More: Last week EU politicians backed a plan to ban genetically modified crops on their soil even if given Union wide approval. A previous compromise would have required negotiation with a biotech company if the member nation wanted to prohibit use of its products. The plan approved by EU's parliament would allow member states to ban cultivation of frankencrops on environmental grounds. So far Europe has only approved two GMO crops for commercial cultivation and one was later blocked by court action. Monsanto's frankenmaize MON810 is the only one grown within the EU. Spain and Portugal have been growing it for a decade. Parliamentary approval of an opt out makes it more likely that frankenfoods will remain limited on the continent. France and Germany are both opposed to GMO crops while euro-conflicted Britain favors them.
{17.11.14} Unlike timid Oregoonians, the citizens of Maui, Hawaii voted against growing or testing of GMO (genetically modified organisms) crops. Corporate giants like Monsanto poured millions of dollars into Oregon to prevent required labeling of frankenfoods. They achieved an expensive, but close victory. Their advertising tactic was the usual: fear of higher food prices, conveyed by images of trustworthy folks such as nutritionists and farmers (see graphic). The vote on Maui was close too at about 51% in favor of the moratorium. Corporations are not gracious loosers because they have huge resources with which to wage prolonged litigation. Monsanto immediately went to federal court to request an injunction against the referendum being implemented. The case is assigned to a federal magistrate that earlier invalidated a law regulating GMOs on Kauai. Maui's initiative supporters filed in state court to ensure enforcement of the winning initiative. According to their attorney, they will request the federal court delay action until the state court has had an opportunity to rule.
Monsanto owns or leases more than 3000 acres on Maui and Molokai. Dow Chemical's agronomy unit, Mycogen Seeds, would also have to shut down its development and production operations. Since 1997 Monsanto has filed about 145 lawsuits against people to protect its patented GMO seed. Monsanto is not alone in its vigorous defense of corporate "personhood" at the expense of real, if misinformed, people. The Grocery Manufacturers Association, an industry trade organization, sued the state of Vermont for implementing its GMO labeling law. Vermont's law was supposed to take effect in July of 2016. Last year Syngenta and Bayer sued the EU for placing a limited ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, shown to be lethal to bees. Just ask the tea party crazies. They will tell you if people have to die to protect corporate profits, it must be God's will.