The Last Days of Mexican Corn

[nosmokes]

Per NAFTA, come the New Year all tariffs on corn end and whatever small bulwark of a defense the Mexican farmer had against the dumping of GMO corn is gone. It's likely a moot point anyhow as contamination has already occurred but maybe we can draw the line and prevent further more strains of GMO from being introduced and polluting the gene pool.
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original-counterpunch

The Last Days of Mexican Corn

NAFTA and Biotech: Twin Horsemen of the Ag Apocalypse

By JOHN ROSS


Mexico City. The single, spindly seven foot-tall cornstalk spiring up from the planter box outside a prominent downtown hotel here was filling out with new "elotes" (sweet corn) to the admiration of passer-bys, some of whom even paused to pat the swelling ears with affection. Down the centuries most of the population of this megalopolis migrated here from the countryside at one time or another over the course of the past 500 years and inside every "Chilango" (Mexico City resident) lurks an inner campesino.

But the solitary stalk, sewn by an urban coalition of farmers and ecologists under the banner of "No Hay Pais Sin Maiz" ("There Is No Country Without Corn") in planter boxes outside the downtown hotels, museums, government palaces and other historical monuments can just as easily be seen as a signifier for the fragile state of survival of Mexican corn.

As the year ripens into deep autumn, the corn harvest is pouring in all over Mexico. Out in Santa Cruz Tanaco in the Purepecha Indian Sierra of Michoacan state, the men mow their way down the rows much as their fathers and their fathers before did, snapping off the ears and tossing them into the "tshundi" basket on their backs.

In the evenings, the families will gather around the fire and shuck the "granos" from the cobs into buckets and carry them down to the store to trade for other necessities of life. It is the way in Tanaco in this season of plenitude just as it is in the tens of thousands of tiny farming communities all over Mexico where 29 per cent of the population still lives. But it is a way of life that is fading precipitously. Some say that these indeed may be the last days of Mexican corn.

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complete article here

[msongs]

1. farmers whose corn is contaminated by GM corn should sue the govt/farmers who grow the stuff

saw a movie about this sort of thing, and showed North Dakota farmers whose own field were contaminated by monsanto. Monsanto sued THEM for
patent violations. It should have been the farmers suing monsanto for contaminating the farmers' seed stocks and plants.

msongs

[demnan]

2. Then when they can't grow their crops anymore

and come north out of the necessity of feeding their families, they will be condemned by Americans as illegal aliens.

[nosmokes]

9. Thank-you for making that connection!

Far too many people (even some folks here) will complain about corruption in Mexico and lack of jobs and put the onus for the migration of folks north on Mexico when in fact the major player in the cause is U.S., Pogo.

[Mike03]

3. Sad--the entire planet is losing its connection with genuine

food.

Nowadays, it's hard even to trust the "Organic" seal of approval.

We are in severe trouble. Is it any wonder so many of us are chronically ill? Now we are spreading that chronic illness to nations that traditionally have healthier lifestyles.

Corruption to the bone.

What amazes me is that don't Monsanto executives have to eat? Don't they have children and parents? Do they want to eat this toxic junk?

[elehhhhna]

4. LOL I was acquainted with a Monsanto Division President who would not

drink his own product.

At least the insiders know what to avoid.

[Mike03]

7. I'd give anything to see that list of products to avoid; although,

I can probably guess.

The hard part is when you think are buying something healthy, like fresh vegetables and fruit, and having to wonder if they are GMO or not, and there's no law requiring that GMO product be labeled.

It's really cruel to the people who actually care what we put in our mouths. I don't think Europe permits GMO products, do they? Or at the very least, they are labeled, I think.

[yardwork]

5. I know a Monsanto executive. They drank the kool-aid long ago.

This is why the media had to be bought by the corporations, to spread the propaganda that brainwashes everyone to believe the corporate lies.

[Mike03]

8. Scary. N/T

[panader0]

6. Well said.

[AndyTiedye]

10. I Thought Corn Prices Were Going Up Due to Using it for Ethanol