When you think of insecticides you probably think of dangerous chemical compounds that allow modern industrial agriculture (and its high yields) to occur, but that also have some negative effects on the environment and also on human/animal health. The effects of a certain class of insecticides on honeybees, for instance, may well be what comes
A startup out of San Francisco, based around the ‘custom’ manipulation of DNA, is apparently aiming to take its current business to the predictable next-step of allowing customers to create ‘custom’ animals, plants, etc, according to recent reports. Said company — Austen Heinz’s Cambrian Genomics — currently creates custom DNA for “major” pharmaceutical companies, universities,
Nope, he didn’t actually say that. But he may. More on Monsanto Washington state’s fight to label GMOs Millions Against Monsanto Label GMOs Monsanto info via Sourcewatch And (if you prefer pretty pictures) my Monsanto cartoons Joe Mohr is a cartoonist for a variety of publications and children’s writer and illustrator. His first book ROBOT+BIKE=KITTEN
Today’s suds are an endangered species, says Willy Blackmore, food editor for TakePart. (Photo: Cafe Bink, Carefree, Arizona.) So are the grapes and wines of the 20th century. Blackmore relates the phenomena to the power of climate change. The geography of earth’s agriculture will shift as global climate alterations disrupt historic weather patterns and raise
One of the major agricultural pests of the African continent — the Busseola fusca caterpillar — has now developed resistance to the Bt-toxin that GMO corn relies on for its productivity. While the relatively fast emergence of resistance in the caterpillars is notable in its own right, what’s most interesting is that the resistance is
Over 2 million people participated in Saturday’s March Against Monsanto protest, according to protest organizers — marking the protest as a great success. The organizers have reported that protests were held in over 52 countries, and 436 cities — a truly global protest, reflecting public sentiment about GMOs. The protest on May 25 2013, while
This is a new version of a Hank D and the Bee cartoon I did after Halloween. It was a popular cartoon so I wanted to share it with a larger audience. Enjoy…and share. More on GMO’s and Monsanto From PlanetSave: 5 Appalling Facts About The Monsanto Protection Act Obama Signed Into Law (GMO Heaven)
Many of the assumptions that the use of GMO crops are based upon are not true, researchers at the University of Arizona have found. Specifically, the widely-used new strategy of planting GMO crops that produce two or more toxins to provide “redundant” killing of insect pests is based on assumptions that simply aren’t always true.
My previous Monsanto Claus cartoons: Monsanto Claus 2009: Ho Ho Oh No! (original title, eh?) Monsanto Claus 2010: A RoundUp-Resistant Christmas Joe’s cartoon archive, twitter ramblings and StumbleUpon page…
In another blow to multinational agribusiness companies such as Monsanto, Bayer, and Dow, Peru last week became the latest in a series of countries to ban GMO foods. Last week, a law took effect which bans the import, production, and use of genetically modified foods anywhere in Peru for the next ten years. Peru isn’t
If you’re in California and you aren’t familiar with Proposition 37 (aka Prop 37), you should really learn a few things about it before heading over to the voting booth. Here’s a great infographic on the proposition to help you do just that (larger version available at the source, Reuse This Bag):
Herbicide use in the agricultural production of three GMO herbicide-tolerant crops (cotton, soybeans and corn) has been significantly and rapidly increasing, according to new research from Washington State University. It may sound counterintuitive to some people, but there have been warnings of just such a result since the beginning of GMO use in agriculture.
I did this cartoon for the current issue of Yes! Magazine (see page 11). If you’re not yet a subscriber to Yes!, give it a look. It is a thoughtful, progressive, important publication… and it has great cartoons. 😉 In case you’re wondering, crows won’t eat GM corn, and neither should we! Joe’s cartoon archive,
There are 3 quick steps you need to take today to STOP MONSANTO: Sign a petition to get the “Monsanto riders” out of the multi-billion dollar FY 2013 Agricultural Appropriations bill The rider would require — not allow, require — the Secretary of Agriculture to grant a temporary permit for the planting or cultivation
A new GMO corn that is immune to 2,4-D, one of the main ingredients in Agent Orange, is close to being approved for use in agriculture by the USDA. If Dow AgroSciences’ new GMO corn is approved, it will allow for widespread spraying of 2,4-D without damaging crops. “The scientific community has sounded alarms
Above: A Humorous Look at Monsanto’s Future. Below: A Scary Look at Monsanto’s Past. (Sources and much more info linked below this text) It’s apparent that all of the Monsanto endeavors I chose to highlight here rode the same wave of public opinion. In regards to nuclear weapons, DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange, and aspartame,
More on our food and labelling GMOs From Huffington Post: Why We Must Occupy Our Food Supply From Label GMOs: Spread the Word! From EatDrinkBetter: Judge Sides with Monsanto in Lawsuit Joe’s cartoon archive, twitter ramblings and StumbleUpon page…
For all those who would like to know if they’re eating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or not, or what like to avoid it, there’s some exciting news in Vermont. “Eleven state representatives in Vermont have submitted legislation to require labeling of genetically modified organisms,” Heather Carr of sister site Eat Drink Better reports. Here’s
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) recently published info on 10 ways Monsanto and Big Ag “try” to kill us and the planet. I wouldn’t presume they are “trying” to, just that they are more concerned with their profits than the effects they are having on people and the planet. Nonetheless, the list is great, I’m
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotic Applications has released data on genetically modified (GM) crops around the world. Here’s a visualization/map of the data, via the UK’s Guardian: I think we all know why Hungary isn’t on the map.
Get involved with LabelGMOs.org to help get GMO labelling on the 2012 ballot in California. Success in California should portend success across the rest of the country. We could be the next France…or Hungary. Cartoonist’s note: This image will soon be added to my Anti-Monsanto T-shirt store. Joe’s cartoon archive, twitter ramblings and StumbleUpon page…
The News: China rejects commercialization of genetically-modified (aka genetically-engineered) rice! Wow, not the news I was expecting to run into this week. But, apparently, it’s been a long time coming. “It took seven years, teams of young campaigners and hordes of devoted supporters, but September 2011 the Chinese government finally said it was suspending the
News: Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) or genetically engineered (GE) sweet corn has been approved for production and sale in the U.S. Not only that, it won’t be labeled. Food & Water Watch has a last-ditch campaign to stop the corn from invading our markets and dinner plates. It’s a campaign to get Walmart to reject
News: Via Eat Drink Better, this ‘fun fact’: “Genetically engineered food does not have to be labeled in the U.S., but 90% of Americans want labels on GMOs.” Why this is important: Basically, GMO companies and our policy makers are conducting a massive experiment on us. It’s not clear yet if GMOs are really
via Organic Consumers Association (on email), except for the image: What if Monsanto had to pay for its corporate crimes? It is inevitable that one day Monsanto will be held responsible for the enormous human health and environmental damages arising from the so-called “responsible” use of its toxic pesticides, chemicals, and mutant genetically engineered
Writers, Bloggers, Photographers, Cartoonists, please feel free to place the FUGMO seal of disapproval on any of your anti-GMO work. Readers, you are invited to add the seal to your avatar. FUGMO says: “F U, GMOs!” More on why you too should say F U to GMOs: From Grist: The next generation of GMOs could
More on Monsanto’s Broccoli, etc…
Here on Planetsave we have reported a lot lately on Monsanto and their corporate corruption. Now it seems that Monsanto has drawn the attention of the hacker group Anonymous. Recently, Anonymous made a video sending a message to Monsanto over their GMO products and corporate tyranny.
In India, Bt Cotton has become one of India’s biggest cash crops consuming over 90% of their cotton production. If you are not familiar with Bt cotton it stands for bacillus thuringiensis cotton. Basically, BT is a GMO gene that is placed in the cotton plant to act as a pesticide.
In an effort to rid the country of Monsanto’s GMO products, Hungary has stepped up the pace. This looks like its going to be another slap in the face for Monsanto. A new regulation was introduced this March which stipulates that seeds are supposed to be checked for GMO, before they are introduced to the market.
“Moving to America will increase your cancer risk by 400%.”
This is Greenpeace — they research potential environmental issues, they pick the few most important (i.e. global climate change, long-term nuclear risk, GMOs), they educate and politic for a better future, and — if needed — they chain themselves to things.
Cartoonist’s note: This is not how the conversation went–but a guy can dream.
Read Tom Philpott’s article on Grist, for more information on Monsanto’s latest victory: USDA moves to let Monsanto perform its own environmental impact studies on GMOs
More info on organic farmers vs. Monsanto
The Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice have teamed up to file a lawsuit against the USDA for their approval of GM alfalfa.
After initially saying ‘NO’ to Monsanto’s pilot project, Mexico has succumbed and agreed.
Since taking over the House, the Republicans have utilized their sway to continue their attack on the environment.
Does “natural” mean non-GMO? Not likely. Many breakfast cereals labeled natural are likely to contain ingredients from genetically modified corn, soy, canola, and sugar beets. This was a key finding from a survey of natural cereal manufacturers conducted by The Organic & Non-GMO Report. Several natural cereal manufacturers admitted that their products may contain GM
Genetically modified (GM) food researchers still have a long way to go to show that GM foods are actually safe. In fact, the most recent news is that they cause miscarriages in animals. That’s what a scientist researching Monsanto’s Roundup Ready genetically modified crops has found. The miscarriages are linked to an organism that was
Some of the top climate change and environmental stories of the last day or so: Climate Science Graph of the Day: Greenland Ice Sheet Mass Changes Good info and graphs on the page above, but thought I’d share the 3 videos from the post here for you to check out just in case you don’t feel
US Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack tells us to eat more natural foods a few days after fully deregulating GMO alfalfa…I’m confused. Confused as well? Read the links below and try to figure out this mess. From The New York Times: Government’s Dietary Advice: Eat Less From Elephant Journal: The USDA caves to Monsanto. What now?
Unlike the former Monsanto cartoon on this subject, this version shows a bit more clearly who surrendered the future of organic agriculture to Monsanto. There’s been a lot of talk from both sides (organic and biotech) about compromise. That is misleading and almost laughable (read: cryable). Dear Monsanto, You poisoning us (consumers of organic food)
More info and opportunities to take action on GM Alfalfa.From Rodale: Genetically Engineered Alfalfa Could Be Growing in U.S. Fields by Spring From EatDrinkBetter: URGENT: Stop Monsanto’s GM Alfalfa From Food and Water Watch: Take Action: Ask President Obama to Protect Organic and Stop Monsanto’s GE Alfalfa! From the Organic Consumers Association: Millions Against Monsanto
Take action to keep GE salmon (“Frankenfish”) off your plate, because as Food and Water Watch state: Genetically engineered salmon are on a fast track to being the first GE Animal approved for human consumption. The FDA is trying to approve GE salmon as a new animal drug, but the truth is U.S. Food agencies
A victory for anyone who likes healthy food, soil, and water! Monsanto’s sour plans for the sweet beet were spoiled as a federal judge banned genetically modified sugar beets.
Greenpeace recently found genetically engineered maize from Monsanto, MON810, illegally growing in Italy. Now, activists from Italy, Austria, Germany and Hungary are quarantining this GE maize. “Greenpeace has taken action today to prevent any further contamination from these hazardous and illegal GE crops,” said Federica Ferrario, Greenpeace Italy Agriculture campaigner. “For days these crops will
As good of a summary on global warming as you can find. You can read what green bloggers have to write about global warming all day, but when a top hedge fund manager gives you a 5-minute summary of global warming and what we should think and do about it (and completely nails the matter),
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has recently reported a link between genetically modified (GM) foods and adverse health effects. The AAEM is advising precaution because GM foods have not been properly tested for human consumption and because there is significant evidence of probable harm. Therefore they advise: Physicians to educate their patients, the
