But in this case, Wikileaks cables leaked information regarding global food policy as it relates to U.S. officials — in the highest levels of government — that involves a conspiracy with Monsanto to force the global sale and use of genetically-modified foods.
In 2007, then-U.S. ambassador to France Craig Stapleton conspired to retaliate against European countries for their anti-biotech policies. U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks reveal the Bush administration formulated battle plans to extract revenge against Europe for refusing to use genetically modified seeds.
In the leaked cable, Stapleton writes: “Europe is moving backwards not forwards on this issue with France playing a leading role, along with Austria, Italy and even the [European] Commission…Moving to retaliation will make clear that the current path has real costs to EU interests and could help strengthen European pro-biotech voice.”
Ambassador Stapleton goes on to write: “Country team Paris recommends that we calibrate a target retaliation list that causes some pain across the EU since this is a collective responsibility, but that also focuses in part on the worst culprits. The list should be measured rather than vicious and must be sustainable over the long term, since we should not expect an early victory,” he wrote.
(Read more from crisisboom.com)
Look through the food freedom category to see my views on GMO issues. Unlike the socialists, I’m against a government ban on GMOs. My goal is to expose how they hugely benefit from government privilege despite widespread safety concerns.
As a libertarian plant geneticist I would argue that there is government coercion in not letting farmers adopt this technology, both in the US and elsewhere. I do not condone the Bush administrations tactics at all. But I would say that the use of unwarranted force is much more prevalent in the over-regulation of plant biotech.
As far as this technology not being proven, you might want to check that assumption. If you trust the Academies of Sciences of western countries, you can look up their position on the topic. If you would rather trust universities, you can look at all the research done in the Ag Schools throughout the US. If you would rather trust empirical evidence and the market, try to find an example of a case where GMOs caused harm to humans or the environment since their first commercial release in 1996.
Thanks for the comment. What would you say are examples of the “unwarranted force . . . in the over-regulation of plant biotech”?
I have the very strong impression that GMO’s got a big pass from FDA testing driven by political pressure. This case is made exhaustive in leftist videos like Food INC, but also by libertarians, like in this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvMzZD9oNZI
It’s also illegal in many states in label food GMO free. I consider this unwarranted force (against non-GMO rivals).
Also, A 2008 study conducted at the University of Caen in France found that Monsanto’s Roundup concoctions triggered the death of human embryonic, placental, and umbilical cells in vitro. More: www.naturalnews.com/027209_USDA_sugar_genetically_engineered.html#ixzz1I7TGoX4R