Barbara H. Peterson
I just received the following comment on Farm Wars in response to the article “Help Stop the Oregon Monsanto Protection Act SB 633/863,” in which I called for help stopping the widespread contamination of my state with the irresponsible proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which stand to contaminate conventional as well as organic crops.
Local farmer says:
“This has zero to do with Monsanto, and everything to with preserving farmers rights to grow any legal crop they would like. You people are so brainwashed into hate for Monsanto, not the only producer of GMOs by the way, and GMOs, based on fear, ignorance, and indoctrination, that you can’t see that you’re trampling others rights. What intolerant bigots you all are!”
This is what we are up against – A manufactured “freedom of choice” issue, in which farmers are demanding their right to pollute those around them with GMOs. In a nutshell, he is saying that we non-GMO activists are infringing upon his freedom to plant GMOs, and that our fear and ignorance of GMOs and hatred for Monsanto are driving us to trample on farmers’ rights.
This is my response:
Your right to grow what you want anywhere you want ends when your GMO crops threaten to invade my organic crops and cause me to lose the value of those crops, as well as contaminate my field so badly that remediation will put me out of business. Poison yourself if you want to, but leave me and the planet out of it. But that’s not possible, is it? Your use of GMOs threatens not only my crops, but the entire ecosystem.
The fight against the contamination of our food and seed supply through the reckless use of GMOs is being presented as just the opposite of what it really is – a fight for seed and food freedom, and those who choose to pollute are being presented by the pro-GMO crowd as the ones whose freedoms are being infringed upon by those who don’t want their pollution. It’s like saying I have a GMO gun and have the right to shoot you with it. If you don’t let me shoot you, then you are infringing on my rights. Yes, you have the right to own that gun, but NO, you DO NOT have the right to shoot me with it whenever and wherever you feel like doing so.
Like Cynthia says:
I don’t mind if he plants GMO’s next to me at his house. As long as he can assure me 100% that they will not contaminate MY property or MY body. Which he cannot.
And that is the bottom line, isn’t it? Don’t I have the right to NOT allow your crops to trespass on my property and irrevocably contaminate it and ruin my business? What about my right to NOT have you invade my space and do what you will to it? What about my right to be GMO-free? Your right to swing your GMO fist ends where my non-GMO nose begins.
©2013 Barbara H. Peterson
Tags: agriculture, banning gmo, Barbara H. Peterson, biotechnology, contamination, Farm Wars, farmwars, food, genetic engineering, GMO, Health, oregon SB 863, technology
I think Ravens right to Barb. It stinks of a shill!
LOL You don’t have to be brainwashed to hate Monsanto. I wasn’t born yesterday! I wonder how many jarheads from Vietnam would fight for Monsanto??
You could be right, Raven. That is why I placed it on the front page instead of in the comments section and responded to it myself. I have seen this attitude before and thought I would get it out there so that we can all be aware. There was a farmer a little while ago who some in the non-GMO movement got behind. He wanted the right to save GMO seeds. He loved them. I responded that this is not what we should be fighting for, and got some response. The attitude is definitely there.
Between GMOs, Fukashima, and the medical industry, the human race is on course for extinction.
It is all about International Corporations being able to file patent on everything we eat.
I’ll bet they have mutant breeds of cannabis waiting for it to be legal.
Monsanto was once a small Irish chemical producer which went on to create the world’s most polluted quarry in Wales.
When the heat got too much..they changed their name.
Sad Fact :- Your pension fund is probably financing them because young “Fund Managers” who are looking to “make it big” will invest in anything that makes money and don’t give a damn about you and don’t realise until it is too late that they are responsible.
At which point they go very quiet and take up golf.
I am not convinced ‘Local Farmer’ exists. This response seems more like a shill writer, paid to troll the internet on websites like this and post comments that seek to foment dissension between people who need to be working together.
gmo’s are being used for eugenics and people very high up on the food chain are the ones ultimately making sure they are planted and that they contaminate all crops by hook or by crook! Most people could never wrap their little pee brains around this conspiracy so large and so sinister, which is why it goes on unchallenged! Sorry to say but I don’t see enough people that are awake to challenge these SOB’S until more people wake up and CARE and quite eating/poisoning themselves w/ this garbage nothing will change it will continue until everything is contaminated! I am greatly saddened by the state of mind that most men/women have today!!!
PJ London,
“You may be right that GMO threatens the entire Ecosystem, but you would be hard pressed to prove it.” I suggest that you listen to Dr. Huber here: http://farmwars.info/?p=11606
Contamination of the ecosystem is a fact. The pollen has been allowed to travel wherever the wind blows and there is no way to reverse the damage. Ultimately this is a crime against humanity.
In another year, I’ll be moving to a rural area, and buying land there.
I guess I’m gonna have to ask my farming neighbors if they use GMOs or not.
Maybe we should start “non-GMO farming areas”, where all the farmers are non-GMO.
Didn’t he use all the buzz words? Hate, bigot etc. People like this can not argue facts or debate in an open forum. Thank you Barbara for all your work.
“Your use of GMOs threatens not only my crops, but the entire ecosystem.”
You may be right that GMO threatens the entire Ecosystem, but you would be hard pressed to prove it. This opens the door to someone to say that your statements are merely alarmist and hyperbole. Stick to “Your use of GMOs threatens my crops and thus my welfare.”, this is undeniable and easy to prove. Do not give your antagonist wriggle room, focus on one irrefutable fact. Promise him/her financial and criminal consequences.
You do not want to enter into a debate, you want to change their behaviour.
In addition to your excellent points, he way see it, if they are banned then they are no longer legal. End of his “rights” right there!