Obama signs Monsanto Protection Act
Few days ago there was a protest organized by Food and Democracy in front of the White House. The protestors gathered together demanding the President of the United States to veto Monsanto’s Protection Act.
More than 250,000 people also signed a petition by Food and Democracy asking Obama not to pass the bill. Despite, many signing the petition, Obama signed Monsanto’s protection Act into law few days ago. That’s when the President and his entire family eat only organic food. In fact, the first lady Michelle Obama who has been an advocate about nutrition and childhood obesity insisted,during Obama's presidential campaign in 2008, that their family has been on organic diet for the past few years. Yet President Obama has made no efforts to lead America towards healthier food production with temporary halt to GMO foods while conducting a comprehensive research study of its long term side effects.
Not that the Obama administration hasn’t made any effort to label GM foods, the policies of this administration has been towards protecting the right of greedy corporations like Monsanto.
Ironically, that’s when ONLY organic food is served in Monsanto’s canteen. Recently, Monsanto’s canteen removed all the food items that were genetically modified because the staff in Monsanto demanded foods that weren’t sprayed with pesticides or been genetically modified. Monsanto agreed to remove all GMO items and Tony Coombes, Monsanto’s spokesman ensured Monsanto’s staff that all the GMOs were removed and publicly reassured their employees by saying, “yes, this is the case, and it is because we believe in choice."
However, the word “CHOICE” is quite laughable coming from Monsanto among the big “6 pesticide firms” who spent $46 million to defeat Proposition No.37 and were able to pass Monsanto’s Protection Act despite a major outcry from the American public in 2012 and 2013.
The Food and Democracy and famers from all over the country were rallying in front of the White House asking the President to give an executive order to label GM foods. An expert from Food and Democracy said in an interview that “The so-called ‘biotech rider’ was included in budget legislation that won final approval from the House, avoiding a shutdown of the federal government on March 27, when the current funding was set to expire. The provision was slipped into the legislation anonymously and explicitly grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture the authority to override a judicial ruling stopping the planting of a genetically modified crop.
If leadership in Washington, D.C. can betray the public behind closed doors, it’s time that the American public to gain the right to transparency about what they are eating and feeding their families every day.”
Recently President Obama during his meeting with Palestinian leader mentioned that people should push their leaders towards better and more constructive policies. If Mr. President believes in what he says, it’s time to respect the will of 250,000 people that asked him to veto Monsanto’s Protection Act. It's also time to respect the will of 93% of all Americans that agree GMOs must be labeled.
Related Articles:
http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-food/Monsanto-protection-act.php
http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-food/GMOs-Obama-Monsanto-Protection-Act.php
Resource:
http://www.inquisitr.com/591630/farmers-protest-monsanto-protection-act-at-white-house/
