Via Campesina denounces the stock of Monsanto by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Monday, September 13, 2010 1:52 p.m.
Press Release - La Via Campesina
(Glendive, Montana September 10, 2010) La Via Campesina, an international movement of peasants who represents farmers, landless agricultural laborers, fishermen, farmers, youth and indigenous peoples, which brings together 150 organizations from 70 countries on five continents, denounced the acquisition by the Foundation Bill & Melinda Gates shares of Monsanto.
The Foundation was created in 1994 by Microsoft founder William H. Gates and exercises a great influence on global development agriculture. The Foundation focuses hundreds of millions of dollars in projects that push peasants and farmers to use seeds and agrochemicals genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from Monsanto.
In August, the foundation of Bill and Melinda Gates, who manages a capital of $ 33.5 billion to fund philanthropic projects of the Foundation (including Bill and Melinda are members of the Board) revealed that it had acquired 500,000 shares of Monsanto for $ 23 million. (1) According
Dena Hoff, a farmer in Glendive, Montana and coordinator of La Via Campesina for America North "the acquisition by the Foundation Bill and Melinda Gates said that shares of Monsanto interest that the Foundation brings to the promotion of seed company does not just philanthropy but more of a desire to profit.
The Foundation helps Monsanto to open new markets, while Monsanto is already the largest seed company in the world. "
Since 2006, the Foundation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is working with the Rockefeller Foundation, a fervent proponent of GMOs for the poor of the world to implement the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) which is about to open the continent to genetically modified seeds and chemicals sold by Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta .
Foundation gave $ 456 million to AGRA and in 2006, employed Robert Horsch, Monsanto's former director for 25 years to work on this project.
In Kenya, approximately 70% of the beneficiaries of AGRA work directly with Monsanto (2), nearly 80% of funding from Gates in the country relating to biotechnology and more than 100 million dollars in grants were awarded Kenya's organizations with ties to Monsanto . In 2008, some 30% of the agricultural development fund of the Foundation were used to promotion and development of varieties of GM seeds. (3)
In April, the foundation of Bill and Melinda Gates and finance ministers from the USA, Canada, Spain and South Korea promised $ 880 million to create the Global Programme on Agriculture and Food Security (GAFSP) managed by the World Bank to "address the problem of hunger and poverty in the world" (4). In June the GAFSP announced he was giving $ 35 million to Haiti in order to increase the access of small farmers to "farm inputs, technology and distribution channels" (5) In May, Monsanto announced it was donating 475 tons of seeds to be distributed in Haiti by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The administrator of USAID Rajiv Shah, who worked for the Gates Foundation before being employed by the Obama in 2009.
According Chavannes Jean-Baptiste movement Papaya and coordinator of La Via Campesina for the Caribbean, "It is shocking to learn that peasant movements of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has decided to buy all shares of Monsanto giving money for agricultural projects in Haiti. In fact, they promote seed and chemicals company. peasant organizations in Haiti denounce this policy which goes against the interests of 80 percent of the Haitian population, against peasant agriculture - food production base of our country. "
The Foundation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also grants funds to the initiative of the U.S. government Feed the Future, managed by the government. At a hearing before a subcommittee of Congress on Feed the Future, the vice-president of Monsanto said Gerald Steiner that "Feed the Future was a very interesting initiative because it takes into account the imperatives of the market in which Monsanto and other companies have to operate .... We want to do good in the world but we also want to satisfy our shareholders. "Steiner said of the project to develop Monsanto corn resistant to drought in Africa, a project which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (6) Depending
Dena Hoff, "The foundations, whatever their good intentions, should not decide on food and agricultural policies of nations and peoples. Democracy requires that people informed civil determines what is in the interest of the people of each nation. "Satisfying our shareholders" seems to be the secret reason for interference in the health and well-being of the planet and its inhabitants in order to make profit "
This is perhaps no coincidence that Hugh Grant, Monsanto's CEO, has acquired shares in the company for $ 2 million and Carl M. Casale for $ 1.6 million. "Grant and Casale have pocketed handsomely by selling shares of Monsanto for years" (7) These purchases have been caused by the announcement last week of the discovery of the genome of wheat, a staple food for two thirds of the population of the planet. "For Monsanto, a map of the genome of wheat quality will help us in our efforts to provide improved varieties of wheat farmers." Monsanto said. (8) In 2008 the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded the $ 26.8 million to Cornell University for research on wheat, and in May, the $ 1.6 million to researchers University of Washington to develop GM wheat varieties resistant to drought. (9)
Gate Foundation continues to encourage the poor to use Monsanto products, despite mounting evidence on environmental threats, economic and physical production and consumption of GM crops and products .
In June, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled against Monsanto Co Geertson Seed Farm, the first case on GM crops. The Supreme Court has recognized that the genetic contamination of non-GM crops by transgenic DNA from GM plants, from wind or bees, was harmful and serious consequences for the environment and farmers.
According to the website of the Foundation Bill and Melinda Gates, AGRA and its partners have put into circulation more than 100 new varieties of improved seeds on the continent (Africa). "(10)
Via Campesina holds that the best way to ensure a healthy diet to adapt to climate change, conserve soil, water and forest, revitalizing rural economies is to implement policies that promote food sovereignty and agro-ecology - the basis being the native seeds. The UN estimates that 75% of the diversity plant genetics in the world were gradually lost as farmers have abandoned their native seeds to use the genetically uniform varieties produced by large multinationals like Monsanto. genetic homogeneity makes farmers more vulnerable to abrupt climate changes and the emergence of new pests and harmful pests, while biodiversity seed - with native seeds adapted to different microclimates, soils and altitudes - is fundamental to Climate Change . By saving and replanting increased agro-biodiversity and strengthens the genetic plasticity of crops (their ability to adapt quickly to conditions of incremental changes over several generations).
According to Henry Saragih, general coordinator of La Via Campesina in Jakarta, "La Via Campesina condemn this misuse of humanitarian aid for trade and privatization of food policies. "
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For more information or requests from the media, contact viacampesina@viacampesina.org
(1) http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1166559 / 000104746910007567/a2199827z13f-hr.txt
(2) Community Alliance for Global Justice. “Gates Foundation invests in Monsanto.” Press release August 25 2010. http://www.seattleglobaljustice.org/2010/08/for-immediate-release-gates-foundation-invests-in-monsanto/
(3) Holt-Giménez, Eric. “Monsanto in Gates’ clothing? The emporor’s new GMOs.” Huffington Post. August 26 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-holt-gimenez/monsanto-in-gates-clothin_b_696182.html
(4) Kellerhals Jr., Merle David. “Finance ministers announce $880 million for Global Food Security.” April 22 2010. http://www.america.gov/st/develop-english/2010/April/20100422155518dmslahrellek0.9501917.html
(5) Feed the Future. “An Improved Approach to Agriculture and Food Security: Haiti” June 25 2010.
(6) Monsanto Company. “Jerry Steiner speaks to congress about the Feed the Future Initiative.” July 20 2010. http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/steiner_feed_the_future_initiative_072010
(7) Gottfried, Miriam. “Top Monsanto execs load up on shares.” Barron’s. July 15 2010.
(8) Gillam, Carey. “Wheat groups welcome genetic news; say more needed.” Reuters. August 27 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN277047520100827
(9) Weaver, Matthew. “Gates awards $1.6 million for dwarf wheat research.” Checkbiotech.org. July 25 2010. http://greenbio.checkbiotech.org/news/gates_awards_16m_dwarf_wheat_research
(10) http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/global-trust-fund-for-poor-farmers-100422.aspx
http://www.viacampesina.org/fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=531:la-via-campesina-denonce-lachat-dactions-de-monsanto-par -the-foundation-Bill and Melinda Gates & catid = 47: Non aux Multinationals & Itemid = 72
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