Originally posted on ANSWERCoalition.org
The production of Agent Orange gave Monsanto huge profits while millions died from it and millions more continue to suffer in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. U.S. GIs and their families continue to struggle with the impact of this deadly chemical.
Monsanto profited from the production of PCBs but the community of Times Beach Missouri near one of the production/ distribution sites had to be evacuated because of pollution. Thousands lost their homes.
Monsanto versus Seed Sovereignty
– There have been demonstrations across the world, from Haiti to India, demanding seed sovereignty, or the right to control seeds used in their country against monopoly demands by Monsanto that they use GMO seeds.
Following the money
– Hugh Grant Monsanto CEO salary was $1.4 million in 2013 but with stock awards etc his compensation was $12.57 million for 2013.
– Monsanto profits for just the first three months of 2014 were up 13% to $1.67 billion. Where did those profits come from? Migrant workers from Texas and Arizona have sued the company in 2011 and 2012 for not paying minimum wage. The company has a history of refusing demands for wages benefits and safety by unions representing workers in their factories.
– Monopoly control of the seed industry allows the company to charge whatever it wants while at the same time it sues farmers for violations of its patents that allow monopoly control.
Who controls Monsanto?
– The Board of Directors includes the CEO of Peabody Energy the world’s largest private coal producer and the company that has robbed the pensions of US coal miners while exploiting the world. Other Board members include a former president of McDonalds Corporation, famous for low pay and no benefits in the fast food industry and a former CEO of Lockheed Martin from the military industrial complex.
– These are the “front men”. Real control is by finance capital institutions that control the overwhelming majority of the stock. Just the top 10 own over 30 percent of all of the stock and control the company. They include JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock, FMR, etc.
Monsanto and the US Government
– In March 2013 President Obama signed a bill making it impossible to sue Monsanto for any ill health effects from its genetically modified food. This was passed without debate by the Republicans and Democrats. A symptom of what is wrong with the system.
