How far will Monsanto go to cover up GM dangers?

Just five years ago, Argentinian researcher Dr. Andreas Carrasco published a paper on Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup that threatened his reputation – and even his life.

He discovered that low doses of Roundup were causing birth defects in frogs and chickens. A violent mob prevented him from giving a talk on his research and beat up students who’d come to hear him speak. A group of thugs even showed up at his office to interrogate him.

It’s the kind of thing you don’t want to imagine happening in America. But it looks like pro-Roundup thugs have now infiltrated our government – and they’re working for the USDA.

Because a group representing USDA employees claims that agency scientists are being intimidated and are having their careers threatened for trying to expose the dangers of Roundup and other agricultural chemicals. And they’re fighting back against a government-sponsored campaign that’s protecting Monsanto’s billions in profits instead of your health.

‘Crucial to the public interest’

Scientists are supposed to ask questions and find answers. It’s what they do.

But when USDA scientists found themselves being investigated and censured by higher-ups simply for looking into the effects of Roundup and other chemicals, it was too much for those who look out for their interests — and ours.

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), which represents USDA and other federal scientists, has recently filed a petition demanding that agency put an end to the censorship and intimidation.

PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch noted that at least 10 USDA scientists have come forward and claimed that they were ordered to retract studies, delete their names from or delay publication of research papers, and water down findings that conflict with industry interests.

These scientists, Ruch says, “have very little in the way of legal rights and have career paths that are extremely vulnerable.”

As one USDA scientist (who asked not to be named) recently told Reuters, “Your words are changed, your papers are censored or edited or you are not allowed to submit them at all.” He was talking about research involving the effects of Roundup, which is sprayed on GMO crops, and neonicotinoid insecticides.

 

And given that the World Health Organization declared Roundup to be a probable cause of cancer in humans, you can just imagine what our government scientists are turning up.

Perhaps the censorship should come as no surprise, given that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was praised by President Obama as a promoter of biotech. And when he was governor of Iowa, he was a major booster of Monsanto.

The action by PEER, in turn, has prompted another organization, U.S. Right to Know, to demand that the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees and the USDA’s Inspector General investigate whether the pressure on the scientists represented a possible cover-up on Monsanto’s behalf.

“It is intolerable that the agribusiness and agrichemical should be able to interfere with USDA scientists and their work,” wrote USRTK Executive Director Gary Ruskin. “Those scientists work for the public, not Monsanto nor the agrichemical industry.”

Ruskin added that it’s “crucial to the public interest” that scientists be allowed to conduct their research “without industry harassment or obstruction” – even if that means jeopardizing the billion-dollar interests of companies that spend a fortune on lobbying and campaign contributions, like Monsanto.

Unfortunately, we already know that Monsanto will go to any lengths to discourage outside scientists from examining its products. For example, its agreement with farmers who purchase its patented seeds stipulates that they may not transfer those seeds to anyone for “research, or generation of herbicide registration data.”

Of course, government scientists haven’t made any such agreement to keep Monsanto’s dirty secrets. But it’s starting to look like the people who sign those scientists’ paychecks may have.

Sources:

“Environmental group seeks greater protection for USDA scientists” Carey Gillam, March 27, 2015, Reuters, reuters.com

“USRTK calls for investigation of Monsanto cover up, harassment of USDA scientists” Gary Ruskin, March 30, 2015, USRTK, usrtk.org