The real scoop on genetic engineering’s close ties to corporate-political hi-jinx

The 2007 film “Michael Clayton” included this bit of dialogue: Michael Clayton: You are the senior litigating partner of one of the largest, most respected law firms in the world. You are a legend. Arthur Edens: I’m an accomplice! Michael Clayton: You’re a manic-depressive! Arthur Edens: I am Shiva, the god of death. The film is a dramatization of what the boardrooms and back alleys of agro-genetic-cloning-seed-purveyor Monsanto could look like. The company Clayton works for through its law firm is U/North, which faces a multibillion dollar lawsuit from families of hundreds of people killed by genetically modified food. Of course, a real billion-dollar company, Monsanto, is in the crosshairs of every sort of group, from small farmers in Spokane County, to cotton collectives in India, to whole milk advocates in California. Monsanto and its genetically modified organism world of Round-up Ready corn, soy, beets and alfalfa scares the hell out of organic farmers, ranchers and dairy operators. Another Shiva, Dr. Vandana Shiva, an Indian philosopher, environmental activist, and eco feminist with over 25 books and 600 papers under her belt, has potent things to say about Monsanto: “The seed, the source of life, the embodiment of our biological and cultural diversity, the link between the past and future of evolution, the common property of past, present and future generations of farming communities who have been seed breeders, is today being stolen from farmers and sold back to us as ‘propriety seed’ owned by corporations like the Monsanto.” Unfortunately, Monsanto has Supreme Court judges close to its corporate hearts – Elena Kagan went to bat for them as California’s Solicitor General. Clarence Thomas was once a Monsanto lawyer. Both have not recused themselves recently involving Monsanto cases. George W. Bush stacked his administration with former Monsanto folk and beneficiaries of their multiple billions: • John Ashcroft, Attorney General, top recipient of Monsanto election money. • Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health, was a Monsanto supporter in Wisconsin. He received $50,000 from biotech firms, and used state funds to set up a $317 million biotech zone. • Ann Veneman, Secretary of Agriculture, was on the board of Calgene Pharmaceuticals, purchased by Monsanto. • Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, former president of Searle Pharmaceuticals, now owned by Monsanto. • Linda J. Fisher, a former Monsanto official, was nominated by Bush as EPA’s second-in-command. She was Monsanto’s representative in Washington from 1995 to 2000 and coordinated the company’s strategy to blunt resistance to genetically modified food. • Mitch Daniels, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, was vice president of corporate strategy at Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical. Eli Lilly and Monsanto developed the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone. Lilly “owns” the European “franchise.” • Stansfield Turner, former Director of the CIA and member of the Monsanto Board • Earle H. Harbison, former president of Monsanto and CIA officer for 19 years Iraq’s fate, agronomical-wise, is tied to Monsanto’s influence on Paul Bremer’s “100 Orders.” The U.S.’ Article 81 means Iraqi farmers must plant “protected” crop varieties, defined as new, distinct, uniform and stable (read, Monsanto-held patented crops). Seed saving is banned, and royalties are paid by the farmer to the registered seed “owner.” Farmers must sign contracts relating to seed supply and, most probably, to the marketing of the harvest. Where genetically-modified crops are involved (possibly in other cases), farmers must sign contracts to purchase herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers. Even President Barack Obama feels Monsanto’s presence, in the form of ex-Monsanto attorney and chief lobbyist Michael Taylor, who rejoined the FDA in July 2009, later named the Deputy Commissioner of Food. It was one of Obama’s most controversial appointments. Taylor is called the food czar, and his big agribusiness ways rule. Obama’s presidential-bid promise to end the “revolving door” between agribusiness lobbyists and government and to “regulate” factory farms rang hollow quickly. In future parts of this GMO series, we’ll look at what Eastern Washington farmers, ranchers and food and farming advocates think about GE or GMO foods and crops. We’ll probe movements in Seattle to create GMO-free schools, restaurants and stores, and the long reach of Monsanto, its subsidiaries and parallel biotech, drug, chemical and agriculture companies working to rule the world through food. Congress is expected to vote on the Farm Bill in early 2012, which will have resounding implications on food security, climate change mitigation, land use and farming and nutrition policies. It’s a rallying point for food, farm, poverty, education, social justice and environmental advocates. I attended a Food and Water Watch event in Seattle last month, tied to the Fair Farm Bill Road Trip this national group is rallying people around. At Café Q, more than 60 people gathered for a free screening of the documentary, “What’s Organic About Organic?” The film sort of proposes similar points discussed in films “Fresh” and “Food, Inc.”, of organics feeding the world. The fact is that Round-up Ready alfalfa or wheat will kill organics since cross contamination will render organic crops and meat and dairy products industrial. After the viewing, a panel was convened with representatives of Food and Water Watch, Community Alliance for Global Justice, Northwest Farm Bill Action Group, Seattle Tilth and Slow Food Seattle. Unfortunately, the Farm Bill is all about watching corporate giants take control of our food, and the audience, mostly middle aged and older, seemed at a loss as to how to fight the corporate influence on every level of politician. What was missing on the panel was verve, fire-in-the-belly focused criticism and framing, as well as real solutions on how to tackle corporations like Monsanto, which has brought us all the “better living through chemistry” we can handle: Agent Orange, terminator seeds, Round-Up, and Genetically Engineered organisms. In the U.S., Monsanto’s influence on crops is startling: 92 percent of soybeans, 80 percent of corn, 95 percent of sugar, and 90 percent canola are GE Round-up ready. The one main question from the audience – how can individuals stop the influence corporations have on the Farm Bill? Unfortunately, paradigm shift means a complete reworking of our society, and while people in Seattle seem more green or informed, they too are colonized by a corporate mentality dominating every portion of their lives. In future parts of this series, we’ll look at some of the goals of groups like Food and Water Watch. For now, here’s the premise for hundreds of groups and individuals working to make the Farm Bill worthy of a healthy society, healthy environment and healthy farm-food economy, brought to us by Food and Water Watch: What a Fair Farm Bill Means for You • Better choices: Breaking up the agribusiness monopolies will bring a more vibrant marketplace. • Stable prices: Restoring common-sense practices like agricultural reserves can prevent speculation from driving up food prices. • Increased access to healthy food: More families will have easy access to healthy foods they can afford. • Stronger local infrastructure: Reversing the consolidation in the food system would allow for more local businesses. What a Fair Farm Bill Means for Farmers • A level playing field: A fair marketplace for small farmers cannot exist without breaking up the agribusiness monopolies. • Fair markets: Farm pricing and contract policies can ensure that all producers receive enough from their sales or services to provide a fair return. What a Fair Farm Bill Means for the Environment • Environmental stewardship: Conservation programs can improve biodiversity, minimize pollution, and conserve essential resources. • Sustainable farming: Independent farmers will receive support to help them shift to more diversified operations.