March to Stop Monsanto

Protesting for The Right to Eat Clean, GMO Free Food! Rotorua joins the International ‘March Against Monsanto’ May 25.
‘March Against Monsanto’ planned in over 40 countries.

March Against Monsanto has announced that on May 25, hundreds of thousands of activists around the world will “March Against Monsanto.”

Currently, marches are being planned on six continents, in 41 countries, totalling events in over 338 cities, and in NZ, events are slated to occur in seven cities including Rotorua.

March to Stop Monsanto Rotorua organiser Alan Solomon said he wondered why somebody hadn’t done something about organising the march for Rotorua, then he realised he was that somebody.

“This march is really about informing the public and raising awareness of the horrific dangers of GMO’s, banning them totally from NZ supermarket shelves and bringing to light the evils Monsanto is causing around the globe. This march is not just for the future of our tamariki but is for right now. As a concerned citizen of NZ and the world, I am standing up, these atrocities must be stopped.”

Citizens are marching because Monsanto's products are proving harmful to people and the planet, from their exclusive patenting rights over seeds and genetic makeup to GMO corn and soy engineered from the DNA of different species of plant, animal, bacterial, and viral genes.

“Monsanto’s genetically-modified foods can lead to serious health conditions such as the development of cancer tumours, infertility and birth defects. This is not some conspiracy theory, there is so much research and evidence that proves this. The public just need to put apathy to the side and do some of their own research and once they do and see the truth, they will be horribly sickened as I was.”

Glyphosate, the chief ingredient in Roundup weed killer, which is sprayed over millions of acres of crops, has been found in our food and in our bodies, as well as causing colony collapse among the world's bee population.

“The solutions we advocate are boycotting Monsanto-owned companies that use GMOs in their products and bringing awareness so New Zealanders can make those informed decisions about the food they feed their families,” he said.

Mr Solomon said he was pleased with the organisation so far however he didn’t like being against or anti an issue but rather wanted to advocate the desired behaviour or outcome.

“The world-wide march and all the advertising, posters and banners are against Monsanto so I changed it and started the Facebook event page March to Stop Monsanto Rotorua. We have special guest speakers including a Vietnam Veteran, who has first-hand experience with Agent Orange, a product of Monsanto. There will also be kapa haka and other performances.”

Other cities where marches are also planned are Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Nelson and Christchurch.

“On the day of the march, Rotorua will be the very first city in the world to protest, so it is a great honour to kick off such a massive event involving so many countries,” Mr Solomon said.

Lead organiser American Tami Monroe Canal created of the now-viral Facebook page, said she was inspired to start the movement to protect her two daughters.

“I feel Monsanto threatens their generation’s health, fertility and longevity. I couldn't sit by idly, waiting for someone else to do something,” she said.

[The full March Against Monsanto mission statement can be read here.]

An organiser for the march in Athens, Greece, Roberta Gogos, spoke about the importance of the events in austerity-impacted South Europe.

“Monsanto is working very hard to overturn EU regulation on obligatory labelling (questionable whether it's really enforced in any case), and no doubt they will have their way in the end.

Greece is in a precarious position right now, and Greece's farmers are falling prey to the petrochemical giant is a very real possibility,” he said.

Josh Castro, organiser for Quito, says he wants to protect Ecuador against Monsanto’s influence, too.

“Ecuador is such a beautiful place, with the richest biodiversity in the world. We will not allow this Garden of Eden to be compromised by evil multinational corporations like Monsanto. Biotechnology is not the solution to world hunger. Agroecology is,” he said

One of the notable community partners supporting March Against Monsanto Fort Myers is The Environmental and Peace Education Center. Mitchell D. Jacobs, President of EPEC had this to say about Monsanto.

“The flourishing of Monsanto is a reflection of a population in need of awakening. How low will corporations sink before the masses stand up for the farmers, the environment, and future generations? The time has come for intervention. A resistance against Monsanto is a positive stand for the planet and for humanity. It is in the best interest of the public that we activists educate others to the destruction of this organization that has caused while also participating in nonviolent demonstration against them. On behalf of EPEC, I publicly announce our stance of solidarity with those in opposition to Monsanto. Expect our presence in the coming protests.”

Major sponsors include GMO Free USA, NationofChange and Films for Action. Official website: www.march-against-monsanto.com.

The March to Stop Monsanto Rotorua is meeting 12:00pm Saturday May 25 at the Lake Front Village Green opposite Lady Jane’s and marching to the City Focus.

https://www.facebook.com/events/264719693671906/ or Stop Monsanto March Rotorua in Facebook.

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