'March Against Monsanto' Anti-GMO Protest in Los Angeles
Waving signs that read "Hell no, GMO" and "Monsanto—True Evil," hundreds of protesters gathered in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday to demonstrate against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the companies that produce them. Despite a growing consensus from major scientific organizations that there is no harm associated with GMOs, those that turned out remained firm in their belief that genetically engineered food is dangerous and rejected contrary views as "lies" or simply the product of scientists bought off by the industry.
Reason TV visited the "March Against Monsanto" rally to find out what the protesters hoped to accomplish and why they continued to reject the prevailing pro-GMO science.
About 5 minutes.
Filmed and Edited by Sharif Matar and Patrick Bowers.
For more Reason coverage on genetically modified organisms, read Ronald Bailey here and here.
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Not sure what the intent is here. This was featured over the weekend (I think), and the ignorant twit with the mic in hand was given at least some of the dirt he deserves….
And now, it’s back absent any of the comments? Uh, who is making such choices and why?
It’s not like there’s a lack of content. I mean there are serious issues of concern such as which starlet will allow injections into her legs to portray that hag Clinton in the upcoming campaign flick? Ooops; make that biography. Oooops; hagiography.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/ex…..y-clinton/
“hag”iography is right.
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The frontrunners to play the former secretary of state and first lady include Scarlett Johansson…
Jesus. These fucking people are delusional.
Seriously? Scarlett Johansson?! I was thinking more along the lines of Meryl Streep dressed in that realistic-looking fat suit Tom Cruise wore in “Tropic Thunder.”
In that case why not just go with Rosie O’Donnell?
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Absolutely frightening! The people, that is, not GMOs, which are perfectly safe.
Most frightening? Most of these fuckers vote.
“Most frightening? Most of these fuckers vote.”
And the absolute moral certainty of that asshole with the mic; no god-talker can beat him for fire and brimstone!
I remember being pretty certain about things in my 20s, but not enough to shout it through a sound system. I can only hope that (1) he learns how wrong he is, and (2) he has to watch replays of that until his grand-kids beat him to death with GMO cornstalks.
One of my HS friends on FB was railing the other day about Monsanto GM fish, for … “PROFITS!”
I’m not sure if they even do fish, but if the GM fish are chemically identical to “natural” fish, who cares? And the whole damn reason they are in business is to make a profit, while their product costs less and less.
Usually he is pretty good on the free market topics, but this was one reminder that sometimes it is a waste of time to argue with a Las Vegas drummer.
The fish issue is salmon with a gene turned off that slows their growth. The GMO salmon grow twice as fast as their natural relatives.
The fear is if they get into the wild (think Asian carp), their voracious feeding will squeeze out the non GMO salmon. It has nothing to do with them “causing birth defects to my grandchildren” Eating food with modified DNA does not change tour DNA unless the food is radioactive.
Thank you Oprah.
Which kinda ignores the whole “evolution” and “natural selection” thing. If having that gene turned off was a competitive advantage in the wild, chances are very good that a naturally occurring deletion or nonsense mutation would have given rise to a salmon overlord long ago. But more likely that mutation has significant cost in a wild population and is bred out very quickly.
At least the BT transgene opponents have a point about a potential harm (that’s the bit about the bees they were ranting about – although research shows that it isn’t the cause of our bee population problems). Resistance to roundup is very unlikely to confer any advantage outside of a human-cultivated field. The same goes for adding beta carotene to starchy staples like rice.
Like most of these type of protests, the hard core activists seem to be largely populated by the mentally ill.
My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can’t believe how easy it was once I tried it out. This is what I do, ?? Gig60.c?m
You eat bananas, don’t you?
Low doses of radiation do not cause damage to your DNA. Even when radiation does damage your cells (like a sunburn), your body has mechanisms to repair that damage without a fuss.
I’d rather eat GMOs and irradiated food than overuse chemical pesticides.
Most frightening? Most of these fuckers vote.
We know, Obama is in his second term.
Monoculture is never “perfectly safe”.
Rrabbit| 5.29.13 @ 6:06AM |#
“Monoculture is never “perfectly safe””
Nothing is “perfectly safe”
This looks like its gonna be really good. Wow.
http://www.GetYourAnon.tk
These people are so annoying. The worst part is, a lot of them consider themselves libertarian and a lot of them even are very much so. I don’t know why they turn so statist on this issue.
I bet the chick with the head scarf who doesn’t vaccinate her kids is an Obamacare supporter. Can’t get more irresponsible than that.
“The worst part is, a lot of them consider themselves libertarian”
Yeah, like the talk-show guy is “libertarian”;so long as it means the asshole in question gets freedom from the gov’t.
But when the guy over there wants the same? Are you crazy? He’s doing something I don’t like!
“I thought libertarians were for choice” is their common refrain, completely ignoring who is implementing the labeling laws they like.
My response to a GMO labelling law being enacted? “This product contains GMOs. Score! Suck it Malthusians! Human Ingenuity overcomes yet again!” Though I admit not everyone will react similarly.
Sharif,
Home run on this one man!
What was up with that extra who tackled you at the beginning?
“I don’t vaccinate my children!”
Thank you for letting me know exactly where you stand. No mask slip necessary.
I assume the interview cut off right before Sharif told her, “Well, you really should get your kids vaccinated. Now.”
Someone ought to track her down in twenty years and find out if her kids are always sick, or dead.
Pretty much every food we eat has been genetically modified. But hey, they’re there to be seen anyhow.
From this, I only got a new slogan:
TLAs are the real WMDs!
I’m quite sure the same people there talking about the ulterior motives of scientist are the same people who call skeptics of global warming science deniers. The dissonance between what they don’t seem to know about this subject and how sure they are that they’re right is just pure entertainment. Emotivism at it’s best.
I’m pretty disappointed that there were no signs referencing Mephistopheles.
So, what’s the context surrounding the jerk-hole at the beginning of the video that interrupts Sharif’s intro?
I like the Muslim woman.
Her basic argument was: ‘I don’t trust the scientists because they’re being paid by the Federal government. That’s why we need the Federal government to step in and ban genetically modified food.’
The Federal government: So evil and untrustworthy that we should expand its power.
Kinda like…
Wall Street owns the government and they collude to oppress the 99%, therefore we need to give the government more power!
or,
Cops and the army are tools of the rich to oppress minorities and fight for oil for the energy companies, therefore only the police and army should have guns!
I could go on.
I’m not sure if people simply don’t know about the idea of regulatory capture or if there is some mental block in place that prevents them from really understanding it.
What the hell? If you show the interviewer being tackled in the teaser, you must show the resulting altercation in the third act. COME ON!
No shit. There’s othing like getting attacked by a vegan.
No Papier Machet heads of Bush and Cheney? They’re slippin’
Leave these people alone, they keep Trader Joes alive. They amuse me with their mangled take on Asian classics.
I think that the full extent of the anti-GMO crowd’s scientific knowledge is gathered from superhero origin stories.
Why don’t they want our kids to have superpowers? Why do they hate the childrunz!
Hilarious. Especially the guy that said water and lemon for a week will cure all disease.
I bet every one of the protesters favors embryonic stem cell research (and use). Genetically modified foods are bad, but genetically modified people are just fine.
ErnieLane| 5.29.13 @ 9:55AM |#
“Hilarious. Especially the guy that said water and lemon for a week will cure all disease.”
There used to be a whacko commenter on the Chron e-site who swore drinking your own piss was the secret to long life, and of course it was also being kept hidden by those ‘profit-making SoBs’.
Funny part is that he also claimed to have been a member the Secret Service when Kennedy was killed, so his track record wasn’t all that hot.
I’m not opposed to labeling. Perhaps the two alternative labels ought to be:
A. “This product contains genetically modified organisms. That is why it costs 40% less than the non-GMO equivalent product, despite being equally safe to eat.”
B. “This product is certified free of genetically modified organisms. That is why it costs 67% more than the GMO equivalent product, and is equally safe to eat.”
“This product is certifed fair trade, cruelty free, 100% organic and free of any genetically modified organisms. WARNING: Consuming this product may cause an overwhelming sense of smugness and self entitlement and may cause an urge to grow a lice infested beard and move to Brooklyn to become and ‘artist’.”
I love reason.com. I pretty much agree with just about everything published on this website except for the GMO stuff. I understand that when it comes to GMO the evidence isn’t conclusive enough to draw conclusions about its safety. My real issue with this company is that they are writing legislation, they are the FDA. That to me is messed up. I am very open minded with counter arguments but i just haven’t read anything that makes me want to back up this company with my money. Please don’t respond if you’re a troll, I’m just asking.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/….._blog.html
Herein lies the problem. Everything you eat, everything you drink, everything you wear that can be genetically modified has been.
Humans have taken it and changed it to suit their purposes.
Monsanto, being a company that provides a lot of basic materials is, likewise, scattered all through the spectrum of things you use. If you tried to not use anything touched by any part of Monsanto, you’d have to float nude outside the atmosphere.
Finally, you are asking the government, to do something governmental, to correct the government stuff you don’t like. See the problem?
I appreciate the reply and completely agree with you that it is almost impossible to stay away from GM products completely, and that asking the problem to fix the problem doesn’t fix anything. Thanks for the reply.
My real issue with this company is that they are writing legislation, they are the FDA. That to me is messed up.
I can agree that is a major problem, not just with them but a lot of companies. Most libertarians are against that kind of cronyism, as well we should be. However, Monsanto’s cronyism is really seperate from the issue of whether GMOs are safe or not.
Also, asking the government to step in and “fix” a probably non-existant problem by requiring GMOs to have some kind of label is not going to work out very well for anyone. For one thing, Monsanto will likely use their influence to shape the resulting legislation to their benefit at the expense of smaller competitors. For another thing, if makers of non-GMO food want to put a label on their products stating that they’re stuff doesn’t contain any GMOs, nothing’s stopping them.
IOW, there’s no problem here that needs a government “solution,” and any so-called solution will most likely go to the benefit of Monsanto thanks to regulatory capture
“For another thing, if makers of non-GMO food want to put a label on their products stating that they’re stuff doesn’t contain any GMOs, nothing’s stopping them.”
Not true and thats wat pisses me off. The FDA has said explicitly that GMO-free labels are not allowed. I agree that GMO labels shouldnt be forced onto companies. Not allowing non-GMO labels is just as bad though.
Hmmm, I see GMO-free labels all the time on various foods and supplements.
http://www.nongmoproject.org/l…..-our-seal/
Thanks for the reply.
Thanks for the reply, the way I feel about GMO food is that right now there hasn’t been enough research to convince me to change my ways. I will continue to vote with my dollar and grow my own vegetables and buy food from CSA’s that take it easy on overuse of antibiotics. I understand that asking the government to fix itself is practically impossible. Thank you again for the reply.
OK, folks we got luddite squared. Not only does idiot jimmy not want GMO food, s/he’s going to GROW HER OWN FOOD:
MandatoryJimmy| 5.30.13 @ 12:45PM |#
…”I will continue to vote with my dollar and grow my own vegetables”
Hey, idiot, ever hear of specialization? Or is that a bit beyond your ken? What’s next? Soldering your own computer out of wire and transistors?
While I may not agree with Jimmy’s choices, I’m perfectly willing to live with them as long as he doesn’t try to force them on me. (Which he shows no sign of here. “I don’t want GMO’s” is not the same as “Ban all GMO’s!”) If gardening floats his boat, more power to him.
I understand that when it comes to GMO the evidence isn’t conclusive enough to draw conclusions about its safety
I’ll second what Azathoth and Loki said, and add that from what I’ve read, the evidence is actually pretty darn conclusive that the GMOs that the anti-Monsanto crowd are worried about are safe. We are talking about well-controlled mutations in very specific genes. Studies have been going on for more than just a few years now and so far there is no good (i.e., withstands scrutiny) evidence that Monsanto GMOs affect the human body differently than any other foodstuff.
…”I understand that when it comes to GMO the evidence isn’t conclusive enough to draw conclusions about its safety”…
Exactly what would constitute ‘conclusive’?
I smell red herring,
Has there been a conclusive study on the long term impacts of tampering with the natural evolutionary cycle of a self regulating system. There are ways of farming that would involve massive infrastructure changes but could cut down on bugs and disease.
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/list.php
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05…..html?_r=1&
MandatoryJimmy| 5.30.13 @ 12:41PM |#
“Has there been a conclusive study on the long term impacts of tampering with the natural evolutionary cycle of a self regulating system.”
What a *STUPID* question. Go away asshole.
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/Syngen…..M_Corn.php
Mandatory Idiot,
I’ve now read all your links. Not *ONE* is anything other than a scare-sheet.
I repeat: Go away, asshole.
Solipsistic pinheads who would let untold trillions die of starvation just because they hate science and capitalism.
And we’re supposed to consider that as compassion.
I find it ironic the post here speak as if the science is totally settled, which it is not.
The other intelligentsia speak as if all produce or much of it is GMO and it is not. (and there is a huge difference between heirloom, hybrid and GMO)
The Brainiacs continue to extol the virtues of Capitalist Monsanto. Which requires an absolute suspension of logic and reason.
I could care less if a person wants to eat or not eat GMO in fact I think starving kids in India would like a chance to grow up to have cancer. Even if GMO causes such horrific health issues as is claimed they are by far better than the certainty of death. Which is my argument for allowing DDT use as well.
If you are so ignorant that you do not understand the difference between a natural hybrid and a organism created through gene manipulation then there is not much else to say. Heat fuel and Oxygen was far too advanced topic in science for you. Much of the Genetic manipulation happens because there is no way to achieve the goal through simple hybrid design.
As for accusing Monsanto of Capitalism, well Monsanto is as capitalist as the Politicians they buy and sell are fiscally responsible. We need a clean up in aisle 5 and someone check the bar code on Obamas neck it did not scan correctly the last time Monsanto needed a favor or two. At least the Republicans can keep their bar codes clean for quick check out. And they are available in bulk discounts. Democrats only give discounts to unions.
Scientists can’t seem to agree on the effects of something as basic as salt.
Something like this will never be settled. But does it outright kill people? Cause birth defects? No.
Genetically modified organism.
Orange carrots, grown on organic farms with all the questionable stylings of a ninth century peasant are GMOs. Carrots are not naturally orange. They were deliberately–not ‘naturally’ bred for that characteristic.
The failure to understand this basic idea is what causes people to quake at the term ‘GMO’.
“If you are so ignorant that you do not understand the difference between a natural hybrid and a organism created through gene manipulation then there is not much else to say.”
If you’re an ignoramus such as to believe the first is, by definition, better than the second, you’
re too dumb to breathe without help.
Stupid luddites…
The worst thing about these people is the damage they do. Whether they really believe the crap they spout, or if its just a way to feel smugly superior, the result is the same. Millions of people who are starving or who have illnesses caused by vitamin deficiency (such as blindness) are being denied crops that could help. Nations have banned GMO crops because of the propaganda and pressure from people who have plenty to eat. These people are worse than ignorant, they are evil.
And the same thing applies to DDT. This pesticide is safe if used correctly, but millions have to deal with malaria (2 million deaths annually), elephantiasis (40 million cases world wide), yellow fever, dengue fever, and more, because the western world decided that nobody should use DDT.
“Despite a growing consensus from major scientific organizations…” So now we can agree that scientific consensus is a valid guide to reality???? Is that Reason’s policy from now on, or just on this issue?