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We do a lot of complaining about Monsanto on our Facebook page, but I think this is the first time I have actually written a post exclusively about them. As much as I want labeling of GMOs, I also don’t want to give too much more website time to a company that has taken up so much of the discussion on the internet about food. Better to focus on the positive and what can be done on our individual levels, right?
But then I saw it. . . . an article that proclaims that Mon-satan-o Monsanto was donating $20,000 to the Western Growers Foundation (although its website says it has accepted $30,000) to ‘help’ the school garden programs in California and Arizona. WHAAAAAT?
Outrage and Brilliance
First of all, I am outraged. The school garden movement was created as a response to teach kids and the community to avoid unsustainable practices. And yet, here we have a community foundation supporting school gardens that is actually taking money from the VERY corporation that is creating unsustainable practices of promoting monoculture, hybrid seeds, owning patents on seeds to prevent seed saving, and creating toxic chemical environments that promote super weeds. What were they thinking?
However, on Mon-satan-o Monsanto’s part, its brilliant! Sure. Why not take down the very movement that is educating young people and communities how to grow their own food and be self-sustaining? That is their future competition. If you educate people to take care of themselves they will no longer need to be dependent upon companies like Mon-satan-o Monsanto to provide them with food. ‘Give them money — and teach them the ways of the GMO.’ Instead of fighting the movement they seek to influence it. Brilliant. Really, it is.
This is Why Monsanto is Not Just Another Business.
They KNOW that their products are unsustainable. They KNOW that they are ruining the environment. They KNOW that they are creating super weeds and KILLING the soil and microbes. THEY KNOW. The best thing for them to do is to destroy the foundation of those who are trying to do it right and grow in sustainable communities.
Do not think for one moment that MOST corporations don’t give to charity for a self-promoting purpose. Most of them have something in it for themselves. And for the most part, I am ok with that. It’s what makes the world go around. But in the case of Mon-satan-o Monsanto, it is as if they want to create an environment where they control the potential positive outcomes so that it can not compete with the lackluster performance of their MEGA agribusiness crops.
No one in government has dared to even question the ethics of Mon-satan-o Monsanto buying up and patenting the world’s food supply through seeds. Ummm, isn’t that a MONOPOLY? Aren’t there LAWS AGAINST that in this country? Don’t get me wrong. There are other BIG AG corporations out there other than Mon-satan-o, like DuPONT and BAYER, but none of them are close to having the monopoly that Mon-satan-o Monsanto does. And no one questions it. Even the other BIG Ag companies seem to ROLL OVER when Mon-satan-o sues them.
Bottom-line: STOP TAKING Mon-satan-o’s MONEY!
The article did not state whether the donation was in seeds, supplies, or actual cash. But it doesn’t matter. There is ALWAYS pressure to cave to the demands of a major contributor. Anyone who has been involved in a charity knows this. Once a charity becomes dependent upon a large donor for its continued success it becomes a slave to the donors wishes for its survival.
This is why I am APPALLED by the acceptance of this money by the Western Growers Foundation. Now, maybe the WGF is a front group for Mon-satan-o Monsanto. I am not that familiar with them. After all, another one of their donors is US Agriseed, another GMO seed company. But we have to fight against this type of nonsense in our communities. If you start a school or community garden — SUPPORT IT! Do not allow BIG Ag to come in and run your ‘local’ garden. Keep it LOCAL. Keep it SUSTAINABLE. Keep it CLEAN of GMO’s and CORPORATE INFLUENCE.
Do not let Monsanto hijack our local movement!
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Thank you for letting us know about this! I am totally with you. I’m sure this is only a PR move on Monsanto’s part.
Monsanto sucks.
The more I hear about Monsanto, the sicker I become that we have let them get this far. I do have to say though – your alternate name for Monsanto made me giggle
You hit the nail on the head with that name I think!
it’s true. i also think Monsanto sucks. toats mon-satan-o. for sure. the thing is too, if these programs take money from them, they end up in the back pocket of the company, just like all the farmers have.
SAY NO TO MONSANTO!!!
today is the Wednesday Fresh Foods Blog Hop – I was hoping, if you feel up for it, that you’d link up this fabulous post (and any future fabulous, seasonal and/or real food posts) with us Everyone is welcome so feel free to stop by. take care! xo, kristy
Done Kristy. I posted a few others too. If I remember, I will try to come by and post every week but we tend to have a specific dietary focus so we may not always be able to post every time according to your rules. I do like your blog. I’ve been over there several times
Looking forward to reading more on ‘grow your own sh*t’ series . . . As a matter of fact, today I am going to go work with a local farmer to learn a few things from her. I am trying to learn all I can about how to heal the soil and keep it alive year after year.
aw – thanks Jen
i like yours too! you do some seriously good work over here and it makes me giddy that you like mine.
i didn’t get to do too much this year re the Grow Your Own series. we’re moving across the country in a few days and so i wasn’t able to plant anything. we’ll see what toronto has in store though
thank you for taking the time to share with us at The Wednesday Fresh Foods Blog Hop – we hope to see you again this week with more incredible posts! xo, kristy
No way that money comes without strings attached! Thanks Jen for linking up at Scratch Cookin’ Tuesday!
Love this!!! They contribute to our Farm Safety Day and the Tshirts that come home make me cringe…
There is no company I feel about the way I do Monsanto. It’s not just the recent GMO-ness, they’ve been evil for many decades. Granted, all corporations exist to make money, but Monsanto takes the search for profit to new levels.
I know. It’s mind boggling that they are still allowed to be in business. Weren’t they the ones behind Agent Orange and DDT. Pretty sure they were. Just.plain.evil.