march online.

Two days before the group held their protest, the U.S. Senate rejected an amendment that would allow states to require labeling of genetically modified foods.

Issues

Currently in the US most corn, soybean and cotton are genetically modified crops. Critics say GMOs can lead to serious health problems and cause harm to the environment. Though the US government and many scientists say the technology is safe, health advocates have recently been pushing for mandatory GMO labeling. Although 90% of Americans favor GMO labeling, attempts to require labeling have been unsuccessful.

MAM demonstrators waved signs that read Real Food 4 Real People and Label GMOs, It’s Our Right to Know, and urged supporters to buy only organic products and to boycott Monsanto-owned companies. The Los Angeles MAM organizer explained, "We’re marching to raise awareness. This is not just a ‘boo Monsanto’ protest. We want more people to know so they can make their own decisions."

Supporters of the movement express concern about Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds and their effect on bee population, holding signs printed with "All we are saying is give bees a chance", and citing connections between GM seeds and colony collapse disorder (CCD).

March Against Monsanto, Lethbridge, Alberta

Protesters also took issue with the amount of influence Monsanto has in Washington, claiming the company has gone "too far". Former Monsanto employees hold top positions in the US food safety agencies FDA and the USDA, leading to claims that the "fox is guarding the hen house".

In an article entitled "The March to Stop Monsanto: Taking Back Our Food, Our Farms, Our Democracy and Our Planet", Dave Murphy (founder of Food Democracy Now! ) wrote, "The problem with Monsanto is not just their corrosive lobbying practices, but the fact that the products they produce, genetically engineered foods and chemical weed killers, are in more than 70% of the processed foods that we eat and feed our families everyday....Monsanto is responsible for some of the most lethal chemicals known to history, including Agent Orange, PCBs, and DDT."

March

March Against Monsanto in Amsterdam

On May 25, 2013 protests took place in at least 436 cities in 52 countries around the world. According to RT, the event was attended by over 2 million people; organizers estimated a total of 2 million. CNN reported the same number, but said they could not independently verify it.

Response

Monsanto released a statement on the day of the march, explaining it "respects people's rights to express their opinion on the topic, but maintains that its seeds improve agriculture by helping farmers produce more from their land while conserving resources such as water and energy."

Thom Hartmann, in an opinion piece called "So Much For The Liberal Media", claimed media had largely ignored the protests. "There was hardly a peep about the event in the corporate media. Apparently, a Koch-Brothers-funded Tea Party march of 300 people is news-worthy... but two million protesters aren't enough to risk upsetting the corporate masters."

Future plans

MAM organizer Tami Camal said she was surprised by the "viral" response made up of a "unique cross-section of support", and plans to "continue raising awareness". MAM joined forces with another GMO protest group, Moms Across America, and has plans to make a showing at Fourth of July parades, and on World Food Day in October 2013.

The organizers announced a "United Global Monsanto Mega March" via their Facebook page. The event is scheduled for July 20th 2013.

See also

• Genetic engineering
• Genetically modified crops
• Genetically modified food controversies
• Raging Grannies

External links

• Official website
• Event map
• Time-line and images from RT
• Images from Washington Times Communities
• Coverage from CNN
• Article from The Atlantic on the dangers of GMOs