Haitian Farmers Reject Monsanto Donation

[Robbien]

The Peasant Movement of Papay, a group of Haitian farmers, has committed to burning 60,000 seed sacks (475 tons) of hybrid corn and vegetable seeds donated by Monsanto in the wake of the devastating earthquake earlier this year.

Peasant Movement of Papay leader Chavannes Jean-Baptiste called Monsanto's donation "a new earthquake" and called for a march to protest the corporation's presence in Haiti for World Environment Day.

The National Peasant Movement of the Congress of Papay sent an open letter on May 14 signed by Jean-Baptiste. The letter called Monsanto's presence in Haiti, "a very strong attack on small agriculture, on farmers, on biodiversity, on Creole seeds..., and on what is left of our environment in Haiti."

In addition to MPNKP and MPP, other Haitian social movements have advocated in opposition to agribusiness imports of seeds and food. The groups have expressed strong concern regarding the importation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as they undermine local production of local seed stocks.

. . .

The corn seed product Monsanto donated to Haiti has been treated with the fungicide Maxim XO, while the calypso tomato seeds were treated with thiram. Thiram is a highly toxic chemical belonging to the ethylene bisdithiocarbamates (EBDCs) class. Upon U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests on the EBDC's, the EPA deemed any EBDC-treated plants so dangerous to agricultural workers, that they are now mandated to wear protective clothing when handling them.

. . .

Monsanto is internationally known for aggressively pushing its seed products, specifically GMO seeds. The use of seeds also usually includes highly restrictive technology agreements between the company and farmers, who groups opposed to the use of GMOs claim are not always fully made aware of what they are signing. GMO-opposed groups claim that by signing these agreements, small farmers are forced to buy Monsanto seeds each year under conditions they often find onerous and at high costs that they cannot afford.

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/haitian-farmers-burn-monsanto-hybrid-seeds/


It says a lot when even the poorest devastated nation rejects Monsanto's handouts.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

1. Why burn them? Grind them into meal or consume directly.

Heck, use them as animal or chicken feed.
Free food is free food... no one says they have to plant the seeds.

[Robbien]

2. Did you miss the part "Thiram is a highly toxic chemical "

One almost has to wear hasmet suits to be around the stuff.

[tabatha]

3. But some of the richer countries do business with Monsanto?

The poorest are sometimes the smartest.

Yep, burn the seeds, so that no trace of their genetic material can survive - and send a strong message to Monsanto.

[Demeter]

4. They Have the Least to Lose By Defying the Corporation

and the most to gain by genetic diversity of local seeds.

[tabatha]

5. That is true as long as they have other seed available

or are able to get.

[ensho]

6. good for them, smart thinking

nt

[awoke_in_2003]

7. too late to rec...

but here is a kick. Good for Haiti.

[era veteran]

8. Fantastic

Fuck Monsanto, the evil empire.