Hundreds of thousands of anti-GMO activists took the streets in hundreds of cities around the world calling for bans on genetically modified food.
This is the fourth year that simultaneous events are being organized around the world as the movement continues to try to raise awareness about what they say are major health threats posed by the corporation’s genetically modified seeds and chemical herbicides
Sputnik is in New York following the action where hundreds of protesters have gathered to rally against the mega-company. Catch live video below.
Earlier video coverage here:
Kicking off the global day of action, demonstrators in Sydney held banners with anti-genetically modified food slogans saying they wanted to promote clean food.
The worldwide protests’ coordinator, the March Against Monsanto (MAM) group, claimed on its website that 500 cities are holding peaceful demonstrations today.
The movement seeks to shed light on the dangers surrounding Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds and herbicides linked to cancer, particularly Roundup. The $20-billion company employs 22,000 people across 61 countries and is the world’s leading producer of genetically engineered seeds and chemical herbicides.
The movement leaders also object to Monsanto’s close ties to the US government which they say often ties foreign aid to various countries — such as El Salvador, Ukraine, and Haiti — to agricultural reforms that require farmers to plant Monsanto seeds.
Monsanto has also been battling the government of Argentina for years over Argentina’s fight against their efforts to collect royalties from farmers who replant soybean seeds from previous GMO crops.
Monsanto defended it’s practices in a statement sent to Sputnik.
« The 22,000 people of Monsanto are committed to having an open dialogue about food and agriculture – we’re proud of the work we do, and we’re eager for people to know more about us, » the statement reads. « We’re also proud of our collaboration with farmers and partnering organizations that help make a more balanced meal accessible for everyone. Our goal is to help farmers do this in a more sustainable way using fewer resources and having a smaller impact on the environment. We know people have different points of view on these topics, and it’s important that they’re able to express and share them. »
