I've written from time to time on the topic of GMO (genetically modified organisms) and food and while I still don't claim to be any sort of expert on the topic, the more I read, the less I like the idea. I'm particularly dubious about the agricultural and biotech powerhouse - Monsanto.

My misgivings aren't just in relation to human consumption of this frankenfood, but the possible effects on the wider environment - and our own freedom.

GMO isn't just about food - it's about the way ecosystems work and our society operates - it's that big a topic and right up there with climate change in my opinion.

Additionally, what I am increasingly becoming aware of is just how much control agri-business and the biotech industry has over governments. It's not only a heavy outside influence from lobbying, but inside as well. For example, Donald Rumsfeld was an ex CEO of a Monsanto subsidiary; and there's many others law makers who previously were associated with biotech companies. The importance of that and the ramifications become clear in the video below.

This may all sound a little tinfoil hat I guess, but when you think about it - control the food, control the water ... you control the world.

Rather than rattle on about the topic with my own half-baked thoughts (I'm still reeling from all the information), I present this documentary to you for consideration - The World According to Monsanto - A documentary that (as far as I know) hasn't and won't be screened on US television.

This isn't a 10 minute YouTube presentation - it goes for nearly two hours; so you'll need to set aside a bit of time - but please take the time to do so as it's worth it.

If what is stated in The World According to Monsanto is true - then Monsanto is beyond evil in my opinion and something needs to be done... or maybe it's too late.

Again, you'll need to watch the entire video to get a better idea of how big this issue is and how perhaps stopping this machine may be well near impossible. This video is not just a single opinion - there's so much similar information out on the web about the company and about GMO issues.

Just quickly, GM crops aren't anything like the evolution of crops we've seen in the past where farmers selectively bred plants and animals. This is an entirely new ball game with genes being introduced into a species; coming from an entirely different species - plant to animal, animal to plant, bacteria to plant. It's truly disturbing.

What's even more disturbing is how these transgenic crops are now "infecting" non-GM crops.. it's an invasion of a global scale which may have been purposely planned according to some - and nobody knows the outcome.

It will affect in some way every darned species on the planet - and I don't think that's an exaggeration.

Think about this - these companies "own" the GM plant - they own the species, it's patented. If a non-GM crop becomes infected with the designer genes; they own those too. Frightening huh?

70% of the food in US stores contains bioengineered elements, but GM labeling is forbidden in the USA. You can guess why.

250 million acres globally are now planted with transgenic crops. 70% are "roundup ready" (explained in the video) and 30% have been genetically modified to produce an insecticide called BT which was derived from the genes of a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis.

By the way - after watching the video, you may want to check out my article on heirloom and heritage seeds. It may be the last chance of us maintaining some sort of control over food crops.

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