arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Hundred of farmers, from different parts of the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, occupied on Thursday an research station owned by the Monsanto corporation and involved in experimental production of genetically modified seeds. The farm and research station, in Nao-Me-Toque, was invaded and occupied by agricultural activists from a number of different groups across the state protesting the presence of the multinational in Brasil and the agricultural policy of the federal government, considered harmful to small farmers and intended to exclusively supportive of the interests of corporate agribusiness.

According to the Military Police, a caravan of 18 buses, carrying members of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), the Small Farmers Movement (MPA), the Movement of the Displaced by Dams (MAB), the Rural Working Women's Movement (MMTR), and the Rural Youth Pastoral (PJR) arrived yesterday afternoon at the main entrance of the complex. The group was able to get through the entrance and occupy a central patio without interference from Monsanto security. The activists then raised the Brazilian, Rio Grande do Sul, MST, and MPA flags at the site, along with banners denouncing the activities of Monsanto in the country.

According to the state coordinator of the MST, Adelar Pretto, the group will spend the night at the site, and only Monsanto security will be allowed to enter the area. On Friday morning, another two buses with small farmers and rural workers was expected to arrive at the area.

A representative from Monsanto said that whatever necessary, within the law, would be done to recover the property.

it is these Seed companies like Monsanto that create a "new" plant and introduce it into the envirnment under the pretense that they want to saave the world's hungry populations of the world, when these populations grow the food necessary for survival only for those crops to be hipped away and sold. Then the local farmers protest the Seeds from these companies that could mean the end of their only livelihood, and Monsanto a powerful corporation will try and force these farmers into another suppressive life through violence, perhaps.

We must be able to protect our world and our lives from corporations that seek to take over the world through our own land, and even our own crops that they alter and try to patent.

We must gather together as a collective and protest, boycott, petition, and whatever else we can do to stop the destruction of lives for greed and power. Too long it has gone on, that people suffer over anothers greed. The WTO says that it is ok for others to eat what is not completely understood.

I read an artical and in it the scientists stated that they did not know the 20-40,000 genes on a plant, yet they are creating new plants that are genetically modified. They do not know what they are doing, and are trying to make us pay for their mistakes.

thank you for your time.