COOL THOUGHTS: April 2015

MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO

A pocket of farmers in northern Zululand are preparing to March Against Monsanto on the 23rd May 2015. They are not alone. At least 428 cities in 38 countries around the world will be marching in solidarity against the monster Monsanto.

Whilst Monsanto has been successful in muddling the heads of the consumers when it comes to understanding the scientific properties of GMOs and the toxic chemicals that have earned them millions, the agro-ecology farmers in Zululand are sure of one thing. They don’t want GMOs or Monsanto's chemicals. They want to continue farming as their ancestors have done and they want to save and own their own seeds.

Agro-ecology projects have cropped up in varies areas around Pongola, Kwangwanase, Ingwavuma, Tshaneni and Mtubatuba. They have wonderful names like ‘Thandazusebenze’ (pray and work) and are driven mainly by formidable Zulu women who will stop at nothing to protect their families and feed them good healthy food. These projects receive invaluable support from Biowatch South Africa which was established in 1999 as an environmental justice NGO. Biowatch works with small-holder farmers, other civil society organisations and government to ensure that people have control over their food, agricultural processes and resources, and other natural resources, within a bio-diverse, agro-ecological and sustainable system.

It has been devastating for rural farmers to learn of the dangers of GMOs and the long term effects of toxic chemicals like DDT that have been so prevalent in some areas. Large companies hold impoverished communities hostage by providing staple diets like mielie meal and soya that are riddled with GMOs. Ownership of seed is a major factor and this cannot be taken away from the farmer. The methods employed by adopting GM seeds requires mono cropping and relying on expensive seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. This is completely contrary to the organic methods these farmers wish to continue with, that preserve the environment, are organic and chemical free and most importantly it ensures seed preservation. Contamination is a major factor not only in the environment but between seeds.