From: "Viviane Lerner" <•••@••.•••>
To: "NPLWessex" <•••@••.•••>
Cc: "Biotech info" <•••@••.•••>,
"[Human Rights]" <•••@••.•••>,
"Env. Media Services" <•••@••.•••>, "ERF [Rachel]" <•••@••.•••>
Subject: FW: Monsanto in disguise ?
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 16:40:46 -1000
===================
The Guardian (London)Wednesday February 2, 2000
A lawyer writes. about Monsanto's name change.
Dan Bennett
What's in a name? The news that Monsanto is soon to be known as Pharmacia
is part of an old Monsanto strategy, intended to allow a fresh start.
Other sales divisions of the corporation will now be known as Searle and
Upjohn, with the name Monsanto retained solely for an independent
agricultural subsidiary.
In 1997, I was in the process of issuing legal proceedings against
Monsanto plc (the UK arm of the US-based multinational) for 165 neighbours
of a rubber chemical factory. We had settled claims for about 120
neighbours who suffered chemical poisoning following a leak of hydrogen
sulphide gas. Monsanto refused to settle any further claims and so
litigation was inevitable.
My final check for the address for service of the writ revealed the
alarming fact that Monsanto plc was in liquidation and had changed its
name to Globalstrike plc. The liquidator told me that it was a company
reorganisation. I threatened to intervene and disrupt the liquidation
unless we were told who would meet the claims.
The next day, I was informed that Monsanto Chemicals UK Ltd would be
responsible. A company search revealed that this company was a "shelf"
company called Flextrex Ltd, created on December 20, 1996. A "shelf"
company is created by company agents so it can be sold on to anyone in the
future who wants a company. It saves them the time of creating one
themselves.
The shelf company was bought by Monsanto International Holdings Inc, of St
Louis, US, in March 1997. The company changed its name to Monsanto
Chemicals UK Ltd on March 14, 1997. By September, its name had changed to
Solutia UK Ltd.
The share transfer documentation on company records states that Monsanto
Int. Holdings Inc paid for the shares with "assets transferred to the
company pursuant to the Business Transfer Agreement between (1) Monsanto
plc [another shelf company], (2) Globalstrike plc [the old Monsanto plc
which had changed its name], and (3) Monsanto Chemicals UK Ltd
[subsequently Solutia]".
Company records revealed that Solutia did not own anything except for
responsibility for this legal action and any other legal actions brought
against the non-life science divisions of the "old" Monsanto. The "new"
Monsanto owned only the life science/GM business.
And so our case progressed against Solutia, with the company eventually
agreeing to settle all but four of the 165 claims. A further claim we
brought for a later leak at the same chemical factory is brought against
Flexsys, which now owns all the rubber chemical factories in the UK that
Monsanto used to run. It was also a shelf company and is also ultimately
owned by Monsanto. This claim against Flexsys should come to trial this
summer for 306 people.
Dan Bennett is a lawyer with the London solicitors Leigh Day and Co, who
act for individuals against corporations. www.leighday.co.uk
=================================
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****************************************************
From: "Janet M Eaton" <•••@••.•••>
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 10:59:07 +0000
Subject: MONSANTO USES CANADIAN TAXPAYER MONEY TO VIOLATE FOREIGN LAWS
The case is a telling example of why the world needs strong
international rules and regulations governing the trade of
genetically engineered foods, said the international environmental
organization [Greenpeace]. News of the transgression comes as world
governments meet in Vienna this week to negotiate a Biosafety
Protocol which will hopefully establish strong regulatory regime
governing genetically engineered organisms (GMO's).....
"I don't think that Canadians want to assist Monsanto in violating
foreign laws or be complicit in the environmental disasters that may
result." ......
"Canadians should be very concerned that our government is putting
the biotech industry agenda ahead of the environmental and health
concerns" said a Grrenpeace representative.
FYI,
janet
===============================
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: "Biotech Activists" <•••@••.•••>
To: •••@••.•••
Subject: MONSANTO USES CANADIAN TAXPAYER MONEY TO VIOLATE FOREIGN LAWS,
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 08:38:37 -0500
================================
Date Posted: 09/18/1999
Posted by: •••@••.•••
================================
MONSANTO USES CANADIAN TAXPAYER MONEY TO VIOLATE FOREIGN LAWS - CASE
HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR STRONG BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL
September 17, 1999
from a press release
OTTAWA/VIENNA -- Biotech giant [ Monsanto ] exported Canadian genetically
engineered (GE) potatoes to Ukraine, ignoring the domestic laws
which require environmental impact assessment, according to a Greenpeace
report published today. The case is a telling example of why the world
needs strong international rules and regulations governing the trade of
genetically engineered foods, said the international environmental
organization. News of the transgression comes as world governments meet in
Vienna this week to negotiate a Biosafety Protocol which will hopefully
establish strong
regulatory regime governing genetically engineered organisms (GMO's).
"This case shows exactly why the world needs a strong Biosafety Protocol.
Genetic engineering is a new technology with unknown risks," said the
author of the report Iza Kruszewska. "It is
unacceptable that a few multinational companies are exploiting the lack of
regulation in some countries to export their risky and untested products."
Monsanto NewLeaf potatoes, developed in Prince Edward Island were exported
to Ukraine in 1997 and 1998 with the help of Solanum-PEI. Solanum-PEI is a
joint venture marketing and research company created by Monsanto and the
government of PEI. The potatoes were planted in
seven sites in Ukraine under the guise of field tests. Following strong
opposition and public rejection in Ukraine the project was abandoned and
the harvested potatoes were buried."Monsanto is using Canadian taxpayer
money to fund a project which subverted environmental assessment, even
though it is required by Ukrainian law," said Michael Khoo, Greenpeace
Genetic Engineering Campaigner. "I don't think that Canadians want to
assist Monsanto in violating foreign laws or be complicit in the
environmental disasters that may result."
Monsanto NewLeaf potatoes are engineered to produce a toxin that kills the
Colorado Potato Beetle. Species higher up the food chain have shown
harmful effects of the toxin, due to the toxins poor biodegradation and
its risk of bio-accumulation. The potatoes also contain a gene conferring
resistance to the antibiotic, Kanamycin. This raises serious concerns,
following the possible transfer of the gene, for rendering antibiotics
ineffective against disease-causing germs. Field tests for crops
containing the same antibiotic gene were rejected by Swiss authorities
this spring.
Government delegations gathered in Vienna to continue the third day of
talks to agree on a set of international rules that would control exports
of GMOs such as the Monsanto potatoes. "The Canadian government has no
rules governing the export of genetically engineered foods and in Vienna
our government representatives will be working hard to make sure that
situation doesn't have to change," said Khoo. "Canadians should be very
concerned that our government is putting the biotech industry agenda ahead
of the environmental and health concerns.
Mark Ritchie, President
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
2105 First Ave. South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 USA
612-870-3400 (phone) 612-870-4846 (fax)
•••@••.••• www.iatp.org
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***************************************************
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 12:27:45 -0500
From: meredith flannery <•••@••.•••>
To: •••@••.•••
Subject: Genetic engineering - ANNOUNCING -- BIODEVASTATION 2000:
> ANNOUNCING -- BIODEVASTATION 2000:
> The 4th International Grassroots Gathering on Genetic Engineering:
> Resistance and Solutions to the Corporate Monopoly on Power, Food and
Life
>
> ***********************************************************************
> Boston, March 24-30, 2000
> Teach-in / Rally and Parade / Nonviolent Direct Actions
>
> ***********************************************************************
> **** Join activists, scientists, farmers, and people from around
> **** the world for a week of education, strategy and empowerment.
> ****
> **** Help build a visible and unified movement against
> **** genetic engineering and protest BIO 2000, the largest-ever
> **** convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
> ****
> ***********************************************************************
>
> MARCH 24-25 - Teach-in / Counter-conference: Explore the effects of
genetic
> engineering on our health, the environment, farms and society, help
create
> community-centered solutions, learn and develop organizing and action
skills
> and more.
>
> Panel and workshop topics will include:
>
> * Damaging health effects of genetically engineered foods
> * Adverse environmental impacts of genetic engineering
> * Demystifying human genetics and medical biotechnology
> * Seeds, family farms and the future of organic food
> * Biotechnology and corporate globalism
> * Biopiracy and patents on life
> * Dumping of engineered foods in the "third world" and inner city
communities
> * Corporate and government agendas for biotechnology
> * Resisting corporate control over our food and health
> * Corporate campaigns, popular education and direct action strategies
>
> Featured speakers include Vandana Shiva (RFSTE, India), José Bové
> (Confédération Paysanne, France, tentative), Ruth Hubbard (Harvard
> University, tentative), Hope Shand (RAFI), Steve Wilson and Jane Akre
> (formerly of Fox TV), Jonathan King (MIT), Brian Tokar (Institute for
Social
> Ecology), Beth Burrows (Edmonds Institute), Charles Margulis (Greenpeace
> USA), Martin Shaw (GenetiX Snowball, UK), Jim Thomas (Greenpeace UK),
C.R.
> Lawn (Fedco Seeds), Martha Crouch (former plant molecular biologist),
Stuart
> Newman (Council for Responsible Genetics), Orin Langelle (ACERCA) and
> numerous artists and performers, including members of the Bread and
Puppet
> Theater, and the band Seize the Day from London.
>
> This is the fourth in a series of international grassroots gatherings,
which
> began in St. Louis in July 1998, and continued with events in New Delhi
> (March 1999) and Seattle (May 1999). The conference is organized by
> Northeast Resistance Against Genetic Engineering, People's Earth Network
> and the Institute for Social Ecology, and co-sponsored by the Council for
> Responsible Genetics, Greenpeace USA, Native Forest Network, Edmonds
> Institute, ACERCA (Action for Community and Ecology in the Rainforests of
> Central America) and many others.
>
> MARCH 26 - Public Rally, Parade and Street Theater: A festival of
> resistance against genetic engineering and the BIO convention.
>
> MARCH 27-30 - Continuing Actions*: A wide variety of nonviolent actions
and
> festivities will be occurring throughout the week to resist the
> Biotechnology Industry Organization convention.
>
> For more information, please contact:
>
> Northeast Resistance Against Genetic Engineering
> (802) 454-9957, •••@••.•••
>
> People's Earth Network
> (617) 524-7841, •••@••.•••
>
>
> * For more information on coordinated direct actions throughout the week,
> contact: •••@••.•••
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The preceding message was posted on Sustainable Maritimes (sust-mar)
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