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General News    H3'ed 5/28/13

Farmer Sued by Monsanto for Planting Seeds

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According to Upriser.com an:

Indiana farmer must pay Monsanto $84,000 for planting second-hand seeds from crops Monsanto hold patents on. That's right. If you plant soybeans from soybeans you bought at a grocery store, there's a good chance you'll be infringing one of Monsanto's patents - just like the Indiana farmer did - because Monsanto has a patent on over 80% of all soybeans in existence.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of biotech giant Monsanto, ordering Indiana farmer Vernon Hugh Bowman, 76, to pay Monsanto more than $84,000 for patent infringement for using second generation Monsanto seeds purchased second hand--a ruling which will have broad implications for the ownership of 'life' and farmers' rights in the future.

The sources of the seeds Bowman purchased were mixed and were not labeled. However, some were patented Monsanto seeds. Now this 75 year old man has to pay Monsanto a small fortune for just doing what farmers have been doing for thousands of years - planting seeds from last years crops.

Again, this is an upfront confirmation of our government being in bed with corporations that are sociopathic. Indeed, many of us wonder if this is a nation for the people, by the people or for the corporation by the corporation.

Monsanto is not shy about its political ambitions in this government mindset. In a newsletter published during the year 2000 Monsanto thumbed their nose at the power of the American Public when they stated:

"Agricultural biotechnology will find a supporter occupying the White House next year, regardless of which candidate win the election in November"

This is a blatant take over of the government as well as an attack on the health of our lands, peoples and communities. Ultimately, it is an attack on the biodiversity of the planet. Monsanto is consistently represented in the chambers of the Supreme Court as reflected in Justice Clarence Thomas and most often comes out smelling like a rose after being to court.

For example, an article regarding a decision from the Supreme Court appearing in the Washington Post on 5/13/13 states:

Farmers must pay Monsanto each time they plant the company's genetically modified soybeans, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, rejecting an Indiana farmer's argument that his unorthodox techniques did not violate the company's patent. Farmer Vernon Hugh Bowman asserts that because the company's herbicide-resistent Roundup Ready soybeans replicate themselves, he was not violating the company's patent by planting progeny seeds he bought elsewhere. But the justices unanimously rejected that claim, with Justice Elena Kagan writing there is no such "seeds are special" exception to the law.

Regarding this decision, The People's Voice states:

On May 13, Food Democracy Now (FDN) denounced the Supreme Court ruling. Executive director Dave Murphy accused Washington of complicity in permitting the "corporate takeover of (America's) food supply."

"Today," he said, "the Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the corporate takeover of our food supply, in a huge win for Monsanto, and a major loss for America's farmers and consumers."

"Monsanto has long engaged in an effort to subvert family farmers that do not use their genetically-engineered seeds, and the Court has now handed corporations even more control over what our families eat."

Monsanto enjoys placing a white hat on its sociopathic head as evidenced by a past announcement that they were entering into a project that would increase biodiversity. The project has three specific objectives:

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Burl Hall is a retired counselor who is living in a Senior Citizen Housing apartment. Burl has one book to his credit, titled "Sophia's Web: A Passionate Call to Heal our Wounded Nature." For more information, search the book on Amazon. (more...)
 
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