World stands up against Monsanto: Over 400 cities protest GMOs

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People participate in a protest march against Monsanto Co, the world’s largest seed company, in Lima, Peru, May 23, 2015. (Reuters / Juanjo Fernandez)

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Thousands of people across the world have joined together in a global movement, protesting against American biotech giant Monsanto. Activists from over 400 cities are speaking out against GMOs and Monsanto’s monopoly over the food supply.

Saturday marked the third global annual March Against Monsanto
(MAM). According to the organizers, 48 countries were scheduled
to participate in a massive global turnout.

March against Monsanto: World rallies in protest
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Click
here to see a map that shows where the protests are taking
place around the globe. A total of 452 rallies have been
registered with the MAM organization.

Activists accuse the agricultural corporation of selling toxic
chemicals, which are bad for people’s health, water supplies,
vital crop pollinators and environment in general. The giant is
also criticized for its attitude towards food safety regulations
and a staunch opposition to GMO labeling. Meanwhile, small
farmers blame Monsanto for monopolizing the seed market.

One of the first protests of the day took place in Sydney,
Australia, with the demonstrators holding up placards saying:
“Sick of lies” and “GMO is killing our children
slowly.”

An activist at the rally told RT’s video agency Ruptly that
corporations like Monsanto must be held accountable for the
damage done to the planet. “This company has repeatedly
committed, I would say, crimes against the Earth and what we are
trying to show is accountability for corporations,” the
action’s organizer said. “Also we want to promote clean food.
Food that’s free of pesticides, which our grandparents just
called food.”

There were also great turnouts at rallies in Asia, Africa, and
Europe.

Demonstrators in Bangladesh formed a human chain around the
faculty of fine arts at Dhaka University in the country’s
capital. In India, thousands of farmers suffering the
monopolistic push of the biotech giant have been protesting
against Monsanto. A documentary on the rising suicide rates among
Indian cotton farmers struggling to reap profits after GMO cotton
replaced their crops is coming soon on RT.

Meanwhile, crowds of activists in South Africa braved the rainy
weather in Cape Town during their march against genetically
engineered products.

In France over 20 cities participated, with some central Parisian
streets coming to a complete standstill. France is one of the
biggest markets for Monsanto.

Demonstrators participate in a protest march against Monsanto Co, the world's largest seed company, in Paris, France, May 23, 2015.(Reuters / Mal Langsdon)

Germany’s capital Berlin saw a big turnout even though Germany
does not use Monsanto’s seeds. However, activists say local
farmers still use Monsanto’s pesticides and herbicides, which end
up leaving traces in breast milk of feeding mothers, the water
supply and even urine of people who have not eaten GMO products.

“The changes to the food supply are irreversible. And that is
for the rest of human history. We are losing choice because it
will all become GMO,” protester in Paris, Heidi Osterman,
told RT.

“I think the general population will not wake up until they
realize that they are getting seriously ill from this,”
activist and Vice President True Food Foundation, Dietrich Wittel
said.

Demonstrators in London, UK said they are concerned with GMO
crops taking over their island given its isolation and size,
which can potentially encourage a faster ‘takeover’ of GM crops.

“What we believe is that GMOs are untested. These kind of
pesticides and fertilizers infects our food and is going to
affect us in a very negative way. This is why we profoundly
disagree with GMOs,” a protester at the London rally told
RT’s Laura Smith.

Americas demand GMO labeling, end to biotech monopoly

A wave of marches against Monsanto and GMO food hit the United
States. Among the cities to join the protests were New York;
Washington, DC; Los Angeles; San Franciso; Chicago; Indianapolis;
Portland, Oregon; Oakland, California and dozens of others.
Activists decried Monsanto’s control of 90 percent of the US seed
market.

Hundreds of protesters marched on the White House and Monsanto’s
Washington, DC headquarters as part of the anti-GMO action.
People in New York also seized the opportunity to voice their
concerns.

Chicago protesters have marched against Monsanto and GMO food,
blocking off traffic in several streets.

“Monsanto is the reason why GMOs are in most of our food and
we are one of the countries that haven’t banned them. It is a
really big deal and people need to speak out in order to make a
change,” a protester from New York told RT.

One of the central issues in the US is the battle over labeling
GMO products. “Our biggest concern is that they are not
labeling to begin with,” another activist stressed.

America’s northern neighbor also showed its opposition to the
agriculture giant. Toronto, Canada’s most populated city, was the
center of action. Hundreds of people began their rally at Queens
Park and marched through the city’s streets with banners saying:
“Ban GMOs.”

“People are here to take back control of the food
system,” activist Jodi Koberinski told CBC. “We want
government to hold these corporations responsible for the damage
they are creating.”

Demonstrators from the city of Kelowna in British Columbia,
Canada, shouted: “Hey hey, ho ho, GMOs have got to go!”
Protesters in London, Ontario, Canada shouted they want “Real
food” – and that they want it “now!” Ontario beekeepers have
also symbolically dumped a coffin full of dead honey bees, which
they gathered from farms across the province, CBC News reported.

Both the Hawaii and the Caribbean were protesting Monsanto’s
power, with Hawaiian activists demanding “GMO-free”
islands and Puerto Ricans marching along to music with signs
saying “No more venom.”

South America has seen powerful anti-GMO protests with some
striking imagery on placards carried by demonstrators. Many
protesters chose to stress they believe Monsanto’s pesticides and
genetically modified products have been causing neurological
diseases and cancer.

Protesters in Brazil dressed up in gas masks and white uniform,
carrying anti-Monsanto signs seemingly covered in blood. In
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Guy Fawkes masks and placards against
the biotech behemoth mixed with demands for green and real food.

An activist holds placard during a protest against Monsanto, the world's largest seed company, in Sao Paulo May 23, 2015. ( Reuters / Paulo Whitaker)

The first annual MAM action was held in 2013. It saw over two
million protesters from around the globe taking to the streets to
demonstrate.

Monsanto was founded in 1901 and originally produced food
additives. In over a century, it has become the world leader in
the production of genetically engineered seeds and chemical
herbicides. It currently employs over 22,000 people in factories
across 61 countries.

A demonstrator holds up a tortilla during a protest against Monsanto Co, the world's largest seed company, in Mexico City, Mexico May 23, 2015.(Reuters / Ginnette Riquelme)

Monsanto spokesperson, Charla Lord, issued a statement in
response to the global movement today: “The company is
committed to making a more balanced meal accessible for
everyone.”

In light of thousands of people opposing Monsanto on Saturday, a
few individuals came out in support of the agricultural giant,
gathering outside Monsanto’s headquarters, with banners in favor
of the use of GMOs. The pro-Monsanto demonstrators said
protesters are spreading “myths” about genetically
modified products.

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