BMEWS
 
Sarah Palin is allowed first dibs on Alaskan wolfpack kills.

calendar   Friday - June 04, 2010

Moonbat Island

Today Is World Environment Day

Haitian Farmers Have No Seed Stock Left To Grow Crops,

So They Plan To Celebrate This Holiday

By Burning 475 Tons Of Seeds Donated To Them




Moonbat Money Quote: “People in the US need to help us produce, not give us food and seeds. They’re ruining our chance to support ourselves” because, you know, actually giving somebody some seeds so that they could, like, totally grow their own crops, and then sell them, or at least hand out the food so that nobody starves, is NOT helping anyone support themselves.


But the seeds are evil!!!

Four months after a devastating earthquake ripped apart their country, the people of Haiti are still suffering, so you’d think a multi-million-dollar donation of vegetable seeds would be welcome news. But two Haitian groups, backed by the activist group Grassroots International, are urging farmers to do the unthinkable: burn the donated seeds.

This evil campaign puts politics ahead of humanity, and it is sad that charities like the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the New York Community Trust are funding Grassroots International’s perversely named “social justice” campaign.

The two groups, the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) and the National Peasant Movement of the Congress of Papay (MPMKP), argue that the hybrid seeds donated by Monsanto will somehow undermine the “food sovereignty” of Haiti. They also assert, without any scientific basis, that the donated seeds are somehow unsafe. Nothing could be further from the truth, as seeds like those donated have been used safely for generations.

It isn’t the crop they’re against, it’s the corp — they just don’t like private companies. They’re convinced that “agri-business” is a bad thing, as if private companies shouldn’t be in the business of innovating and selling agricultural products to people trying to grow food.

Right. Economies of scale is just one more thing that Haitians have no awareness of. I guess every person on earth is supposed to walk down there and hand over a kernel of corn.

“A new earthquake” is what peasant farmer leader Chavannes Jean-Baptiste of the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) called the news that Monsanto will be donating 60,000 seed sacks (475 tons) of hybrid corn seeds and vegetable seeds, some of them treated with highly toxic pesticides. The MPP has committed to burning Monsanto’s seeds, and has called for a march to protest the corporation’s presence in Haiti on June 4, for World Environment Day.

In an open letter sent May 14, Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, the executive director of MPP and the spokesperson for the National Peasant Movement of the Congress of Papay (MPNKP), called the entry of Monsanto seeds into Haiti “a very strong attack on small agriculture, on farmers, on biodiversity, on Creole seeds ... and on what is left our environment in Haiti."(1) Haitian social movements have been vocal in their opposition to agribusiness imports of seeds and food, which undermines local production with local seed stocks. They have expressed special concern about the import of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

“We’re for seeds that have never been touched by multinationals. In our advocacy, we say that seeds are the patrimony of humanity. No one can control them,” said Doudou Pierre, national coordinating committee member of the National Haitian Network for Food Sovereignty and Food Security (RENHASSA), in a recent interview. “We reject Monsanto and their GMOs. GMOs would be the extermination of our people.”

A march is being held in Haiti today for World Environment Day, called by at least four major national peasant organizations and one international one. The march’s purpose is to protest the new arrival of Monsanto seeds. The day’s slogans include, “Long live native seeds” and “Down with Monsanto. Down with GMO and hybrid seeds.”

Several U.S. organizations are planning simultaneous events to protest the entry of the controversial multinational in Haiti.

Last month, Haitian citizens learned the news that the giant agribusiness Monsanto will be “donating” 60,000 seed sacks (475 tons) of hybrid corn seeds and vegetable seeds. While the seeds are free this year, peasant organizations see a Trojan horse, with Monsanto seeking to gain a foothold in the Haitian market. Hybrid seeds typically do not regenerate, so that farmers would have to buy them again each year, and they generally require large quantities of fertilizer and pesticides (two products that also fill Monsanto’s annual coffers).

So far, Monsanto has said that the donated corn seeds are not genetically modified but are hybrids, which means that they may not be suitable for replanting in the subsequent seasons. By cultivating Monsanto’s corn, Haitian peasant farmers will be forced to make annual purchases of seeds.

After the earthquake, much of Haiti’s rural seed stocks were used to help feed people who fled to rural areas from devastated towns and cities. In a message to Haitian farmers, Chavannes stated, “Monsanto is taking advantage of the earthquakeŠto open the country’s doors to this powerful company. We cannot accept this.”

Somewhat famous Moonbat Queen Jill Richardson agrees:

In the past few days since I’ve returned from the Land of No Internet, there’s been much buzz about Monsanto’s “generous” donation of hybrid seeds to Haitian farmers. I have just witnessed agricultural success in Haiti’s nearest neighbor - Cuba - and I saw firsthand that in most cases, farmers use open-pollinated (not hybrid) seeds, and they save their own seeds from one season to the next. I’d imagine it may be different on large sugarcane or tobacco operations, but those places would be growing crops for export. The places I saw grew food to feed their communities, which will be of the utmost importance in Haiti.

I must admit I’m quite pleased to see this headline: “Haitian Farmers Commit to Burning Monsanto Hybrid Seeds. Hybrid seeds cannot be saved, and saved seeds have a limited shelflife, particularly in a humid, tropical environment. Thus, a donation of hybrid seeds can be like a donation of an addictive drug from a drug dealer. You get your first bit for free, and then you’re hooked. You need to buy the next batch yourself. Of course, Haitians can accept the donation and then buy open-pollinated seeds the next year, but that doesn’t negate the fact that hybrid seeds are a very short term gift because they don’t produce seeds you can save.

...

Thus, Haiti’s Peasant Movement of Papay has called on Haitian farmers to burn Monsanto’s seeds and march in opposition to Monsanto on June 4, World Environment Day. All I can say (besides hallelujah!) is that I hope Haiti’s next door neighbor Cuba comes through with agricultural help, both open pollinated seeds adapted to the local climate and technical expertise. Haiti is truly lucky to be located next door to one of the world’s best example of food sovereignty in the making.

Yeah, that’s it. The ultimate leftist fantasy. CUBA is going to save the day. Because the people there are all so damn fat from all the food they grow themselves that the country can just give it all away. And look at how much help Cuba has been to Haiti with this earthquake disaster relief! Hardly any other country on earth has had to come to Haiti’s aid, no donations from anywhere have been needed, no volunteers, no military presence to keep the peace, no non-stop airlifts of the sick and wounded to Florida and other places with terrible oppressive health care. Fidel and Raul did all themselves!

Whadda SLAG. Whadda maroon.



So ... Haiti’s farms were devastated by the earthquake, and in the aftermath everyone ate up all the seeds that had been set aside for planting. So Haiti has NO remaining native seed stock. And nothing growing in the fields. And no fertilizers or pesticides. So some EVIL corporation donates them a whole bunch - literally a small shipload - of seeds that will grow now, grow fast, and grow there, which are pretreated to resist bugs, maybe even pre-fertilized, etc. Which means they will allow Haitians to feed Haitians this year. No, this doesn’t give them a permanent solution, but it would keep people from starving. Next year maybe somebody else will donate some more seeds. Or maybe what little seed stock Haiti has left can be grown purely to produce more seed stock, on a small bit of land, while this supercrop grows on the rest and feeds the people.

So of course it gets rejected. Because you have a right to remain on welfare unless you are offered an easy job that pays $15 million a year. Same logic. Naturally, a bunch of protesters and various other dirty hippies will be burning Monsanto seeds today in commiseration. All on World Environment Day. Because all that extra smoke and CO2 in the air is good for Mother Earth! Plus it’s always a great idea to get rid of pesticide coated seeds by burning them. Toxic vapors? Whatchu talkin bout Willis?


“Genetically Modified” always makes me laugh. Because it’s ever so much more evil than plain old hybridization, which has been going on for 10,000 years, ever since wheat was a 6” tall variety of lawn grass and corn grew ears 2” long. And cows were these big nasty critters in the forests called Aurochs, which would kill you in an eye-blink whenever they got the chance. The wheat, corn, and cows we have today are all products of the slow method of genetic modification: selective breeding. Hybridization. Same thing, just slower. Science merely speeds up the process. And let’s face it, not all hybrids are sterile, or even first generation. Those tasty Beefsteak tomatoes you grow in your garden were hybridized decades ago ... and then the ones that bred true were selected. Repeat that a few times and you get “heirloom” seeds that make the same plant every generation!

Monsanto has a statement ...

First, Monsanto had to identify seed from its inventory that would be well-suited to Haitian growing climates. That was perhaps the simplest part. The seeds include corn (field, not sweet), cabbage, carrot, eggplant, melon, onion, tomato, spinach and watermelon. Contrary to some online reports (sparked by this erroneous blog posting), these seeds are not derived from biotechnology (GMO). They are conventionally bred, hybrid seeds. Also, Monsanto is not donating herbicide or fertilizer, as those reports falsely state.

Though hybrid seeds were widely grown 30 years ago in Haiti, we were sensitive to the fact that hybrid seeds are not widely used in Haiti today. Hybrids have been in use for decades in other countries, including the Dominican Republic. Given the choice, farmers generally select hybrid seeds because they generate more food and grain per acre or hectare. Monsanto personnel consulted with the Ministry of Agriculture in Haiti and heard very clearly the ministry sees the opportunity for increased yields that hybrid seed creates for Haitian farmers.

and also a spokeperson, Mica, who patiently answers all the attacks aimed at them. Gosh, because HuffPo got their facts wrong about the pesticides and the fertilizers and so forth. Yes, to continue to grow very high yielding crops, the Haitian farmers would need to buy fresh seeds every year. Just like every other commercial farmer on the planet. Subsistence farming with heirloom seeds and no soil management grows less and less food every year. All of which means that Monsanto gave these island farmers a chance to climb up out of the mud and join the rest of the world. Of course they rejected that!


avatar

Posted by Drew458   United States  on 06/04/2010 at 07:09 PM   
Filed Under: • Stoopid-PeopleTURD WORLD •  
Comments (10) Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  
Page 1 of 1 pages

Five Most Recent Trackbacks:

Once Again, The One And Only Post
(4 total trackbacks)
Tracked at iHaan.org
The advantage to having a guide with you is thɑt an expert will haѵe very first hand experience dealing and navigating the river with гegional wildlife. Tһomas, there are great…
On: 07/29/23 02:37

The Brownshirts: Partie Deux; These aare the Muscle We've Been Waiting For
(3 total trackbacks)
Tracked at head to the Momarms site
The Brownshirts: Partie Deux; These aare the Muscle We’ve Been Waiting For
On: 03/14/23 03:20

Vietnam Homecoming
(1 total trackbacks)
Tracked at 广告专题配音 专业从事中文配音跟外文配音制造,北京名传天下配音公司
  专业从事中文配音和外文配音制作,北京名传天下配音公司   北京名传天下专业配音公司成破于2006年12月,是专业从事中 中文配音 文配音跟外文配音的音频制造公司,幻想飞腾配音网领 配音制作 有海内外优良专业配音职员已达500多位,可供给一流的外语配音,长年服务于国内中心级各大媒体、各省市电台电视台,能满意不同客户的各种需要。电话:010-83265555   北京名传天下专业配音公司…
On: 03/20/21 11:00

meaningless marching orders for a thousand travellers ... strife ahead ..
(1 total trackbacks)
Tracked at Casual Blog
[...] RTS. IF ANYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTRUED AS BEING CONTRARY TO THE LAWS APPL [...]
On: 07/17/17 08:28

a small explanation
(1 total trackbacks)
Tracked at yerba mate gourd
Find here top quality how to prepare yerba mate without a gourd that's available in addition at the best price. Get it now!
On: 07/09/17 07:07



DISCLAIMER
Allanspacer

THE SERVICES AND MATERIALS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE HOSTS OF THIS SITE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICE OR ANY MATERIALS.

Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:
  1. Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
  2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
  3. Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
  4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere
It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

THE INFORMATION AND OTHER CONTENTS OF THIS WEBSITE ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS WEBSITE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ALL PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE AMERICAN COURTS. IF ANYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTRUED AS BEING CONTRARY TO THE LAWS APPLICABLE IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, THEN THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ACCESSED BY PERSONS FROM THAT COUNTRY AND ANY PERSONS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SUCH LAWS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO USE OUR SERVICES UNLESS THEY CAN SATISFY US THAT SUCH USE WOULD BE LAWFUL.


Copyright © 2004-2015 Domain Owner



GNU Terry Pratchett


Oh, and here's some kind of visitor flag counter thingy. Hey, all the cool blogs have one, so I should too. The Visitors Online thingy up at the top doesn't count anything, but it looks neat. It had better, since I paid actual money for it.
free counters