What started out as a protest advertised as standing up for the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGTA) in its court case against Monsanto turned into an anti-biotechnology rally Jan. 10 in Washington, D.C.
Members of Food Democracy Now! and other activists gathered in front of the White House in Lafayette Square, directly after attorneys for the OSGTA presented their appeals court arguments about a district court dismissal of a case against Monsanto. The claimants filed suit against Monsanto originally because they wanted Monsanto to be prevented from ever taking legal action against organic seed producers if genetically modified plant traits crossed over into organic fields. The case was originally dismissed because the whole claim was based on speculation rather than any action ever taken by Monsanto. Results of the appeal will be announced in the near future.
After attending the oral argument to appeal the dismissal of the case at the U.S. Court of Appeals, the group, that might have totaled 300 persons, marched to Lafayette Park to protest the "Obama administration's pending approval of 13 new biotech crops and AquaBounty's `Frankenfish,' a genetically engineered `salmon,'" according to Food Democracy Now!, which is against GMOs.
The activist group is demanding the President not allow any more GM animals or plants, including GMO salmon, into the environment until more red tape, independent long-term safety tests are conducted. The activists are wanting a whole new procedure for approval of GM modified crops.
Source: agprofessional.com