[North-NV-Greens] Fwd: Farmers' Seeds Outlawed in Iraq

[Paul Etxeberri]

>
>Press Action
>February 2, 2005
>
>Farmers' Seeds Outlawed in Iraq
>
>IRAQI ORDER 81
>
>By Rosemarie Jackowski
>
>..and they said that we were there to bring freedom
>and liberty...it is time to tell the troops the truth.
>How did this happen? While few of us were paying
>attention, the Coalition Provisional Authority,
>representing the government of the United States,
>imposed a set of 100 orders on Iraq. A careful
>examination of these orders could lead to the
>conclusion that the war is being waged to enrich
>corporations at the expense of the ordinary citizens.
>Many of these orders take freedom and liberty away from
>the people of Iraq. The orders also have a profound
>effect on us.
>
>Iraqi Order 81 is of special interest because it goes a
>long way in affecting every living being on the planet.
>This order prohibits Iraqi farmers from using the
>methods of agriculture that they have used for
>centuries. The common worldwide practice of saving
>heirloom seeds from one year to the next is now illegal
>in Iraq. Order 81 wages war on Iraqi farmers. They have
>lost the freedom and liberty to choose their own
>methods of agriculture.
>
>The food chain has been under worldwide assault by U.S.
>corporations for some time now. The Master Race of
>corporations has seized control of the very essence of
>life itself. We are now in the age of Genetically
>Modified Doomsday Seeds.
>
>This is not exactly a new phenomenon. It has been a
>gradual takeover. Remember Percy Schmeiser, the
>Canadian farmer, who was sued by Monsanto? Not enough
>people stood up for Percey, so then they came for other
>farmers. In fact, Monsanto has sued so many farmers
>that a national hotline (1-888-FARMHLP) has now been
>set up to assist them.
>
>Those who have been pushing for Tort Reform never
>mention the frivolous, mean-spirited lawsuits brought
>by Monsanto against U.S. farmers. This is a David and
>Goliath battle and, as usual, our government is on the
>side of Goliath. Order 81 now spreads the assault on
>farmers to Iraq. The domino effect is underway. The
>victim farmers in the U.S., Iraq, Canada, and all of
>the other countries who have been under attack by
>Monsanto need our help. The Tort Reform that is really
>needed would be reform aimed at compensating victims of
>corporate intimidation.
>
>The corporations, backed up by the Pentagon, have been
>jackbooting and goose stepping their way across the
>planet. Whether you like it or not, you probably will
>have some franken food on your dinner plate tonight...
>franken foods, grown from franken seeds, brought to you
>compliments of the Franken Empire. Our own USDA was
>complicit in the development of Terminator seeds.
>Picture Dr. Strangelove on the John Deere.
>
>The existence of Order 81, and the other 99 orders,
>which limit Iraqi liberty and freedom, creates some
>interesting questions. How can Washington even pretend
>that the election in Iraq is legitimate if U.S. imposed
>rules are enforced after the election, or are we to
>believe that the 100 Orders are canceled by the
>election? I don't think so.
>
>Is it possible that Iraqi farmers think back fondly to
>the good old days before the Occupation and before
>Order 81? Even Saddam Hussein allowed them to save
>seeds for the next year's crop. Is Monsanto a worse
>master than Saddam? Imagine what would happen if there
>was a successful worldwide movement of resistance, an
>international Save the Seed Campaign. Farmers and
>consumers in the U.S. need to stand in solidarity with
>the farmers and consumers in Iraq. If you have a stamp
>or coin collection, forget it. Instead, it might be
>better to start collecting seeds. Maybe soon, one good
>old-fashioned seed that was made by Mother Nature will
>be more precious than your most prized gold coin. Just
>one more thing... if you save seeds, keep it a secret.
>The Seed Police have been on patrol. They are looking
>for you.
>
>On Town Meeting Day, 2004, in Vermont, the citizens in
>seventy-nine towns passed resolutions against
>Genetically Engineered Crops. Then Vermont made history
>when it became the first state to require the labeling
>of Genetically Modified seeds. "The Farmer Protection
>Act is a pre-emptive strike to stop predatory lawsuits
>against Vermont's family farmers by biotech companies
>like Monsanto," said Ben Davis with the Vermont Public
>Interest Research Group. Maybe this small, but hard-
>fought, victory gives reason to hope for a better
>world.
>
>Rosemarie Jackowski (dissent at sover.net) is a member of
>Southern Vermont VFP Chapter 88. She was arrested,
>tried, and convicted for having participated in a
>peaceful protest against the war.  The Conviction is
>currently under Appeal in the Vermont State Supreme
>Court.
>
>Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
>PO Box 652 Brunswick, ME 04011 (207) 729-0517 (207)
>319-2017 (Cell phone) globalnet at mindspring.com
>http://www.space4peace.org
>
>http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/full_article/jackowski02012005/
>
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-- 
Paul Etxeberri

"Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow"   ---Chateaubriand