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Steve is an organic farmer from a farming community in Kojonup, a small town in the south of Western Australia. In 2010, the state government of Western Australia lifted the ban on GM canola allowing for the commercial cultivation of this GM crop for the first time. As a result some farmers, including Steve Marsh's next door neighbour, began growing GM canola. This resulted in GM canola being blown onto Steve's farm. 70% of Steve's farm was contaminated and he lost his organic certification.
As Monsanto have signed a no-liability agreement with every GM farmer, they take no responsibility for any contamination. Governments decided that no strict liability legislation was necessary as common law would provide compensation for any economic loss caused to GM-free farmers.
In spite of the fact that his neighbour was a long time friend, Steve decided he had to stand up for his right to farm GM free, and felt that his only option was to take the case to court to reclaim losses. The court case was held in February 2014 and in May the judgement was handed down. Steve lost the case. Not only has Steve lost a substantial part of his income he also needs to pay legal costs and court fees. In September the Judge's made the decision on costs lifting the normal restraints on cost limits, and Steve now faces payment of an additional $804,000.
Even sadder, is various state and federal departments of Australia and their handing over of licences for coal seam gas and the like, with minimal protocols to protect our farming land....
The farmers have next to no rights to protect their land.....
Even if they 'own' their land, they only own the top 20cm or so of soil.... Below this the govt grants a licence to the coal seam gas company...
Between GMO, and mining, in 30 years Australia will have next to no quality farming land...
I hope the medical systems are prepared for the increase of patients with chronic AI issues...
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
There have been quite a few cases brought against GMO contamination - the farmer always loses. The worst I heard of was a mid-western farmer who had rogue GMO corn or soybeans show up in his field. Monsanto sued him for growing GMO crops without paying for them! Way too much power in those big-ag companies.
Gabes, I hear you about farmers and mineral rights. Same thing is happening in South Africa and some parts of the U.S. where farmers only own their surface rights. Where I am in NY State, we still have a moratorium on fracking for natural gas. Just an hour south of us in PA, farmers are going out of business left and right because of soil, water, and air contamination. Herds of dairy cattle have been quarantined because of contamination. And the gas companies have only fracked 10% of what they plan to do. Oil and gas companies in the U.S. are exempt from the Clean Air and Clean Water federal regulations so they do whatever they please. They compete, big time, in drought ravaged western states for the very water that farmers need to farm.
Really makes you stress out about the state of the world. I know, I know, we MCers are trying to avoid stress!
Yep, it almost appears as though Monsanto owns the judges.
And here in Texas, where fracking for shale oil is popular, the fracking process requires such huge amounts of water that even where water was considered plentiful initially, it's now scarce, causing problems for some cities, because of the heavy use of water by the oil industry.
But the worst part is that I don't own any land with shale oil (or any kind of shallow oil reserves) under it.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Monsanto sued him for growing GMO crops without paying for them
I still wonder how they can sue and then turn around and say there is no difference when required to label their crop GMO.
Tex,
Don't get me started on fracking I live near Louisiana border, surrounded by Haynesville Shale (we don't own any mineral rights either). We are now having earthquakes but have been assured not caused by fracking. Sometimes our water smells so bad I hate to take a shower in it much less drink it. http://www.propublica.org/article/fracking-music-video
Theresa
MC and UC 2014
in remission since June 1, 2014
We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
Theresa, I am so sorry to hear about your water! You should consider getting it tested by an company independent of the gas companies. Sometimes, the VOC's outgas when you shower - not good. The stress alone, let alone the possible chemicals, could compromise your road to health.
We own 44 acres with both mineral and surface rights and decided not to lease for gas drilling 8 years ago (but everyone around us did). In NY we have a cute little law called compulsory integration - also know as forced pooling. When the gas companies have leased 60% of a "spacing unit" where they want to drill, the Dept. of Environmental Conservation forces the other 40% to give up their mineral rights so the gas companies can frack under your land. Yes, you're entitled to a small amount of royalties but the fact that you can not opt out really flies in the face of private property rights. Many people in our area talk about selling out and moving if fracking happens here. It would be more than a shame - we have poured our sweat, money, and tears into our little homestead...
Hopeful,
I live in the city and they send postcards a couple of times each year telling us how our water supply is not in compliance. We still use it to make coffee and for cooking. We drink bottled water and of course use that for the water kefir (tap water would definitely kill them). Our dentist is concerned that we might not get enough fluoride.
Theresa
MC and UC 2014
in remission since June 1, 2014
We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
"We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret". ~Jim Rohn
About sums it up on a lot of fronts. Big corporations like Monsanto and Exxon are not well monitored and certainly not disciplined for wrongdoing. We all end up suffering the pain of regret...
