I have just become aware of the following:
Monsanto, Cargill, Bayer, and other Agri business corporations that control most of the seed growing and distribution networks in Canada and the USA have joined forces and put a
Bill (C-18) before Parliament requesting sweeping changes to Canada’s basic
federal agriculture laws. This Bills seeks to diminish or
eliminate farmers’, orchardists’ and home gardeners’ rights to save all seeds, including heritage and open pollinated varieties --- a basic right that has stood in Common Law for centuries. C-18 also seeks to
increase royalties to the big corporations on all registered seed, and gives them the right to control all seed cleaning and distribution companies, as well as seed trading... this means even
community venue seed exchanges and seed saving workshops will become illegal, and plants from registered seed cannot be sold by private individuals. The National Farmers Union has begun a nation-wide campaign to stop the bill.
The NFU estimates a big jump in grain product prices and veggies prices at the retail level. In addition this can also mean more than doubling the cost of a seed packet at the garden centre, and a
loss of many heritage varieties that have recently become popular again.
Part of the NFU plan is a petition that will be presented to Parliament.
For the whole story, please go to the National Farmers website. Here’s the link....
http://www.nfu.ca/issues/save-our-seed
Canadian bloggers please spread the word and take action as you see fit. American and British and European readers have similar bills been introduced in your countries? Please help in any way you can.
I'm not kidding you when I say that I'm scared to death with the direction things are going! Monsanto wants to run everything with their evil greedy deads and I am ready to take a stand. To think that they can control our seeds is absolutely well I have no words because it is just so absurd. Thank you for passing this on!!! It is such an important topic. It is time to stop these companies!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting via Wendy's comment that the EU takes an opposite view. I must find out why.
DeletePure greed will be the death of us all. Hopefully, the politicians in Canada aren't bought and paid for like ours in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteMoney talks both sides of the border.
DeleteIn a time when we should be thinking about sustainability at the local level, big business and government want to limit our possibilities. - Margy
ReplyDeleteYou've hit the nail on the head, Margy.
DeleteThat is shocking and just wrong!
ReplyDeleteIt is really bothering me. So hard to believe those in charge could possibly think this is a good idea.
DeleteThis is fascinating, Susan - and frightening. At the moment in Europe (within the EU) there is a lot of resistance to these companies, but unfortunately the UK environment secretary is very pro-GM and would give these companies more authority here (if he could)
ReplyDeleteThank goodness somebody somewhere is saying stop.
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