The worldwide March Against Monsanto took place on Saturday in 250 cities around the world. The protest was planned to draw attention to the controversy surrounding the use of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) — including wildly popular Round-up Ready soybeans, corn, and cotton which are developed to be resistant to the use of the herbicide which kills common weeds.
Some scientists and activists have linked the use of GMOs to collapsing populations of wild butterflies and honeybees.
The European Union has taken a particularly strong stand against GMOs, regulating them so strongly that some observers say that there is a de facto ban on the crops.
As a result, in 2012 Europe produced less than 400 square miles of GE (genetically engineered) crops, mostly Bt corn, which has been modified to include an insecticide.
However, GE crops are one of the most valuable agricultural products in the Americas, with the United States, Brazil, and Argentina leading exporters of GMO crops and animal feeds like corn and soybean.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) had pushed for a new law to allow states to require the labeling of GMO foods. However, on Thursday, the US Senate overwhelmingly shot down the measure 71-27.
Here are just a few of the images from around the world.
From Anonymous:
#MONSANTO is NO DIFFERENT THAN PUTTIN A GUN 2UR FACE &PULLIN TRIGGER.March Against them on Sat bit.ly/157kqeY twitter.com/OrganicLiveFoo…
— Anonymous(@AnonOpsMob) May 24, 2013
In New York:
I like this sign NYC March against Monsanto #MarchAgainstMonsanto twitter.com/KillerParrot/s…
— Killer Parrot™ (@KillerParrot) May 25, 2013
In Washington D.C.:
The bee’s are “dying in” in front of Monsanto office in DC at the #mamdc march ow.ly/i/2cBHj
— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallSt) May 25, 2013
Paris, France:
Protesters in Paris wave signs” #Monsanto plunders farmers, kills planet” #MAM on.rt.com/1hmc5w #OpMonsanto twitter.com/RT_com/status/…
— Anonymous (@AnonOpsLegion) May 25, 2013
Here is video from Tokyo, Japan:
And another one from Sydney, Australia:
We don’t yet have a final count on the number of people who participated, but the March Against Monsanto Facebook page predicted 400 marches in 50 countries with over 200,000 people.
[Durban, South Africa of March Against Monsanto protest by Tracy Hinds and Revolution News via Facebook ]