Monsanto, one of the biggest companies in the GMO field and one that has always insisted that it is doing nothing wrong while opposing any request to be open about the risks of its produce, even under the Information Act. So when yet another intrepid group of people stand up to Monsanto and demand that the company comes clean it should just be business as usual i.e. one big hush up.
But this time, it’s Monsanto’s own shareholders who are asking questions. Their simple request is that Monsanto stops keeping them in the dark on genetically-modified food -- and they need our support.
After over 6,000 of donators chipped in, SumOfUs organisers are headed to St Louis for the crucial shareholder vote -- working tirelessly to win the support of the big investment funds. But unless Monsanto and its shareholders feel the massive community opposition to their agenda, they’ll conclude they can ignore the people, yet again and vote against GMO transparency. That’s why people need to act now.
The brave group of shareholders who will present this resolution at Monsanto’s annual meeting want the company to be straight with its shareholders. They’re asking Monsanto to report on the costs and business risks of GMOs -- from the contamination of non-GMO crops, to the effect on bees and other “non-target” organisms, and more. These are real risks and costs, and it’s a sensible proposal -- for anyone other than a corporation that thinks that suing family farmers and fighting truth-in-labelling laws is business as usual.
Monsanto is trying to defeat this shareholder vote -- using the same tactics it uses to defeat all opposition to its agenda. Its business model is based on keeping everyone all in the dark. It has fought against every effort to label genetically modified ingredients, spending $15 million to defeat laws in California and Washington alone.
However, more and more people are standing up and shouting for the truth. Now that even its own shareholders are joining the fight Monsanto can feel the tide turning against it and that tide is gaining momentum. Already, numerous US states and countless countries have restrictions on GMOs and rules about their labelling and like every snowball effect, the more that join the more that consider joining.
However, instead of recognising the community sentiment and business risk, Monsanto is still fighting. That is why these shareholders are so important. They are in the position where they can make Monsanto take responsibility for what its doing but Monsanto is doing its best to shut them up.
That’s why it’s crucial that we support these shareholders who are taking a stand at Monsanto’s annual meeting, and demand that Monsanto study the risks and costs of GMOs and come clean to their shareholders and the public. Unless they know we’re watching, many of Monsanto’s biggest shareholders will feel free to support Monsanto’s management and vote against the shareholder resolution.
It doesn't take much to let them know that we are watching what they are up to, just a name on a petition and with the Internet that only takes a few minutes at most these days but it is immensely important for the future of consumer rights. Once Monsanto is forced to answer to us all then other big companies will know that they are not safe from public scrutiny. At that point it will be that much easier to make them clean up their business practises because they will remember that every business is ultimately dependant on it public accepting what they do and buying their produce.
Vox populii, Vox del (the voice of the people is the voice of God)!
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