Talk:Monsanto: Influence / Lobbying
Contents
bits removed from main page - reinstated
Most of the original info from the main page has been reinstated with sources/refs, I'll continue with the rest soon.--Lynn Hill 18:11, 27 February 2008 (UTC)
Influencing research and education
...and Monsanto employee Dr K Hammond-Kossack sits on the Network Group of the BBSRC. [32].
Links with government
There is a well documented ‘revolving door’ between Monsanto employees and officials from US Government regulatory bodies (particularly the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This has effectively enabled Monsanto to bypass the regulatory process and get marketing consent in the US for their GM and other products with minimal safety checks [34]. US influence has made it much harder for other counties to implement more rigorous regulatory standards. Monsanto have also had direct influence within the Clinton administration and continue to have with the Bush administration [35]. Monsanto employee Linda Fisher was nominated by Bush in May 2001 for a key position in the US Environmental Protection Agency [36]. Monsanto have used their close links with the US government to influence policy decisions in the UK, Europe and the EU. The revolving door between Monsanto and the UK government is less easy to demonstrate, however, there are several links between prominent advisors to the Labour government, Bell Pottinger Good Relations (a PR company employed by Monsanto) and Monsanto [37].
PR Companies
Global Access Limited, Bivell Woodings Ltd, Focus Communications . Monsanto’s UK greenwash campaign organised by Bartle Bogel Hegarty in 1998 backfired spectacularly. Monsanto were accused of being arrogant and spreading misinformation. After a barrage of complaints an enquiry by the Advertising Standards Agency found that Monsanto adverts had been wrong and misleading on 6 of the 13 counts filed against them [39].
References
[32] www.bbsrc.ac.uk/about/annrep/committees.html [34] see www.groundup.org/monsanto/door.htm and Feeding the Hungry Transnationals [35] see Feeding the Hungry Transnationals [36] www.connectotel.com/gmfood/re020501.txt [37] see chapter 3 in ‘Of Cabbages and Kings: A Cartoon Book on Genetic Engineering’ produced by A SEED Europe [38] look at www.corporatewatch.org.uk/magazine/issue2/cw2f2.html and www.corporatewatch.org.uk/news/leeds_uni_bursonmarsteller.htmlfor more information [39] www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3829135,00.html
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