Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Corporate Control: Supreme Court Rules Monsanto Owns Life



Corporate Control: Supreme Court Rules Monsanto Owns Life

In a decision that comes as no surprise to anyone who knows the cronyism between the USSC and Monsanto, U.S. farmers signing contracts with these toxic dealers are now little more than indentured servants to those who own the patents on our life and the lives of those to come in perpetuity. This is a disgraceful decision that aptly illustrates the corruption that exists at the highest levels of jurisprudence and government.

This decision is not just about this one farmer. This decision is about all farmers and the freedom to grow and save seeds. As anyone following this knows seed saving is slowly being displaced by an industrial agricultural mafia intent on owning life, something that they did not create. It is absolutely absurd to think that Monsanto, et al have the right to OWN seeds in any way. Of course, in my view granting these patents already proves there is no "substantial equivalence" and that is simply a ruse perpetrated by their lawyers to allow them to profit without regulation.

As it is already, Monsanto has sued hundreds of farmers while raising their prices. They have sent out spies, goon squads and done nothing but harass farmers in the attempt to extort money out of them. From where I sit, they are terrorists in their behavior against farmers and those who practice organic farming.

In this instance, Mr. Bowman claims he bought the seeds he used from a grain elevator. This is something we are seeing daily as well, transgenic contamination as far as these seeds mingling with conventional seeds. This was something Monsanto and other companies knew full well would happen, but they downplay this as a way to sue farmers for profit. A group of farmers tried to preemptively sue Monsanto based on transgenic contamination in order to protect their crops and livelihoods, but once again the judge came down for Monsanto.

This decision has the potential to now influence every other decision on patenting of life forms into perpetuity with any effects from long-term exposure to these untested organisms dismissed by collusion. It is patently immoral. This is a serious slippery slope and people need to be aware of the repercussions of this decision. The patenting of life is the end of life as we know it as well as true freedom. It is obvious lawsuits are not going to be where progress on taking back our food system is made. Farmers in the US need to reject Monsanto and all other companies that claim to own a patent on our lives and our food.

BOYCOTT Monsanto seeds

BOYCOTT Glyphosate

Plant organic seeds only from reputable sources and send a clear message to these goons that they will no longer be allowed to control our food, our lives and our futures. The health effects of these organisms are being seen with more and more independent testing. The precautionary principle in science must also be applied to economics.

We can only bring the world back by working with nature not those who seek it's death at their own profit.

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Corporate Win: Supreme Court Says Monsanto Has 'Control Over Product of Life'

Indiana farmer must pay agribusiness giant $84,000 for patent infringement

- Jacob Chamberlain, staff writer

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of biotech giant Monsanto, ordering Indiana farmer Vernon Hugh Bowman, 75, to pay Monsanto more than $84,000 for patent infringement for using second generation Monsanto seeds purchased second hand—a ruling which will have broad implications for the ownership of 'life' and farmers' rights in the future.

Indiana grain farmer Vernon Hugh Bowman walks past the US Supreme Court on February 19, 2013 in Washington (AFP/File, Mandel Ngan) In the case, Bowman had purchased soybean seeds from a grain elevator—where seeds are cheaper than freshly engineered Monsanto GE (genetically engineered) seeds and typically used for animal feed rather than for crops. The sources of the seeds Bowman purchased were mixed and were not labeled. However, some were "Roundup Ready" patented Monsanto seeds.

The Supreme Court Justices, who gave Monsanto a warm reception from the start, ruled that Bowman had broken the law because he planted seeds which naturally yielded from the original patented seed products—Monsanto's policies prohibit farmers from saving or reusing seeds from Monsanto born crops.

Farmers who use Monsanto's seeds are forced to buy the high priced new seeds every year.

Ahead of the expected ruling, Debbie Barker, Program Director for Save Our Seeds (SOS), and George Kimbrell, staff attorney for Center for Food Safety (CFS), asked in an op-ed earlier this year, "Should anyone, or any corporation, control a product of life?":

Bowman vs. Monsanto Co. will be decided based on the court's interpretation of a complex web of seed and plant patent law, but the case also reflects something much more basic: Should anyone, or any corporation, control a product of life?

[Monsanto's] logic is troubling to many who point out that it is the nature of seeds and all living things, whether patented or not, to replicate. Monsanto's claim that it has rights over a self-replicating natural product should raise concern. Seeds, unlike computer chips, for example, are essential to life. If people are denied a computer chip, they don't go hungry. If people are denied seeds, the potential consequences are much more threatening.

end of excerpt.

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Also see:

Bowman Vs. Monsanto

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