5 Million Farmers Sue Monsanto for $7.7 Billion

Launching a lawsuit against the very company that is responsible for a farmer suicide every 30 minutes, 5 million farmers are now suing Monsanto for as much as 6.2 billion euros (around 7.7 billion US dollars). The reason? As with many other cases, such as the ones that led certain farming regions to be known as the ‘suicide belt’, Monsanto has been reportedly taxing the farmers to financial shambles with ridiculous royalty charges. The farmers state that Monsanto has been unfairly gathering exorbitant profits each year on a global scale from “renewal” seed harvests, which are crops planted using seed from the previous year’s harvest.

The practice of using renewal seeds dates back to ancient times, but Monsanto seeks to collect massive royalties and put an end to the practice. Why? Because Monsanto owns the very patent to the genetically modified seed, and is charging the farmers not only for the original crops, but the later harvests as well. Eventually, the royalties compound and many farmers begin to struggle with even keeping their farm afloat. It is for this reason that India slammed Monsanto with groundbreaking ‘biopiracy’ charges in an effort to stop Monsanto from ‘patenting life’.

Jane Berwanger, a lawyer for the farmers who went on record regarding the case, told theAssocited Press:

“Monsanto gets paid when it sell the seeds. The law gives producers the right to multiply the seeds they buy and nowhere in the world is there a requirement to pay (again). Producers are in effect paying a private tax on production.”

The findings echo what thousands of farmers have experienced in particularly poor nations, where many of the farmers are unable to stand up to Monsanto. Back in 2008, the Daily Mail covered what is known as the ‘GM Genocide’, which is responsible for taking the lives of over 17,683 Indian farmers in 2009 alone. After finding that their harvests were failing and they began to enter economic turmoil, the farmers began ending their own lives — oftentimes drinking the very same insecticide that Monsanto provided them with.

As the information continues to surface on Monsanto’s crimes, further lawsuits will begin to take effect. After it was ousted in January that Monsanto was running illegal ‘slave-like’working rings, more individuals became aware of just how seriously Monsanto seems to disregard their workers — so why would they care for the health of their consumers? In April, another group of farmers sued Monsanto for ‘knowingly poisoning’ workers and causing ‘devastating birth defects’.

Will endless lawsuits from millions of seriously affected individuals will be the end of Monsanto?

This post first appeared at Natural Society

http://www.infowars.com/5-million-farmers-sue-monsanto-for-7-7-billion/

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 41

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 41

The wise student hears of the Tao and practises it diligently.

The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again.

The foolish student hears of the Tao and laughs aloud.

If there were no laughter, the Tao would not be what it is.

Hence it is said:

The bright path seems dim;

Going forward seems like retreat;

The easy way seems hard;

The highest Virtue seems empty;

Great purity seems sullied;

A wealth of Virtue seems inadequate;

The strength of Virtue seems frail;

Real Virtue seems unreal;

The perfect square has no corners;

Great talents ripen late;

The highest notes are hard to hear;

The greatest form has no shape.

The Tao is hidden and without name.

The Tao alone nourishes and brings everything to fulfillment.

my drawings

Russian Journalist Exposes Propaganda Lies about Houla Massacre

Going to war depends first on selling it. Gaining public support is vital. Walter Lippmann coined the phrase "manufacture of consent."

Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky discussed the "propaganda model" in their book titled "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media."

The Media use it to manipulate and control public thinking and perceptions. News and information are filtered. Acceptable "residue" only is reported. 

Dissent is marginalized. Government and dominant private interests are prioritized.

Michael Parenti explained:

"The enormous gap between what US leader do....and what American's think their leaders are doing is one of the great propaganda accomplishments...."

In their book titled "Propaganda and Persuasion," Garth Jowett and Victoria O'Donnell defined their topic as "the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist."

Richard Alan Nelson described the technique as follows:

"Propaganda is neutrally defined as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels." 

"A propaganda organization employs propagandists who engage in propagandism—the applied creation and distribution of such forms of persuasion."

Propaganda has different forms. Advertisers use it to generate sales. So do politicians to get elected. Religious leaders use it to indoctrinate the faithful. So do nations to promote their agendas.

When war is planned, it's used to create fear, demonize enemies, dehumanize them, falsely accuse them of atrocities and other crimes, and enlist public support for intervention for alleged humanitarian reasons.

In 1917, George Creel first used propaganda successfully to turn pacifist Americans into raging German-haters.

In his 1928 book titled "Propaganda," Edward Bernays said it's possible to "regiment the public mind every bit as much as an army regiments their bodies."

"If we understand the mechanism and motives of the group mind, is it not possible to control and regiment the masses according to our will without their knowing about it?"

In his book titled "Taking the Risk Out of Democracy: Corporate Propaganda versus Freedom and Liberty,” Alex Carey said:

"The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy."

It's also used to launch wars, trick enemies for strategic purposes, and deceive the public while waging them. Media scoundrels play a crucial role. People are manipulated to think aggressive wars are just ones.

Big lies launch them. None achieve peace, security and stability. One conflict begets others. Endless destructive cycles follow. Countless millions die. Vast destruction ravages countries. Human misery, not liberation, results.

Human needs go unmet. Wealth, power, and imperial interests only matter. Successful propaganda convinces people that what harms their well-being actually helps them.

Post-9/11, America waged multiple direct and proxy wars. They continue without end. Obama itches for more. Syria is target one, then Iran, then other nations for unchallenged US dominance. At issue is can humanity survive?

On June 11, Global Research published Russian journalist Marat Musin's firsthand observations of what really happened at Houla. He exposed media scoundrel misinformation and lies. Doing so provided a vital service. (See below).

---

	THE HOULA MASSACRE: Opposition Terrorists "Killed Families Loyal to the Government" - by Marat Musin - 2012-06-01
	The terrorists were not pro-government shabbiha militia as conveyed, in chorus, by the mainstream media, they were in large part mercenaries and professional killers operating under the auspices of the self-proclaimed Free Syrian Army (FSA).

---

Western-enlisted death squads bear full responsibility. Government forces and/or so-called pro-Assad shabbiha had no involvement. 

Scoundrel media and Western officials provided fabricated accounts of what went on. It was classic, duplicitous propaganda. It rages to enlist public support for war.

Musin's article is powerful reading. Circulating it widely is important. Only public rage can stop wars. Nothing else works. Knowing the truth and spreading it has impact. Imperial America and war profiteers fear that most. 

It's time ordinary people got radicalized for their own well-being. Focus first on ending imperial wars. Imagine what's possible at peace. Imagine public needs prioritized over conquests and domination. If that's not worth fighting for, what is?

Below is a snapshot of what Musin wrote. Read his article for the full account.

On May 25, Houla was attacked by hundreds of "bandits and mercenaries."

Ar-Rastan-based and Free Syrian Army terrorists were responsible.

Civilians abandoned the town of Ar-Rastan. Lebanese Wahhabi/Salafist extremists dominate the area. With foreign money and weapons, they carry out terrorist attacks.

When killer gangs entered "the lower checkpoint in the center of" Houla, they attacked pro-government residents.

"Many of those killed were 'guilty' of....dar(ing) to change from Sunnis to Shiites." They were murdered in cold blood "with knives (or) shot at point blank range."

Scandalous accounts blamed Assad. Government forces and/or supporters had nothing to do with it.

Musin called UN observers claiming they heard artillery fire "a bad joke." Assad's forces were in Homs, 50 kilometers away.

"After a visual inspection of (Houla), it is impossible to find traces of any of fresh destruction, bombing and shelling....Militants used heavy weapons and snipers..."

Official and scoundrel media reports wreak of inconsistencies and duplicity.

"Militants opened fire on virtually everyone who tries to get closer to (Houla). Before us a UN convoy was fired upon and two armored jeeps of the UN observers were damaged, when they tried to drive up to an army checkpoint in Tal Dow."

"....(M)any of the militants are professional snipers."

"....(B)andits even fired an automatic burst on our group of journalists...."

About 108 civilians were killed, including 38 or more young children. They were executed in cold blood. They were pro-government loyalists.

Musin discussed media disinformation, saying:

"To exert pressure on public opinion and change the positions of Russia and China, texts and subtitles in Russian and Chinese languages were prepared in advance, reading: 

'Syria – Homs – the city of Hula. A terrible massacre perpetrated by the armed forces of the Syrian regime against civilians in the town of Houla. Dozens of victims and their number is growing, mainly women and children, brutally killed by indiscriminate bombing of the CITY.' "

"Two days later, on May 27, after the residents’ stories and video recordings made showed that the facts do not support the allegation of shelling and bombing, the bandits’ videos had undergone significant changes." 

"At the end of the text appeared this postscript: 'And some were killed with knives.' "

Musin reported what everyone needs to know and tell others. Pentagon war plans were ready months ago. Obama itches to attack Syria. Perhaps Houla or another planned incident will trigger it.

On Friday, Syria's Human Rights Council representative, Faisal al-Hamwi, blamed Houla killings on terror gangs. They're trying to incite sedition, he said.

"No sane person can believe some of this session's sponsors when they show sorrow and pain for the victims at the time when they participate in killing the Syrians and shedding their blood," he added.

On June 1, the Human Rights Council met to discuss Syria. Washington pressure assured its conclusions in advance. 

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, blamed Assad for killer gang crimes. She wrongly said the "Syrian military allegedly unleashed a barrage of heavy weapons on" Houla, "including artillery and tank fire...." She also blamed "pro-government Shabiha paramilitary groups...."

Doing so ignored clear evidence of responsibility. She wants government officials prosecuted at the International Criminal Court. Western and complicit regional states' accountability wasn't mentioned.

On June 2, the State Department claimed satellite images show Houla mass graves. Assad was named responsible. Alleged nearby artillery craters were also shown.

So-called images can be easily manipulated and/or fabricated. They can also be from other areas unrelated to Houla or Syria. State Department claims are spurious and unverified. So are scoundrel media reports about them.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said preliminary government investigations showed a well-planned operation carried out by gunmen intent on violence, not a diplomatic solution to Syria's conflict.

He blamed weapons and funding supplied foreign mercenaries.

Houla killings advanced the ball closer to war. Launching it could happen anytime, with or without Security Council authorization. 

Doing so will ignite a regional firestorm. Imagine the potential catastrophic consequences. Future updates will cover more.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=31213

Infographic unveiled: Top Ten GMO Foods to Avoid Eating

(NaturalNews) We here atNaturalNews.compride ourselves in providing our readers with the most valuable, up-to-date news and information on a wide range of health-related issues, but we especially like to discuss nutrition because so much of our health depends on what we put in our bodies - and what wedon'tput in them.


See the NaturalNews infographic at:


http://www.naturalnews.com/Infographic-Top-10-GMO-Foods-to-Avoid-Eating.html

Be aware and beware

With that latter thought in mind, we've developed an infographic to highlight the top 10 GMO (genetically modified organism) foods to avoid, in no particular order:


1.Tomatoes: What? Tomatoes? Yes, that's right. It's probably the No. 1 symbol of a GMO food, having been on the market since about 1994. Still, some think modifying them genetically is okay, including those who traditionally shun GMO foods, which is perplexing. The most recent converts are hailing a new technique developed by researchers for extending the shelf life of tomatoes and other crops from the traditional 15 days or so to a full month. This is accomplished by suppressing two enzymes (A-Man, B-hex) which accumulate during the ripening process. Backers say this modification can decrease waste and increase efficiency, but again, it's a process thatgenetically altersthe product, and there have been reports that some animals have died shortly after consuming GMO tomatoes.


2.Cotton: Considered a food item because its oil can be consumed, cotton - in particular, genetically modified Bt cotton, common to India and China - has damaging consequences. According to recent Chinese research, while Bt cotton is capable of killing bollworms without the use of insecticides, its decreased use has increased the presence of other crop-harming pests. Also, Bt cotton production has been linked to drastic depletion of soil nutrients and lower crop yields, as well as much higher water requirements.


3.Canola: This is probably one of the most misunderstood, misguided "healthy" food choices out there right now, but there is little about canola - and similar oils - that is good for you. Extracted from rapeseed, canola oil and others must be chemically removed from the seeds, then deodorized and altered, in order to be utilized in foods. They are among the most chemically altered foods in our diets.


4.Aspartame: An artificial sweetener found in a number of products, aspartame - discovered by accident in 1965 by a chemist testing an anti-ulcer drug - accounts for as many as 75 percent of adverse reactions to food additives reported to theFood and Drug Administration(FDA), according to some reports. Some seizures and even some deaths have been blamed on aspartame.


5.Dairy: A disturbingly high number - as many as one-fifth - of dairy cows in the U.S. today are given growth hormones to increase milk production, a figure that has been rising since the FDA approved a genetically engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone known as rbGH or rbST for use in dairy cows in 1993. While said to boost production by 5-15 percent, scientists have expressed concern that the increased levels of IGF-1 (insulin growth factors-1) from hormone-treated cows may boost the risks of colon and breast cancer. Since 2008, Hiland Dairy has stopped using milk from dairy farmers who inject their cows with growth hormone.


6.Corn: Modified now to create its own insecticide, as many as half of all U.S. farms growing corn for Monsanto are using genetically modified corn, with tons of it now being introduced for human consumption, according to the FDA. Doctors atSherbrooke University Hospitalin Quebec recently found Bt toxin from modified corn in the blood of pregnant women and their babies, as well as in non-pregnant women.


7.Papayas: Genetically modified papayas have been grown in Hawaii commercially since 1999, designed to combat the Papaya Ringspot Virus. Approved for sale and consumption in the U.S. and Canada, GM papayas cannot be imported or sold in the European Union.


8.Potatoes: That favorite of American starches, potatoes, especially those that have been genetically modified with Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki Cry 1, have been fed to mice and those mice have been found to have toxins in their systems. Also, according to Dr. Nina V. Fedoroff Willaman Professor of Life Sciences and Evan Pugh Professor atPennsylvania State University, "rats fed the transgenic potatoes had significantly lower organ weights [...]".


9.Soy: Like other foods, soy, too, has been genetically modified to resist herbicides. Soy is included in soy flour, tofu, soy beverages, soybean oil and scores of other products, especially baked goods and pastries. According to one report, "[a]fter feeding hamsters for two years over three generations, those on the GM diet, and especially the group on the maximum GM soy diet, showed devastating results. By the third generation, most GM soy-fed hamsters lost the ability to have babies. They also suffered slower growth, and a high mortality rate among the pups."


10.Rice: One of the most prevalent starches in the Asian and U.S. diets, rice has been modified to contain a high amount of vitamin A. But despite the goal of boosting rice production in countries with high demand, it's not being universally accepted. China, for instance, suspended distribution of genetically modified rice within its commercial food supplies over growing concern about its safety.


Sources for this article include:


http://www.naturalnews.com/Infographic-Top-10-GMO-Foods-to-Avoid-Eating.html


http://www.naturalnews.com/035734_GMOs_foods_dangers.html


http://www.deccanherald.com


http://www.hilanddairy.com/green/no-artificial-growth-hormones


http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/036063_GMOs_foods_infographics.html#ixzz1wq9E0Tgn