---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Emma Ruby-Sachs - Avaaz" <avaaz@avaaz.org>
Date: Jul 3, 2014 7:02 AM
Subject: The best way to stop Monsanto
To: "aquarianm@gmail.com" <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:
From: "Emma Ruby-Sachs - Avaaz" <avaaz@avaaz.org>
Date: Jul 3, 2014 7:02 AM
Subject: The best way to stop Monsanto
To: "aquarianm@gmail.com" <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:
Dear friends,
The source of our planet's food is under threat. Ten agro-chemical firms own 73% of the commercial seed market, and 93% of seed varieties have gone extinct. In the US alone 85% of apple varieties have disappeared.
Monsanto and co. are privatising the genesis of nature. And this corporate takeover is decimating sustainable farming, destroying the diversity of our crops, and making them vulnerable to diseases that could threaten our food security.
But farmers are resisting, saving seeds in banks and barns across the world. Now they have devised a revolutionary project -- the first ever, non profit "eBay" of seed where any farmer, anywhere can source a wide variety cheaper than from the chemical companies. This global online store could re-flood the market with all kinds of seeds and slowly break the monopoly that is putting our food future at risk!
This is the most innovative agricultural idea in decades. But chemical companies bully and sue those that get in their way, and farmers are calling on us to support them. If we raise enough now we can help them launch the online site, support seed storing in key countries, finance marketing and advertising, and fund the legal defense to fight back.
Pledge to help kick start our Noah's Ark -- Avaaz will only process donations if we raise enough to launch the whole initiative:
For thousands of years agriculture was driven by farmers selecting, replanting, and breeding seed varieties. Then the agro-chemical companies persuaded our governments to promote a corporate system of single-crop farms. Companies promise farmers higher yields and bigger earnings, and lure them into multi-year contracts with expensive GM (genetically modified) seeds and pesticides. Then they use patent laws and use agreements to strong-arm farmers to abandon their traditional practices of seed saving and innovation.
There isn't clear evidence this has improved farmers incomes, but it has driven small independent farmers out of business and into corporate seed slaves -- even driving them to suicide.
And the dire consequences go way beyond the farmers. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation more than three-quarters of the genetic diversity of our crops has been lost due to seed consolidation and industrial practices. This matters because when we cover large swaths of land with just one cash crop our farms are more susceptible to diseases. Without seed diversity to confront changing environmental conditions our global food security could be at risk.
But this crisis isn't insurmountable. The takeover is only decades old, farmers from all over have been saving seed, and if supported widely, this online seed market could help recover our food. Our donations can:
Monsanto's been forcing their GM food on us for years, but if we all pitch in we can build this Noah's Ark for our remaining seed species! Chip in now:
Seeds are the origin of nature. The late philosopher Thomas Berry once wrote: "To plant a seed is to activate the deepest mysteries of the Universe." Let's support this movement to protect that mystery from corporate chemical laboratories and help save our food.
With hope and determination,
Emma, Maria Paz, Allison, Ricken, Alice, Antonia, Nick, Patricia, Mais, Emily and the whole Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION:
World Food Day 2004 highlights the importance of biodiversity to global food security (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/NEWSROOM/EN/news/2004/51140/index.html
On India's Farms, a Plague of Suicide (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/world/asia/19india.html
Seeds of doubt: Brazilian farmers sue Monsanto (Reuters)
http://rt.com/news/monsanto-brazil-seed-soy-908/
Death on the Farm (Newsweek)
http://www.newsweek.com/death-farm-248127
How many farmers plant GM worldwide? (EuropaBio)
http://www.europabio.org/how-many-farmers-plant-gm-worldwide
Ministry blames Bt cotton for farmer suicides (Hindustan Times)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/ministry-blames-bt-cotton-for-farmer-suicides/article1-830798.aspx
Monsanto Lawsuits Pile Up as American Farmers Demand Rights (Mother Earth News)
http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/monsanto-lawsuits-from-family-farmers-zwfz1302zkin.aspx#axzz36IwTZWF7
Life in the Rural Police State of Monsanto (Truth Out)
http://truth-out.org/news/item/16985-life-in-the-rural-police-state-of-monsanto
>From 1903 -1983 the world lost 93 percent of key seed varieties (National Geographic)
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/07/food-ark/food-variety-graphic
The pernicious characteristics of monocultures (PBS)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/hackers/blame/threat.html
Norway invests $23.7 million in crop diversity to help farmers face climate change (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/197662/icode/
Avaaz.org is a 36-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 17 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
You are getting this message because you signed "Copenhagen: The Fight Continues!" on 2009-12-22 using the email address aquarianm@gmail.com.
To ensure that Avaaz messages reach your inbox, please add avaaz@avaaz.org to your address book. To change your email address, language settings, or other personal information, contact us, or simply go here to unsubscribe.
To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).
 |
Monsanto and co. are privatising the genesis of nature. And this corporate takeover is decimating sustainable farming, destroying the diversity of our crops, and making them vulnerable to diseases that could threaten our food security.
But farmers are resisting, saving seeds in banks and barns across the world. Now they have devised a revolutionary project -- the first ever, non profit "eBay" of seed where any farmer, anywhere can source a wide variety cheaper than from the chemical companies. This global online store could re-flood the market with all kinds of seeds and slowly break the monopoly that is putting our food future at risk!
This is the most innovative agricultural idea in decades. But chemical companies bully and sue those that get in their way, and farmers are calling on us to support them. If we raise enough now we can help them launch the online site, support seed storing in key countries, finance marketing and advertising, and fund the legal defense to fight back.
Pledge to help kick start our Noah's Ark -- Avaaz will only process donations if we raise enough to launch the whole initiative:
For thousands of years agriculture was driven by farmers selecting, replanting, and breeding seed varieties. Then the agro-chemical companies persuaded our governments to promote a corporate system of single-crop farms. Companies promise farmers higher yields and bigger earnings, and lure them into multi-year contracts with expensive GM (genetically modified) seeds and pesticides. Then they use patent laws and use agreements to strong-arm farmers to abandon their traditional practices of seed saving and innovation.
There isn't clear evidence this has improved farmers incomes, but it has driven small independent farmers out of business and into corporate seed slaves -- even driving them to suicide.
And the dire consequences go way beyond the farmers. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation more than three-quarters of the genetic diversity of our crops has been lost due to seed consolidation and industrial practices. This matters because when we cover large swaths of land with just one cash crop our farms are more susceptible to diseases. Without seed diversity to confront changing environmental conditions our global food security could be at risk.
But this crisis isn't insurmountable. The takeover is only decades old, farmers from all over have been saving seed, and if supported widely, this online seed market could help recover our food. Our donations can:
- directly support seed-saving initiatives in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.
- create a world class website for the online store that connects farming communities everywhere, allowing them to legally sell seeds and share best practices globally.
- help fund legal defense of this non-profit seed market from legal attacks by Monsanto and others.
- market and advertise the exchange so that farmers all over the world join up.
Monsanto's been forcing their GM food on us for years, but if we all pitch in we can build this Noah's Ark for our remaining seed species! Chip in now:
| YES, I'LL PLEDGE $4 YES, I'LL PLEDGE $6 YES, I'LL PLEDGE $9 YES, I'LL PLEDGE $14 YES, I'LL PLEDGE $23 To pledge an amount other than the ones listed above, click here. |
With hope and determination,
Emma, Maria Paz, Allison, Ricken, Alice, Antonia, Nick, Patricia, Mais, Emily and the whole Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION:
World Food Day 2004 highlights the importance of biodiversity to global food security (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/NEWSROOM/EN/news/2004/51140/index.html
On India's Farms, a Plague of Suicide (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/world/asia/19india.html
Seeds of doubt: Brazilian farmers sue Monsanto (Reuters)
http://rt.com/news/monsanto-brazil-seed-soy-908/
Death on the Farm (Newsweek)
http://www.newsweek.com/death-farm-248127
How many farmers plant GM worldwide? (EuropaBio)
http://www.europabio.org/how-many-farmers-plant-gm-worldwide
Ministry blames Bt cotton for farmer suicides (Hindustan Times)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/ministry-blames-bt-cotton-for-farmer-suicides/article1-830798.aspx
Monsanto Lawsuits Pile Up as American Farmers Demand Rights (Mother Earth News)
http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/monsanto-lawsuits-from-family-farmers-zwfz1302zkin.aspx#axzz36IwTZWF7
Life in the Rural Police State of Monsanto (Truth Out)
http://truth-out.org/news/item/16985-life-in-the-rural-police-state-of-monsanto
>From 1903 -1983 the world lost 93 percent of key seed varieties (National Geographic)
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/07/food-ark/food-variety-graphic
The pernicious characteristics of monocultures (PBS)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/hackers/blame/threat.html
Norway invests $23.7 million in crop diversity to help farmers face climate change (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/197662/icode/
Avaaz.org is a 36-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 17 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
You are getting this message because you signed "Copenhagen: The Fight Continues!" on 2009-12-22 using the email address aquarianm@gmail.com.
To ensure that Avaaz messages reach your inbox, please add avaaz@avaaz.org to your address book. To change your email address, language settings, or other personal information, contact us, or simply go here to unsubscribe.
To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).
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