Press Release: GCU Field Agents Target Romney & Obama Campaign Offices on October 17

WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, October 17, 2012, Occupy Monsanto’s field agents with the Genetic Crimes Unit (GCU), a group whose aim is to expose Monsanto’s crimes against farmers, the environment, and human health, will visit both the Republican and Democratic party headquarters in Washington DC. The GCU opposes genetically engineered food (GMOs) and seeks to expose Monsanto’s ties to both parties who have, for too long, protected agribusiness interests over that of the 99% of Americans who want healthy and safe food.

WHO: Occupy Monsanto Agents with the Genetic Crimes Unit

WHAT: Demonstration at Republican and Democratic Party Headquarters

WHEN & WHERE: 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM at Republican Party Headquarters, 310 1st Street SE and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Democratic Party Headquarters, 430 S Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC

The protests at the two major party headquarters is the 70th Occupy Monsanto demonstration this year. Biohazmat-clad “Agents” have repeatedly addressed Obama’s ties to the GMO debate, pointing out that in his 2007 election bid he promised to have genetically engineered food labeled after being elected.

"We demand that Romney and Obama come clean on their ties to Monsanto and fight for the health of Americans over chemical company profits," said Adam Eidinger. "The fact that FDA Food Safety Czar Michael Taylor, former lobbyist and lawyer for Monsanto, was appointed by Barack Obama to make decisions on food safety is a disgrace," adds Eidinger.

"Mitt Romney has been instrumental to Monsanto’s success, and we have no indication that he will change his ways if elected." Rica Madrid said. Romney’s early consulting for Monsanto was effective in shifting Monsanto’s strategy from a focus on reputation-tarnishing chemical compounds to genetically engineered food and the profitable RoundUp weed killer. Romney was so effective that then-Monsanto CEO John W. Hanley helped him create Bain Capital. 

The Nation: Mitt Romney, Monsanto Man

Mitt Romney, Monsanto Man

by Wayne Barrett, September 12, 2012

This article was reported in collaboration with the Investigative Fund at the Nation Institute, where Barrett is a reporting fellow.
 

Though Mitt Romney has been campaigning for president since 2006, it’s alarming how little is known about critical chapters of his business biography. Nothing spells that out more clearly than his ties to Monsanto—the current target of a mid-September Occupy nationwide action—whose dark history features scandals involving PCBs, Agent Orange, bovine growth hormone, NutraSweet, IUD, genetically modified (GM) seed and herbicides, reaching back to the 1970s and ’80s. That’s when Monsanto was the largest consulting client of Romney’s employer, Bain & Company, and when Romney helped move Monsanto from chemical colossus to genetic giant, trading one set of environmental controversies for another.
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