- Is this column too hot to handle?
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- On Saturday, February 7, 2004, the mailman delivered
a pleasant surprise. A large manila envelope stamped with $1.42 worth of
postage provided fascinating reading. Proving that some news is great news,
I was astonished to learn that my efforts have helped to launch an official
government criminal investigation against Monsanto.
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- That news may prove to be a godsend, but my own pessimistic
prediction is that presidential election year politics will ultimately
sweep this crime under the rug. Monsanto is fortunate to play the game
well by having two allies in their vest pocket, President George Bush and
presidential wannabee John Kerry.
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- Monsanto is America's most dangerous criminal. History
will judge them to be mass murderers. From Agent Orange to NutraPoison,
to Dioxins and PCBs, Monsanto has introduced many horrible chemicals into
our food supply and environment. History will also reveal that George Bush
was elected by a key vote from one Supreme Court Justice who also served
as their attorney (Clarence Thomas).
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- History will also expose that the George Bush cabinet
was filled with employees and friends of Monsanto,from Cheney to Ashcroft
to Rumsfeld (sounds like an inept double play trio from the old Washington
Senators baseball team). Two other from our Monsanto hall of shame include
Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman (who was on the board of directors
of Biogen, purchased from Monsanto), and FDA's boss Tommy Thomson, Secretary
of the Department of Health and Human Services. Thompson was Monsanto's
bed partner as governor of Wisconsin, investing over $300 million of state
funds to promote biotechnology.
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- On February 1st, 2004, I received a partial reply to
a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, made in December, 2003.
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- I learned that Monsanto had contaminated batches of their
genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (Posilac) with Staphlococcus,
Propionibacterium acnes, and Bacillus pumilus during the manufacturing
process. The report indicated that Monsanto may have distributed bacteria-contaminated
product to the market. See:
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- <http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/notmilk/message/1554
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- Yesterday (February 7, 2004), I received a denial from
FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services for the most important
part of my original FOIA request.
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- I had sought details of Monsanto's errors. Here is what
I received from America's government agency:
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- "We have already released certain materials to you
and are denying the remainder of your request."
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- The reason given:
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- "The authority for denying you access to the non-disclosable
material...records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes
when disclosure could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement
proceedings."
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- FDA cites Code # 5.68:
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- "We may withhold information whose release could
reasonably be expected to interfere with prospective or ongoing law enforcement
proceedings. Investigations of fraud and mismanagement, employee misconduct...
may fall within this category. In certain cases--such as when a fraud investigation
is likely--we may refuse to confirm or deny the existence of records that
relate to the violations in order not to disclose that an investigation
is in progress, or may be conducted."
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- In other words, FDA is investigating Monsanto for crimes
against humankind. I have very little hope that the right thing will be
done. My expectations are based upon that long history between Monsanto
and senior-most people in our givernment. This is not just about George
Bush. It was Bill Clinton who praised Monsanto in a State-of-the-Union
address, and enacted the economic espionage act (public law #104-294) making
it illegal for me to share with you a damning scientific study that I still
have in my possession. I would go to jail for 15 years if I did so, and
receive a fine of $1 million.
-
- It would be naive of me to think that FDA has the power
to buck the warriors in America's White House. To do the right thing today
is to commit political suicide. So grab a shovel, and while you're at it...
call the rug cleaner.
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- Robert Cohen http://www.notmilk.com
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