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MonsantohascommittedslowpoisoningofthepeopleofWaleswithPCBsandRoundup

WithhelpfromtheBritishGovernment,theExpertCommitteeonPesticides,theHealthandSafetyExecutive,Defra,theRoyalSociety,EuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority,EuropeanChemicalsAgency(thatsaidthatglyphosatewasnot

carcinogenictohumansbutwastoxictoaquaticlifewithlonglastingeffects)theGermanRapporteurMemberState(thatclaimedglyphosatewasnotecotoxic),the

BBC,theBMAandRupertMurdoch

MonsantohasalsocommittedecocidewithRoundupinWales

In2006ournaturereserveinWaleshad143speciesofmoth(someinnumbersupto500).In2017wehavevirtuallynone.Between2006and2011wehad22speciesofbutterfly.In2017thereareveryfewbutterfliesandmostlythe‘white’varieties.

Aquaticlifeonlystartedtodisappearin2016

SolitarybeehotelJune292015(full) SolitarybeehotelJuly062016(empty)Duringthesummerandautumnof2016,SwanseaCityandCountyCouncilauthorisedthesprayingof3,000kmofRounduponcityroadsidesina‘waronweeds’(There’snohidingplaceforweeds)SwanseaLeader.Atotalof518kgwasusedin2016.Monsanto’scontractor,CompleteWeedControl,hascontinuedthewaronweeds,spraying169kginMarch2017andplanstoincreaseittothreesprayingsfor2017.

"Corporatetotalitarianism…rulesthroughdispensabilityandcorruption.Ittreatscommunities,people,countries,ecosystemsandspeciesasdisposableanddispensable."

AlongandunsatisfactoryhistoryofcorrespondencewithCRD/HSEaboutpesticidesIfirstwrotetotheChemicalsRegulationDirectorateon6January2011totellthemthattheyhadn’tansweredmyquestions.Iamstillwritingon29May2017.On6thDecember2010IwrotetoTheRtHonJamesPaiceMinisterforAgriculture.ItoldhimaboutDrHenkTennekes’researchonthesystemicneonicotinoidpesticides.1Hesaidthey

1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20803795

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didirreversibledamagetothebrainsofinsects,thattheywerecumulativeandthatlevelsofimidacloprid(thefirstneonicotinoid)hadbeenbuildingupinDutchsurfacewaterssince2004andthattheselevelscorrelatedwithdeclinesininvertebratesandinsect-dependentbirdsinEurope.2Ihadadismissiveletteron24thDecember2010fromCRDthatmentionednoneofthesepoints.InMay2017theyarestillonthemarketandtheUKEnvironmentAgencystillisn’tmeasuringlevelsofneonicsingroundwater…despitethehalf-lifeofclothianidininsoilbeing545(13-1386days)andinsomesoilsupto19years.TheBritishGovernmentrefusedtolegislateontheSustainableUseofPesticides21October2009:DIRECTIVE2009/128/ECOFTHEEUROPEANPARLIAMENTandrejectedtheEUadvice3Article11UseofpesticidesinspecificareasEUDirectiveAdvice:UseofpesticidescanbeparticularlydangerousinverysensitiveareassuchasNatura2000sitesprotectedinaccordancewithDirectives79/409/EECand92/43/EEC.Inotherplacessuchaspublicparksandgarden,sportsandrecreationgrounds,schoolgroundsandchildren’splaygrounds,andintheclosevicinityofhealthcarefacilities,therisksfromexposuretopesticidesishigh.Intheseareas,theuseofpesticidesshouldbeminimizedorprohibited.Whenpesticidesareused,appropriateriskmanagementmeasuresshouldbeestablishedandlow-riskpesticidesaswellasbiologicalcontrolmeasuresshouldbeconsideredinthefirstplace.GovernmentResponse:Wedonotconsideritnecessarytoprohibittheuseofpesticidesinpublicspacesorconservationareasortoimposenewstatutorycontrolsonpesticideuseintheseareas.WebelievethattheUKcanmeetitsobligationsundertheDirectivethroughexistingstatutoryandvoluntarycontrolsanddevelopadditionalvoluntarymeasures.InDecember2010LordHenley,theUnder-SecretaryofStateforDefra,explainedwhytheUKweren’tgoinglegislate.HesaidthattheBritishhadan“ideologicaldislikeoflegislation”,therewere“dangersofover-legislating.”HesaidthatdecisionsbytheUKgovernmentontheEuropeanUnionDirective(2009/128/EC)werebasedon“robustscientificevidence”.WhyhasECP/CRDrefusedtowritetoSwanseaCity&CountyCouncilaskingthemtostop?TheBritishGovernment’sfailuretolegislateforthebenefitofindustryishowthecitizensofSwanseacometohaveDakarPro,aprofessionalformofRoundup,sprayedin2016(518kgover3,000kmofcitypavements)andinMarch2017alone169kgwiththeproposaltospray3timesin2017:“overpublicparksandgardens,sportsandrecreationgrounds,schoolgroundsandchildren’splaygrounds,andintheclosevicinityofhealthcarefacilities”wheretheEUdirectivesays:therisksfromexposuretopesticidesishigh.UNVEILINGTHEGLYPHOSATECONSPIRACYINTHEUS(ANDINEUROPE)4Thestoryataglance:

• Evidencenowsuggeststaxpayers’moneyhasbeenusedtoshieldMonsantoandotherpesticidescompaniesfromliabilityandobstructconsumers’abilitytoprovedamages.

• JessRowland,formerassociatedirectorofUSEPA’sOfficeofPesticidePrograms,appearstohaveaidedandprotectedMonsanto’sinterests.Legalteamsarenowrequestingthathebeorderedtosupplyinformationabouthisworktoascertainthequidproquorelationships.

2http://disasterinthemaking.com3http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32009L01284http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/05/10/glyphosate-conspiracy.aspx

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• Rowland’spost-EPAworkincludesconsultingforthreechemicalcompaniesandthatworkinvolvesachemicalinallthreeinstances.AllthreecompaniesarealsocloseassociatesofMonsanto.

ThesameMonsantoscientistinvolvedinthecoverupofglyphosatewasalsoinvolvedinthecoverupforPolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)ThePCBconspiracy–newevidenceinthecurrentlawsuitagainstMonsantorevealsthatDrGeorgeLevinskaswasinvolvedinboththecoverupforglyphosateandforPCBs5In2000inanarticlefromAlabamaUS:ThepeopleversusMonsantoNancyBeileswrote:6“Problem:Damagetotheecologicalsystembycontaminationfrompolychlorinatedbiphenyl(PCB).Legalliability:Directlawsuitsarepossible…In1975thelabsubmitteditsfindingsfromastudyusingrats.Anearlydraftsaidthatinsomecases,PCBshadcausedtumours.GeorgeLevinskas,aMonsantomanager,wrotetothelab'sdirector:"Maywerequestthatthereportbeamendedtosay'doesnotappeartobecarcinogenic'."Thefinalreportdroppedallreferencestotumours.”TheBritishgovernmentwasalsoinvolvedinthePCBconspiracy…againstWalesMonsantomanufacturedPolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)from1930-1977primarilyforinsulatingfluidsinheavy-dutyelectricalequipmentinplants.InternaldocumentshavesurfacedshowingthatMonsantoknewaboutthehealthrisksofPCBslongbeforetheywerebanned.Adocument,datedSept.20,1955,stated:“WeknowAroclors[PCBs]aretoxicbuttheactuallimithasnotbeenpreciselydefined."7CompanypaperssubsequentlyreleasedinAmericashowthatformorethan30yearsMonsantohadsatonlabtestsresultsthatshowedPCBswerefataltoratsandotheranimals.8MonsantoalsomanufacturedAgentOrangebetween1961and1971thatwasamixtureofequalpartsoftwoherbicides,2,4,5-Tand2,4-D.2,4,5-Twasbannedbecauseofitstoxicityandfrequentcontaminationwithadioxin,achemicalthatisacarcinogenandapersistentorganicpollutant.InadditiontoAgentOrange’sdamagingenvironmentaleffects,thechemicalhascausedmajorhealthproblemsformanyindividualswhowereexposed.Upto4millionpeopleinVietnamwereexposedtothedefoliant,witharound1millionnowsufferingserioushealthissues.Thechemicaliscapableofdamaginggenes,resultingindeformitiesamongoffspringofexposedvictims.TheU.S.governmenthasdocumentedhighercasesofleukaemia,non-Hodgkin’slymphoma,aswellasothervariouskindsofcancerinexposedveterans.ExposedUSVeteranswerecompensated.9TheNewYorkTimesinMay2014wroteaReportaboutitslongtoxiclegacytotheVietnameseaswell:“ButAgentOrange’slegacywasonlybeginning.Morethan40yearslater,itstillcastsalongshadow.”10

5http://sustainablepulse.com/2017/05/19/us-court-documents-show-monsanto-manager-led-cancer-cover-up-for-glyphosate-and-pcbs/#.WR6UbBSFDzI6https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2000/jun/05/features11.g27https://www.ecowatch.com/monsanto-ordered-to-pay-46-5-million-in-pcb-lawsuit-in-rare-win-for-pl-1891143419.html8http://www.theecologist.org/The_Brofiscin_Monsanto_Files/777777/burying_the_truth_the_orginal_ecologist_investigation_into_monsanto_and_brofiscin_quarry.html9http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-postservice-agent_orange.asp10https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/12/us/agent-oranges-long-legacy-for-vietnam-and-veterans.html?_r=0

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Monsanto,attheinvitationoftheBritishGovernmentledbyClementRichardAttlee,establishedafactoryinNewport,Walesin1949.11FromthenontheymanufacturedPCBsuntil1977andanumberofotherdangerouschemicals.MonsantowasfoundtobedumpingtoxicwasteintheRiverSevern,publicwaterwaysandsewerage.Afterthattheypaidacontractortoillegallydump“thousandsoftonsofcancer-causingchemicals-amongthemPCBs,dioxinsandAgentOrangederivatives”attwoquarriesinWales:Brofiscin(80,000tonnes)andMaendy(42,000tonnes)between1965and1972.12In1968USdocumentsshowedthatMonsantotriedtodecidewhetherornottocomecleanaboutthedangersofthechemicals.TheystoppedmakingPCBsinAnnistonUSin1971becauseofscandalsaboutPCBsonthehealthofthepopulationandwildlife.However,theBritishgovernmentledbyTedHeathagreedtorampupproductionattheirMonsantoplantinNewport.HowdoestheareaofAlabama(PCBs)comparewiththatofWales?Alabamaismorethan50millionsquaremiles:Walesis8,000squaremiles.EnglandhasgranddelusionsthatitisstillrunninganEmpireandtheWelshareitsslaves.ToxicwastefromtheincreasedproductionwasdumpedatfiveotherquarriesinWalesandoneinthenorthofEngland.TheUKgovernment,whichknewofthedangersofPCBsintheenvironmentinthe1960s,allowedtheirproductioninWalesuntil1977.13“From1967to1974,DouglasGowanrepresentedfarmersintheTaffareaofSouthWales,primarilyasalegaladviserwithanexpertiseintoxicology,havingfirstgonetotheareatoinvestigatemysteriouscattleandsheepdeaths,andtheabortionsoccurringinlivestock,asafieldofficerfortheNationalFarmersUnion(NFU).HetracedthelikelycauseofthedeathsandabortionsbacktotheMonsantochemicalplantinnearbyNewport,wheresignificantamountsofwastewerebeinghauleddailytoanearbylimestonelandfillsiteoperatedbyPurleBrothers.Hewasalsoalarmedbythefoamingyellowandpurpleliquidhecouldseestreamingfromhequarryintotheditchesandstreamsacrosstheland.”14DougGowancompletedhisReportandallpartiesinvolvedhadasitemeeting.MonsantoandPurleadmittedthesitewasarealproblemandunveiledathree-phaseremediationplantomakeitsafe.Thecompaniesaccepted50/50liabilityforthecostandagreedthatitwouldbecompletedbytheendoftheyear.AccordingtoTheEcologistarticleon11October2007:15“Itneverwas,andGowanwasdispatchedtoAmericabyGeldardstoseekfurtherevidence.HereamongstotherexpertshemetoneofMonsanto’schiefscientists,DrWilliamPapageorge,whowasknownasthecompany’s‘PCBCzar’.DrPapageorgeprovidedhimwithinformationthatshowedMonsantohadlongbeenawareofthehazardsofPCBs,andhadconductedtestsonratsin1953thateitherkilledthemoraffectedtheirreproduction.”WhatdoesDouglasGowanknowthateveryoneelsewantstokeephidden?Readthefourarticlesfrom2007toseetheextraordinarylengthstowhichtheBritishgovernmentwenttoprotectMonsantoandcoverupthetruth.“WhatdoesDouglasGowanknowthateveryoneelsewantstokeephidden?For40yearsthestoryofBrofiscinQuarry–

11http://www.eastman.com/Company/Worldwide/our_sites/Pages/Newport_SouthWales.aspx12http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-435737/Monsanto-investigation-illegal-dumping.html13https://www.theguardian.com/guardian/2007/feb/12/frontpagenews.uknews14http://www.theecologist.org/investigations/politics_and_economics/269077/exlusive_how_the_environment_agency_is_gagging_one_eyewitness_to_what_is_potentially_one_of_the_uks_biggest_environmental_crimes.html15http://www.theecologist.org/The_Brofiscin_Monsanto_Files/777777/burying_the_truth_the_orginal_ecologist_investigation_into_monsanto_and_brofiscin_quarry.html

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nowthemostpollutedplaceintheUK–hasbeensuppressed...”JonHughesandPatThomasreportedforTheEcologist.“Documentshavebeenmysteriouslylost,witnessessilenced,scientificdataignored.Butliketheperiodicexplosionsthatissuefromthedepthofthequarry,thetruthhasawayofblowingupinourfaces.WitnessprotectionschemesarenormallythepreserveofsupergrassesorTheSopranos,notpeoplewhovolunteerevidenceinresponsetoapublicappealfromagovernmentagency.Butthatistheposition64-year-oldDouglasGowanfindshimselfin,havingspentthepastsixmonthslivingunderpoliceprotection.SincevolunteeringhisevidencetotheEnvironmentAgencyinearly2006thisretiredcorporatefinancedirectorhasbeensubjecttodeaththreats,threateningcallerstohisdoorandnumerousattemptedbreak-ins.Consequently,attheturnofAprilhisprotectionofficersbegantotalkofplacinghimunderwitnessprotection.InMarch1969PurleweredumpingintothesiteonadailybasisandinwetbutnotstormyweatherGowan’stestsfoundabout500gallonsperhouroffoamingyellowdischargewithanaveragebiologicaloxygendemandof2400partspermillion(ppm).BODprovidesasnapshotofthequalityofabodyofwater–generally10ppmisconsideredverypolluted.”In2003whentoxiceffluentfromthequarrystartingleakingintopeople’sstreamsinGrosfaenjustoutsideCardiff,theEnvironmentAgency-agovernmentagencyconcernedwithfloodingandpollution–washiredtocleanupthesitein2005.“Firstly,theAgencyrepeatedlyfailedtoholdMonsantoaccountableforitsroleinthepollution(arolethatMonsantodeniedfromtheoutset).Secondly,theAgencyconsistentlydownplayedthedangersofthechemicalsthemselves,evenclaimingthattheyofferedno“identifiableharmorimmediatedangertohumanhealth”intheirofficialreport.”AccordingtoengineeringcompanyWSAtkins,inareportpreparedfortheagencyandthelocalauthorityin2005butnevermadepublic,thesitecontainsatleast67toxicchemicals.SevenPCBshavebeenidentified,alongwithvinylchloridesandnaphthalene.Theunlinedquarryisstillleaking,thereportsays."Pollutionofwaterhasbeenoccurringsincethe1970s,thewasteandgroundwaterhasbeenshowntocontainsignificantquantitiesofpoisonous,noxiousandpollutingmaterial,pollutionof...waterswillcontinuetooccur.SirRichardDollwasemployedbyMonsantotosaytheirchemicalswereperfectlysafe“OnthreeoccasionsMonsantodispatchedthelateSirRichardDolltomeetwithGowan.Ascientificluminaryoftheday,whohaslatterlybeenexposedaspubliclystatingchemicalcompoundssuchasAgentOrangeweresafewhilesecretlybeinginthepayofMonsanto,DolltoldGowanthatPCBsweresafeandthatGowandidn’tknowwhathewastalkingabout.”Noinquirywasheld,theeffectswereminimizedandthepublicwasnotinformedTheofficialline–givenbyGrahamHillier(AdvisertoEnvironmentAgencyWales)inthepress,bytheministerofstatefortheenvironmentattheWelshAssemblyandchiefexecutiveoftheEnvironmentAgency,inwrittenstatements,andbytheDefraministerresponsibleinanswertoanoralquestiontoCountessMar–isthatthewateratBrofiscinissafeandthatdumpingonlytookplacetowardsthewestendofthequarryandcoverstheareathesizeofa‘swimmingpool’.OnlyPringle(thejournalistwhoreportedfortheInsightSeriesinTheSundayTimes)wouldspeaktoTheEcologist,andexpressedbewildermentatthetreatmentGowanwasreceiving.HestoodbyhisInsightstories.”WhydowetrustMonsantoasksTheEcologistjournalists?TheEcologistarticlein2007goesontocomment:“Yetagain,asintheSeventies,itseemsstrenuouseffortsarebeingmadetosuppressGowan’sevidence,whichinescapablysayswearesittingonanenvironmentalhealthtimebomb,whichcoulderuptatanytime.InactionagainstMonsantoleavesnotonlythepublicpurseexposed,butmoreimportantly

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publichealth.Theimplicationsarestaggering.Couldthepoliticalimperativebetokeepthewheelsonthe‘knowledgeeconomy’?ForthepastfiveyearsthegovernmenthasactivelypromotedandplannedfuturegrowtharoundthisnewtechrevolutionthatincludesGMcrops,nanotechnologyandsmartmaterials.PCBsweresmartmaterials.Monsantoreleasedthemintotheenvironmentknowingthemtobeadangertopublichealthandtheenvironment.IfwearenottogoforwardrecklesslythenpeoplelikeGowanhavetobeheardandlessonslearned.Otherwisenoamountofregulationcansafeguardagainstthathappeningagain.”WhathashappenedtoPeterPringlenow?In2001hewastherecipientofaRockefellerFoundationresearchandwritinggrant.In2005hewroteabook: Food,Inc.:MendeltoMonsanto--ThePromisesandPerilsoftheBiotechHarvest:“Inthisurgentdispatch,hesuggeststhatafertilepartnershipbetweenconsumers,corporations,scientists,andfarmerscouldstillallowthebiotechharvesttoreachitsfullpotentialinhelpingtoovercometheproblemofworldhunger,providingnutritiousfoodandkeepingtheenvironmenthealthy.”Hiswebsitein2017makesnomentionofBrofiscinQuarryorhisInsightSeriesforTheSundayTimes.WhathashappenedtotheSundayTimes?NewsInternationalboughtTheSundayTimesandTheTimesnewspapersin1981.ThatiswhythetruthishiddenfromtheBritishpeople.TherearefivemillionairescolludingwiththeBritishGovernmenttocontrolwhatpeoplehear.HaroldEvans(EditorofTheTimes1981-1982)inTheLongReadon28April2015:16“Thefactthatthey(MargaretThatcherandRupertMurdoch)metatall,on4January1981,wasvehementlydeniedfor30years…DocumentsreleasedbytheThatcherArchiveTrust,nowhousedatChurchillCollege,Cambridge,givethelietoalitanyofMurdoch-ThatcherdenialsaboutcollusionduringthebiddingforTimesNewspapers… Allthewretchesinthesubsequenthackingsagas–thepredatorsinthered-tops,thescavengersandsleazemerchants,theblackmailersandbribers,theliars,thebullies,thecowedpoliticiansandthebentcoppers–werebutthedetritusofacollapseofintegrityinBritishjournalismandpoliticallife.AttherootofthecrueltiesandextortionsexposedintherecentcriminaltrialsattheOldBailey,wasMargaretThatcher’srecklessengorgementofthemediapowerofherguestthatJanuarySunday.ThesimplegenesisofthehackingoutragesisthatMurdoch’sNewsInternationalcametothinkitwasabovethelaw,becauseitwas.”LeMonde:StéphaneFoucartaFrenchinvestigativejournalistatLeMondehascontributedtothecollectionofcourtdocumentsinmorethan50lawsuitsagainstMonsantoCo.whicharependinginU.S.DistrictCourtinSanFrancisco,filedbypeopleallegingthatexposuretoRoundupherbicidecausedthemortheirlovedonestodevelopnon-Hodgkinlymphoma,andthatMonsantocovereduptherisks.Theleadcaseis3:16-md-02741-VC.17 HealsorevealedmanythingsabouttheactivitiesofthepesticidesindustryinBritain.SüddeutscheZeitungreviewed:PandaLeaks:ThedarksideofWWFThisSouthGermannewspaper,foundedin1945,publishedinMunich,Bavaria,isthelargestGermannationalsubscriptiondailynewspaper.“Itpaintsthepictureofanenvironmentalorganizationrubbingelbowswithindustry;doingdealswiththerichandpowerful,theoilcompaniesandGMOmafia,forgettingitsgoalsandevenlosingitsidentityintheprocess.”ThenewspaperinconjunctionwiththeInternationalConsortiumofInvestigativeJournalists

16https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/28/how-margaret-thatcher-and-rupert-murdoch-made-secret-deal17https://usrtk.org/pesticides/mdl-monsanto-glyphosate-cancer-case-key-documents-analysis/

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reviewedthedatafromthePanamaPapersforoverayearbeforepublishingiton3April2016.Awitnessstatement;manycancersbutthepublicwasnotinformed

IwasworkinginCardiffHospitalsbetween1969and1972whenDouglasGowanwaskneedeepinMonsanto’stoxicpesticidewastethatwaspollutingCardiffgroundwater,makingmeasurementsandcommunicatingwitheminenttoxicologicalbodiesforhisReportSomeamongstmyCardiffcolleaguesandtheirfamiliesappearedtobesufferingfromanunusualnumberofcancers(atthattime–the1970s,butnowcommon).Noonehadanyideawhy,sincetheleakoftoxicwastefromBrofiscinQuarryintotheCardiffwatersupplywasnotmadepublic.Wemetyearlyasatravellinggroup.OnebyoneovertheyearsourcolleaguesinCardiffandNewportwereafflictedby,anddiedfrom,anumberofunusualcancersincludingleukaemiaandNon-Hodgkin’sLymphoma.MonsantofoundguiltyintheUSHowever,in2016intheUSMonsantohasfinallybeenfoundguiltyofgrossnegligencebysellingpoisonousPCBstomembersofthepublic,someofwhomdiedasaresult.Theagrochemicalandagriculturalbiotechnologygianthasbeenforcedtopayatotalof$46millionindamagestoplaintiffsinthecase.18TheUKgovernmentsideswiththepesticidesindustryinthecaseoflegaldisputesTheUKgovernmentwouldensurethatanylawsuitagainstapesticidecompanybereversed.GeorginaDownsofPesticidesCampaignUKhasfoughtlegalbattlesagainstDefra.ShehadalandmarkvictoryintheHighCourtinNovember2008thatruledthattheUKGovernment’spolicyonpesticideswasnotincompliancewithEuropeanlegislation.ItwasthefirstknownlegalcaseofitskindtoreachtheHighCourttodirectlychallengetheGovernment’spesticidepolicyandapproachregardingcropsprayinginruralareas.However,theCourtofAppealoverturnedtheHighCourtJudgment,onlysixmonthslater,inMay2009.19Infact,on23/09/2013theBritishGovernmentjoinedforceswithMonsanto,EFSAandtheEUCommissiontofightcivilsocietyintheEUCourt20todefendtherighttoimportMonsanto’stransgenicsoybeanIntacta®whichproducesaninsecticideandisresistanttoglyphosateherbicidessuchasRoundup®.

PCBsarechemicalsthatpersistintheenvironmentandwillneverdisappearfromWales

TheoColborn’scrucialresearchintheearly1990sintothechemicalsthatwerechanginghumansandtheenvironmentwasignoredThelateTheoColborn21(1927-1914)wasthefirsttoresearchandwriteaboutEndocrineDisruptingChemicals(EDCs),man-madechemicalsthatbecamewidespreadintheenvironmentafterWWII.Inabookpublishedin1996,OurStolenFuture:HowMan-madeChemicalsareThreateningourFertility,IntelligenceandSurvival,Colborn,DumanoskiandPetersrevealedthefullhorrorofwhatwashappeningtotheworldasaresultof

18http://yournewswire.com/monsanto-loses-lawsuit-pays-46-million-to-poisoned-victims/19http://www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk/documents/PRESS%20RELEASE%20-%20DEFRA%20to%20appeal%20High%20Court%20ruling.pdf20http://www.testbiotech.de/en/node/89821http://endocrinedisruption.org/about-tedx/theo-colborn

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contaminationwithEDCs.22Therewasemergingscientificresearchabouthowawiderangeofman-madechemicalsdisruptdelicatehormonesystemsinhumans.Thesesystemsplayacriticalroleinprocessesrangingfromhumansexualdevelopmenttobehaviour,intelligence,andthefunctioningoftheimmunesystem.Atthatstage,polychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs),pesticidesDDT,chlordane,lindane,aldrin,dieldrin,endrin,toxaphene,heptachlor,dioxin,atrazineanddacthalwereidentifiedasEDCs.Colbornillustratestheproblembyconstructingadiagram(page105)ofthejourneyofaPCBmoleculefromafactoryinAlabamaintoapolarbearintheArctic.Colbornsays:“Theconcentrationofpersistentchemicalscanbemagnifiedmillionsoftimesastheytraveltotheendsoftheearth…Manychemicalsthatthreatenthenextgenerationhavefoundtheirwayintoourbodies.Thereisnosafe,uncontaminatedplace.”WhathappenedtoBrofiscinQuarry?AsreportedbyTheGuardianin2015?“By2011,officialshadconcludedthattheleakingofdangeroustoxinsfromthecorrodingwastecontainersburiedundergroundhadthepotentialtoposeasignificanthealthrisktolocalresidentsandmembersofthepublicusinganearbyfootpath.23Thatsameyear,officialsattheEnvironmentAgencyinWalessaidthatMonsanto,BPandVeoliawereliableforthecontaminationandshouldpaythecostofcleaningupthesite.Allthreecompaniesrefusedtoacceptliabilityforthepollution,forcingtheauthoritiesthatfearedanexpensivelegalbattle,tofootthe£1.25mbillfortheworks,completedin2012.Officialssaidatthetimetheywouldcontinuetoattempttorecoverthecosts.Now,threeyearslater,NaturalResourcesWales,whichtookovertheroleofEnvironmentAgencyWalesin2013,confirmedthattheyhadfinallycometoanagreementwithMonsanto,BPandVeoliatocoverthecleanupbill.However,allthreecontinuetodenyliability,andthevalueofthesettlementhasnotbeendisclosed.”WhathappenedtoSolutia?Allegedlyitfiledforbankruptcyin2003,butemergedagainin2008tosellthecompanyIn2007TheEcologisthadreported:24“Todate,thelatestinvestigationintoBrofiscinhascost£800,000.Anyremediationisestimatedat£100m.Thisfigurecouldbedwarfedbyassociatedcivilactionsrelatingtopublichealthandplanning.Monsantohaspaidoutapproaching$1billiontocovertheongoingcostofremediationatAnnistonandsettlecivilclaimsbyvictimsofthepollution,andmorecasesareoutstanding.SolutiaInc.willescapethisoutcome,aswillMonsanto,iftheycankeepGowanoutofcourt–aswithouthimtheretobecross-examined,hiswitnessstatementsbecomelargelyworthless.”SolutiawasformedonSeptember1,1997,asadivestitureoftheMonsantoCompanychemicalbusiness.SolutiafiledforbankruptcyonDecember17,2003,inresponsetosignificantlitigationsurroundingvariousproducts,unsustainabledebtstructure,andadownturnintheeconomybutemergedfrombankruptcyonFebruary28,2008.WhathappenedtotheNewportfactory?InJuly2012thecompany(Solutia)wasacquiredbytheEastmanChemicalCompany.

22OurStolenFuture:HowMan-madeChemicalsareThreateningourFertility,IntelligenceandSurvival:Colborn,MyersandDumanoski:Little,BrownandCompany,NewYork.1996.23http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/14/monsanto-bp-veolia-agree-to-pay-for-cleanup-contaminated-welsh-quarry-site?CMP=share_btn_link24http://www.theecologist.org/The_Brofiscin_Monsanto_Files/777777/burying_the_truth_the_orginal_ecologist_investigation_into_monsanto_and_brofiscin_quarry.html

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ReportinSouthWalesArgus26/04/2013:25Morethan200NewportjobshavebeensecuredaftertheWelshGovernmentgavea£4.1milliongranttoanAmericanchemicalcompanyfollowingapotentialthreattomovemostofthepostsoverseas.EastmanistoinvesttensofmillionsofpoundsintoanewplantatwhatisknownastheSolutiasiteinLliswerry.TheNewportsitebeatoffcompetitionfromthreerivallocationsintheUSandMalaysiaandwashelpedbya£4.1milliongrantfromtheWelshGovernment.“WithoutWelshGovernmentsupport,thesourcessaid,SolutiaconsideredlocatingtheprojectatacompetingplantinAlabama,UnitedStates.Eastmanisaninternationalplayer.ThefactthatitisinvestingfurtherinNewportisamajorvoteofconfidenceforthecity.”Alabama:that’safamiliarnamewithregardtoPCBsandMonsantoAlabamaismorethan50millionsquaremiles:Walesis8,000squaremiles.EastmanChemicalCompanyBoardofDirectorsTherearealsosomefamiliarnamesontheEastmanManagementBoard.26BrettD.Begemann(DirectorsinceFebruary2011)Mr.BegemannhasbeenPresidentandChiefOperatingOfficerofMonsantoCompany,aleadingglobalprovideroftechnology-basedsolutionsandagriculturalproductsthatimprovefarmproductivityandfoodquality,sinceOctober2013,withresponsibilityforMonsanto’sworldwidesalesandoperations,corporateaffairs,andglobalbusinessorganization.OtherDirectorsofEastmanChemicalCompanyare:fromDowChemicals,DowCorning,GeneralMills,leadingproducerofpackagedconsumergoodsandCargillInc.,anagriculturaltradingandprocessingcompany.BBCFarmingToday18March2016:27IwroteacomplainttotheDirectorGeneraloftheBBConApril52016aboutreportingbiasWhenaskedbytheintervieweraboutthecarcinogenicityofglyphosate,thePresidentofMonsantoBrettBegemanndismissedasnonsensetheInternationalAgencyforResearchonCancer(IARC)statementthatglyphosateisprobablycarcinogenicinhumans.Hesaid:“Itrustthescience.”WhydidtheBBCnotrevealthemassivedisputebetweenIARCandtheGermanRapporteurMemberStateBfRandEFSA’sriskassessmentofglyphosate?WhywasProfChristopherPortiernotaskedtospeakonbehalfofIARC?AsusualIhadnoreply.TheHealthandSafetyExecutivegavetheNewportsiteacleanbillofhealth28“Safeguardingtheenvironment.Inthepast,PCB,PCP,andchlorineweremanufacturedonsite.Thesehistoricalactivitiesleftalegacyofthesesubstancesatthesite.Consultantscompletedacomprehensiveriskassessmentin1992,todetermineiftheseactivitieshadresultedinanyunacceptablerisks.ThisassessmentconcludedthatthesitewasstableanddidnotposeathreattohealthortotheenvironmentasdefinedintheContaminatedLandRegulations.Sincethattime,wehavereplacedundergrounddrainsandʻcappedʼareasinaphasedmannertoreducemovementoftheselegacysubstances.Themonitoringandmanagementofthesitecontinues.Residuallegacysubstancesinthesoilcontributetolegacysubstancesinwastewaterdischargesfromthesiteviasitedrains.”Outofthefryingpanintothefire:tothetestbedofRoundupfurtherwest

25http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/10382004.__4m_grant_helps_secure_more_than_200_Newport_jobs/26http://www.eastman.com/Company/About_Eastman/Leadership/Pages/BoardofDirectors.aspx27http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0739w6g28http://www.eastman.com/Company/Worldwide/our_sites/Documents/Newport_HSE_Review.pdf

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In1973IswappedbeingpoisonedbyPCBsleakingintotheCardiffwatersupplyforMonsanto’stestbedforitsflagshipherbicideRoundupinSwansea,formercentreoftheminingindustrywhereJapaneseKnotweedgrowsfreelyindisturbedsoil.Herbicideshaveturnedweedsintoinvasiveweeds.JapaneseknotweedReynoutriejaponica(syn.Polygonumcuspidatum)wasintroducedintoEuropeinthemid-16thCenturybyanamateurbotanistfromtheNetherlands,VanReynoutrie(syn:KarelvanSintOmaars).ThemyththatitwasbroughtinbytheVictoriansinthelate19thCentury,asstatedbyBBCWales,hasbeendeliberatelyspread,presumablybythepesticidesindustry.Forabout500yearsitappearstohavecausedminimaltrouble,untiltheintroductionofchemicalherbicidesintheearly1900s.However,eveninthe1969editionoftheMarshallCavendishIllustratedEncyclopediaofGardening,knotweedwasstillbeingrecommendedasasuitableplantforgardens.Infact,withregardtothecompactvariety:“ItisthemostdesirablegardenformhavingreceivedtheRHS’sAwardofMerit.”AmemberoftheBalsamspeciesImpatiensroyalei(syn:Iglandulifera)thatwassimilarlyrecommendedforgardencultivationhasalsobecomeamonsteronwastegroundinurbansituations.Chemicalherbicides:In19412,4-DwasdiscoveredbyscientistsintheUSandRothamstedResearchUKatthesametime.Itwascommercializedin1946,atrazinein1958,dicambain1967andglufosinatein1991.GlyphosatewasintroducedintoEuropein1974andbecameaglobalbest-sellingherbicidebecausethepublicwastoldbyindustryandtheregulatorsthatitwas‘safe.’Thepublicbelievedtheseassurancesofsafetythereforeitwasusedrepeatedlyinthesameareassothatweedsdevelopedaresistancetoit.Bothplantsbecamesuper-weedsandwereclassifiedasinvasivespeciesinthe1981WildlifeandCountrysideActwithadutytoeradicatethem.IntheUS,thefirstconfirmedGlyphosate-Resistantweed,rigidryegrass,wasreportedin1998.Super-weedsintheUSinGEcroppingsystemsarenowamassiveproblem.“Since1974intheU.S.,over1.6billionkilogramsofglyphosateactiveingredienthavebeenapplied,or19%ofestimatedglobaluseofglyphosate(8.6billionkilograms).Globally,glyphosateusehasrisenalmost15-foldsinceso-called“RoundupReady,”geneticallyengineeredglyphosate-tolerantcropswereintroducedin1996.”29TheBritishGovernmentenjoysveryclosefinancialrelationshipswithMonsanto,Syngenta,AstraZeneca,BayerCropScienceandDowChemicalsTheUKgovernmentsupportedtheGlyphosateTaskForce(GTF),aconsortiumofcompaniesjoiningresourcesandeffortsinordertorenewtheEuropeanglyphosateregistrationwithajointsubmission(mostcompaniesproducetheirownformulatedglyphosateproducts).In2010MichaelPragnell,founderofSyngentaandformerChairmanofCropLifeInternational,wasappointedasChairmanofCancerResearchUK(CRUK)andby2011CRUKwasdonatingmoney(£450million/year)totheGovernment’sStrategyforUKLifeSciencesandAstraZeneca(Syngenta’sparentcompany)wasproviding22compoundstoacademicresearchtodevelopmedicinesintheUK.OneCorporationpromotescancer;theotherCorporationtriestocureit.AgentOrange,PCBsandglyphosateallcausegeneticdefects,soBritainhasbecomethenumberoneglobalcentreforresearchingandfindingcuresforthesediseases.TheFrancisCrickInstituteopenedin201630“TheFrancisCrickInstituteisabiomedicaldiscoveryinstitutededicatedtounderstandingthefundamentalbiologyunderlyinghealthanddisease.Itsworkishelpingtounderstandwhydiseasedevelopsandtotranslatediscoveriesintonewwaystoprevent,diagnoseandtreatillnessessuchascancer,heartdisease,stroke,infections,andneurodegenerativediseases.Anindependentorganisation,itsfoundingpartnersaretheMedicalResearchCouncil(MRC),29https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-016-0070-030https://www.crick.ac.uk/about-us/

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CancerResearchUK,theWellcomeTrust,UCL(UniversityCollegeLondon),ImperialCollegeLondonandKing'sCollegeLondon.TheCrickwasformedin2015,andin2016itmovedintoabrandnewstate-of-the-artbuildingincentralLondonwhichbringstogether1500scientistsandsupportstaffworkingcollaborativelyacrossdisciplines,makingitthebiggestbiomedicalresearchfacilityunderasingleroofinEurope.”TheWellcomeTrusthoststheindustry-fundedUKScienceMediaCentre.

AnotherUKGovernmentcoverup–organophosphatesheepdipsHealth&SafetyExecutiveandReport(1990)–officiallydestroyed–hasnowbeenrevealed:incriminatingsheepdippoisoningTheUKMinistryofAgriculture,FisheriesandFood(MAFF)hadmadeyearlysheepdipscompulsorywithorganophosphoruscompoundsin1979andbiannuallyin1984thensuddenlystoppedthemin1992.FarmerTomRigby,SheepDipSufferers’SupportGroup,requestedaFoIin2015.Hesaid:“TheinformationIwantisHSEadvicegiventothegovernmentministerjustbeforehedecidedtoabandoncompulsorydippingandthesciencebehindanddateofagovernmentorderthatMinistryofAgriculture,FisheriesandFoodinspectorsmustnotgowithin14ftofasheepdip.”TheHSErespondedtotheFoIrequestbytellingMrRigby:“TheinformationyourequestedisnolongerheldbytheHealth&SafetyExecutive,havingbeendestroyedinaccordancewithHSE’scorporateretentionpolicy”.A‘well-wisher’sentacopytoMrRigby.31IntheUSthereiscompensationforGulfWarVeteranspoisonedbyorganophosphates,butinBritainDefradeniesthatfarmers’symptoms,somedebilitating,arerelatedtosheepdipandthereforenocompensationisavailable.

IntheUKthereissilenceaboutpesticides

AccordingtoWilliamEngdahl32herearesomeoftheorganisationsthatdon’tmentionpesticidesbecausetheyhaveadepopulationagendaTheRockefellerFoundation,theBillandMelindaGatesFoundation,theFDA,theUSDA,theWellcomeTrust,Monsanto,BayerandSyngenta.WhatistheOxfordMartinCommissionforFutureGenerations?TheOxfordMartinCommissiondoesn’tmentionpesticideseither.Itsmissionstatement:“Adiversegroupofhighlyrespectedgloballeadershascalledforaradicalshake-upinpoliticsandbusinesstodeliverprogressonclimatechange,reduceeconomicinequality,improvecorporatepracticesandaddressthechronicburdenofdisease.”TheCommissionwasfoundedin2005.InthatcasewhyhastheUKGlobalBurdenofDiseaseintermsofhealthcarequalityandaccessin2015droppedto30thoutof167andiswellbehindmanyEuropeanCountries?33ProfessorJohnBeddington,ProfessorofNaturalResources,OxfordMartinCommissionWesentyouacopyofourphoto-journal,TheYearoftheBumblebee,in2010.Howcantheselovelycreatureshavedisappearedwithoutabiologicalkillingagentbeinginvolved–

31http://www.sheepdipsufferers.uk/archives/HSE%20Report%20in%20OP%20poisoning%201991%20and%20comments.pdf32www.williamengdahl.com33http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)30818-8/fulltext

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(theBIOCIDE=KILLEROFLIFE),Roundup?ThisistheonethattheGlyphosateTaskForce,theEuropeanregulatoryauthorities,theEuropeanCommission,theBritishGovernmentandmanyfarmersintheUKandEuropearetryingtorenewthelicencefor.WhendidOxfordUniversityloseitsway?WasitwhentheGlobalCorporationscameinwithmoneytoofferforservices?SirRichardDolltheepidemiologistwho,togetherwithAustinBradfordHill,workedoutthatsmokingcausedcancerbecameRegiusProfessorofMedicineatOxfordUniversityin1969andaCompanionofHonourin1996for‘servicesofnationalimportance’.Onlyafterhisdeathitwasdiscoveredbetween1976and2002thathehadbeenpaidbyMonsantotodefendAgentOrangeandPCBsinCourt.34HetoldDouglasGowanthatPCBsweresafeandthatGowandidn’tknowwhathewastalkingabout.WhydoesDavidCameronhateWales?PollyToynbeewroteinTheGuardianonFridayMarch7th2014“DavidCameronhasmentionedWales29timesinPrimeMinister'sQuestions,whichsoundsreasonablebecauseheisitsprimeministertooexceptthateverysinglementionhasbeenderogatoryandcontemptuous.TheConservativesdetesteverythingWelsh.”35Nearly70millionUScitizenswarnedthatGMcropsandRoundupdestroyhumanhealthandtheenvironment:butDavidCameronandtheEuropeanRegulatorsignoreditIfirstwrotetoHSEon13February2014totellthemthatRounduphadwasdestroyingournaturereserveandpoisoningthecitizensofSwansea.Weprovidedindependentevidence.On11November2014nearly70millionUScitizenssentaletterhanddeliveredto10DowningStreettellingDavidCameronthedangersofGMOcropsandRounduptohumanhealthandtheenvironment.36“Throughourexperiencewehavecometounderstandthatthegeneticengineeringoffoodhasneverreallybeenaboutpublicgood,orfeedingthehungry,orsupportingourfarmers.Norisitaboutconsumerchoice.Insteaditisaboutprivate,corporatecontrolofthefoodsystem.Americansarereapingthedetrimentalimpactsofthisriskyandunprovenagriculturaltechnology.”ItpassedfromDavidCamerontotheDefraMinister,LorddeMauley.TheEuropeanCommissionandtheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthorityalsoreceivedtheletter.HowevertheEuropeanRegulatorshavecontinuedtoapproveGMcropstobegrownforfoodandfeed.In2017theyarealltryingtorenewthelicenseforglyphosateonbehalfoftheGTF.AccordingtoChristophThenatTestbiotech,theEUneverintendedtobanglyphosate37“24May2017/TheEUCommissionhasannouncedthatitisplanningtoextendauthorisationforglyphosateforafurthertenyears.ThedecisionisbasedonthelatestevaluationpublishedbytheEuropeanChemicalsAgency(ECHA)inMarch2017,declaringglyphosatetobesafe.However,itappearsthatbanningtheherbicidewasneverseriouslyconsidered.Infact,theEUCommissionapproved14newimportauthorisationsforgeneticallyengineeredplantsresistanttoherbicidesevenwhileofficialdiscussionsontheevaluationofglyphosatewerestillinprogress.Alloftheseplantswillcontainresiduesfromspraying.Severalofthegeneticallyengineeredplantsrecentlyapprovedforimportarenotonlyresistanttoglyphosate,butalsotocombinedapplicationsofotherherbicides,suchas2,4-D,dicamba,glufosinateandisoxaflutole.Theseherbicidesarealsoknowntoleaveresiduesthatarepotentiallydamagingtohealth.ItisparticularlyproblematicthattheEUisnotrequestingfeedingstudieswiththeseplantscontainingresiduestoinvestigateanypossibleriskstohealthbeforetheyareapproved.Thecombinationofresiduesintheplants

34https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Doll35https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/07/lessons-real-job-creation-wales36http://www.theletterfromamerica.org37https://www.testbiotech.org/en/node/1995

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canbeevenmoretoxicthanglyphosatealone.“Inconclusion,nomoregeneticallyengineeredplantsshouldbeauthorisedaslongascomprehensiveassessmentofthehealthrisksoftheresiduesfromsprayingwithglyphosateorotherherbicidesisnotperformed.Atthesametime,itisessentialtopromotealternativestoreplacethecurrentimportsofanimalfeed.Furthermore,theEUgovernmentsshouldtakemeasurestosystematicallyreducethesprayingofglyphosateandotherherbicidesinordertoprotectbiodiversityandtheenvironment,”ChristophThendemandsforTestbiotech.GlyphosatenotclassifiedasacarcinogenbytheEuropeanChemicalsAgencydespitethefactthatitisalsoclassifiedas‘toxictoaquaticlife

withlong-lastingeffects’38InWales‘biodiversityandtheenvironment’hasalreadybeendestroyed:invertebratedeclinesinriversmade2016disastrousforsalmonandtroutinWales39Leadingfisheriescharity,Salmon&TroutConservationUK(S&TCUK)hasbroughtforwarditsprogrammeofriverinvertebratemonitoringonthreeriversinWalestosupporteffortsbyNaturalResourcesWales(NRW),whoareinvestigatingtheunprecedentedthreatsfacingriversandsalmonstocksinWales.Shockingly,arecentreportidentifiesthat61percentofWales’waterbodiesdonotmeet‘GoodEcologicalStatus’asrequiredundertheWaterFrameworkDirective(WFD).Earlierthisyear,S&TCUK’sRiverflyCensusinEngland,revealedthatmanyriversandchalkstreamsacrossthecountrywereinapoorstatebecauseofpollutioncausedbyhumanpressure,rangingfromsewagetreatmentworks,septictanksandagriculturalrun-offtoabstractionanddegradedriverhabitats.AnotefromCompleteWeedControl,anationalcontractor,aboutaquaticweeds“AlthoughtheEnvironmentAgencyhasbannedtheuseofherbicidesinlakesandpondstheycanstillbeusedonemergentplantssuchasbullrushesandlilies.40Itisalsopossibletouseadyeorcolourantwhichimprovesthelookofthewateraswellascreatingconditionsthatreducephotosynthesisthereforemakingitmoredifficultforalgaetoform.”GlyphosateonGiantHogweedbyriversaswellasJapaneseKnotweedinthevalleysTherewasanNRWdocumentabouttheRiverUsk.41Onpage12itdescribedtheproblemofanotherinvasiveweed,GiantHogweed.“FivesprayteamsareworkingontheprojectfromEnvironmentAgencyWales(nowNaturalResourcesWales).ExtensivecontrolworkhascontinuedinthegrowingseasonalongtheriverbetweenCrickhowellandNewbridge-on-Usksince2006.AnumberofForumeventshavebeenorganisedperiodicallytoupdateandinvolvelocalriparianownersandriverusersontheprogressoftheproject.”ThiswaspresumablyRoundup/DakarPro.OnPage55ofanotherNRWdocumenttherewasaparagraphmarkedEvidenceGaps:42“Impactsofnewandemergingchemicalsandsubstances,suchasneonicotinoidpesticides,nanoparticlesandpharmaceuticals,onwaterqualityandecology.”Neonicotinoidinsecticidesarenotnew.Theywereintroducedin1994.Thereisplentyofindependentevidencethatseedscoatedwiththeseinsecticidesactbycausingvirtually

38https://echa.europa.eu/-/glyphosate-not-classified-as-a-carcinogen-by-echa39http://www.salmon-trout.org/river-invertebrates-could-hold-the-key-to-abysmal-state-of-rivers-in-wales/news/40340http://www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk/weed/services/aquaticweedcontrol41http://www.naturalresources.wales/media/679394/2016_updated_usk_catchment_summary_nrw.pdf42http://www.naturalresources.wales/media/679427/annex-chapter-3-final-for-publication.pdf

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irreversibleblockageofpostsynapticnicotinergicacetylcholinereceptors(nAChRs)inthecentralnervoussystemsofinsects.43BiodiversitylossinSouthWaleswhereRoundupissprayedonJapaneseknotweedIn2006ournaturereserveinWaleshad143speciesofmoth(someinnumbersupto500).In2017wehavevirtuallynone.Between2006and2011wehad22speciesofbutterfly.In2017thereareveryfewbutterfliesandmostlyofthe‘white’varieties.Aquaticlifeonlydisappearedthisyear.Upuntil2016wehadmaledragonfliesguardingthepondandnymphshatchingonemergentplants.ECHAneedsafieldnaturalisttoadviseitonitsnaturalhistory.Moths,butterflies,spidersandbeetlesdisappearedlongbeforeaquaticlifedid.19/12/2016Atleast1,000fishhavebeenkilledfollowingpollutionoftheRiverTeifiinCeredigion,NaturalResourcesWaleshassaid.44

Photographer:SteffanJones.Caption:Deadfishcanbeseenintheriver

EnvironmentalofficerssaidthewaterhasbeendiscolouredandbelievethesourcewasanagriculturalsiteintheTregaronarea.SalmonandseatroutareamongthedeadfishandNRWsaidthenumberwas"rising".Controlmeasureshavebeenputinplacetostopthepollutionspreading.ThepollutionwasfirstreportedonSaturday,withworkongoingtoassessitsextent.ThegroupSeaTroutWalessaidsalmonandseatroutwere"alreadyatcriticallylowlevels"intheriver.Whatotherchemicalcompanieswithatoxiclegacyhavebeenfoisted

onWales?AnotherchemicalcompanyclosetoCardiffDowCorning'ssiteatBarryintheUKisoneofthecompany’slargestmanufacturingfacilities.DowCorningisanAmericanmultinationalcorporationheadquarteredinMidland,Michigan,UnitedStates.OriginallyestablishedasajointventurebetweentheDowChemicalCompanyandCorningIncorporated.SiliconeproductionstartedinBarryin1952,initiallybyMidlandSiliconesandthenDowCorningin1971.ContinuedinvestmentthroughoutthedecadeshasmadetheBarrysiteoneofthemostadvancedfacilitiesintheworldfortheproductionofsilicon-basedmaterials.Todaythesite’s500plusemployeesmanufactureanddistributehighqualitysilicon-basedmaterialstocustomersinEuropeandotherpartsoftheworld.Siliconefluids,rubberandspecialtypolymersmadeinBarryareusedinawidevariety43http://disasterinthemaking.com44http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-38366208

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ofapplications,fromcosmeticstocarairbagcoatingsandconstructionsealants.OverthedecadesDowCorning’ssiteatBarryhasgainedmultipleawardsthatreflectafocusonexcellenceinhealthandsafety,employmentandcorporatesocialresponsibilitypractices.Dow:excellenceinHealthandsafetyandcorporatesocialresponsibility?WhataboutBhopalinIndia?TheBhopaldisasteroccurredin1984andisdescribedas“Theworstindustrialdisaster”totakeplaceever.“AfewhourspastmidnightonDec.3,1984,anaccidentoccurredataUnionCarbideCorp.(UCC)pesticideplantinBhopalincentralIndiathatleftmuchofthecitycoveredinablanketofsicknessanddeath.45Waterleakedintoatankcontaininghighlyvolatilechemicals,settingoffamassiveexothermicreactionthatcouldnotbecontained.Dozensofmetrictonsoflethalgaswereexpelledintothenight.Thischemicalcloud,whichcontainedaformofcyanide,wassoonblownsoutheastoverresidentialareas.Bymorning,thedeadandbarelylivingfilledthecity’sstreets,hospitalsandmakeshiftmorgues.Thousandswerekilled,andnobodyknewwhy.Yetworsewastofollow.Inthethreedecadessincetheincident,upto25,000peoplehavedied,andover500,000havesufferedavarietyofailments—cancer,tuberculosisandbirthdefects,amongothers—thatstemdirectlyfromtheeffectsoftheleak.Thispainfulaftermathhasbeenmetbyindifferencebytheplant’sformerproprietors,theUCC,anditspresentparentcompany,theDowChemicalCompany.BoththeseU.S.-basedmultinationalscontinuetoresistoutstandinglitigationclaims,insistingthatthecauseoftheleakwasemployeesabotage.TodayDowisengagedinalegalstandoffwiththegovernmentofIndiaoverpayingrestitutionforenvironmentaldamagesinBhopalandisrefusingtoevencleanupthesiteoftheplant,whichisstillleakinghighlytoxicsubstancesintothelocalwatersystem.Justlastyear,Dowbroughtinover$50billioninrevenue,andyetitcontinuestodenyliabilitywhenvictimsinBhopalaskforbasicassistance.Even30yearson,childrenarebornwithhorrificdeformitiescausedbytheeffectsofthechemicalslingeringaroundtherustingplant.Othersfallsickbecausetheyhavenochoicebuttodrinkpoisonouswaterfromwellscontaminatedbythedisaster.“Walesisthesiteofthe‘worstenvironmentaldisaster’thatthepublichasneverheardofbecausetherewasamassivecoverupformorethan40yearsThecontinualleakofMonsanto’stoxicchemicalswillcarryonformanyyearsfromBrofiscin,MaendyoroneoftheotherfivequarriesaroundWalesinwhichtoxicchemicalwastewascarriedinthepastbylorriesbearingIWD/PurleandMonsantologos.

Isthereadepopulationagendaamongtherichandpowerful?

ThreatofoverpopulationOntheinitiativeofBillGates,inMay2009someofAmerica’srichestpeoplemettodiscusswaysoftacklinga‘disastrous’environmental,socialandindustrialthreatofoverpopulationatthehomeofSirPaulNurse,46aBritishNobelprizebiochemistandPresident(electedin2003)oftheprivateRockefellerUniversityinManhattan.47DavidRockefellerJr.hostedthe

45http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/12/dow-chemical-mustfinallyhelpthebhopaldisastervictims.html46https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/31/new-york-billionaire-philanthropists47http://www.globalresearch.ca/billionaire-club-in-bid-to-curb-overpopulation/13736

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meeting.Thesesameindividualshavemetseveraltimessincetodevelop“astrategyinwhichpopulationgrowthwouldbetackled…”TheRockefellerFoundation(RF)fundedtheearliestresearchonGMOsTheRFfundedtheearliestresearchonGMOsinthe1940sandfoundedthescienceof‘molecularbiology’thatreducedthecomplexityoflifetoasinglegenethatwasnotstableoutofthetesttube.Itwascalledreductionism.48TheRF’s100thAnniversaryAgriculturewebsitesays:49“Sincethe1970s,thetechniquespioneeredbytheRFhavebeencriticizedfortheirenvironmentalimpact,fortheirrelationshipwithbigagribusiness,andforfailingtoeliminatehungercompletely.”TheRFalsofoundedthe‘GreenRevolution’.“Asoneanalystputit,ineffect,theGreenRevolutionwasmerelyachemicalrevolution.Atnopointcoulddevelopingnationspayforthehugeamountsofchemicalfertilizersandpesticides.”50FWilliamEngdahlwroteaboutthe“DoomsdaySeedVault”on4December2007NearthesmallArctictownofLongyearbyenonSpitsbergen,a“doomsdayseedvault”isbeingbuiltinsideamountain.Itwillcontainabankofupto3milliondifferentvarietiesofseedsfromaroundtheentireworld,collectedwiththeaimofconservingcropdiversityforthefuture.Theprojectisbeingfunded,interalia,byBillGates,theRockefellerFoundation,Monsanto,theSyngentaFoundationandtheGovernmentofNorway.51SuzanneGoldenbergon20/05/2015inTheLongReadinTheGuardian:Thedoomsdayvault:theseedsthatcouldsaveapost-apocalypticworldpointedouttheflaws:52“Despitethelaudableaim,theseedbankismisconceived:diversitycannotbeboxedupandconservedinacontainer,nomatterhowsecureitmaybe,andthiscorrespondstothepracticalexperienceoffarmers,especiallythoseindevelopingcountries,whichnowadayscontainthegreatestvarietyofplants.Indeed,sincetheenvironment,includingpestsanddiseases,isalwayschanging,cropsarecontinuallyadaptinginresponseandthe“frozendiversity”oftheseedswilllikelymakethemcompletelyunsuitablefortheprevailingconditionswhenevertheyareultimatelyreleased,notleastsinceglobalwarmingislikelytobringconsiderable,andunpredictable,changestotheenvironment.”Arcticstrongholdofworld’sseedsfloodedafterpermafrostmeltsIn2015Goldenbergwascorrect:“itisjustanoverpriceddeepfreeze”.DamianCarringtonreportsforTheGuardianon19May2017:53“Itwasdesignedasanimpregnabledeepfreezetoprotecttheworld’smostpreciousseedsfromanyglobaldisasterandensurehumanity’sfoodsupplyforever.ButtheGlobalSeedVault,buriedinamountaindeepinsidetheArcticCircle,hasbeenbreachedafterglobalwarmingproducedextraordinarytemperaturesoverthewinter,sendingmeltwatergushingintotheentrancetunnel.Noseedswerelostbuttheabilityoftherockvaulttoprovidefailsafeprotectionagainstalldisastersisnowthreatenedbyclimatechange.ButsoaringtemperaturesintheArcticattheendoftheworld’shottesteverrecordedyearledtomeltingandheavyrain,whenlightsnowshouldhavebeenfalling.“Itwasnotinourplanstothinkthatthepermafrostwouldnotbethereandthatitwouldexperienceextremeweatherlikethat,”saidHegeNjaaAschim,from

30http://www.globalresearch.ca/doomsday-seed-vault-in-the-arctic-2/2350349http://rockefeller100.org/exhibits/show/agriculture50http://www.globalresearch.ca/doomsday-seed-vault-in-the-arctic-2/2350351http://www.globalresearch.ca/doomsday-seed-vault-in-the-arctic-2/2350352https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/20/the-doomsday-vault-seeds-save-post-apocalyptic-world53https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/19/arctic-stronghold-of-worlds-seeds-flooded-after-permafrost-melts

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theNorwegiangovernment,whichownsthevault.”The‘globalélite’millionaireshavebeendeceivedbythechemicalsindustrythathascreatedaflawedsciencejusttomakemoneyTheso-called‘globalélite’appeartobeinadvertentlypoisoningthemselvesandtheirchildren,alongwitheveryoneelse.Theymaybeabletosurvivebyeatingorganicfood,buttheycannotevadethepollutionofwater,soilandairbygenotoxicandteratogenicherbicidesandinsecticidesandthelossofbiodiversity.TheUSCongress,whilevotingfortheDARK(“DenyAmericanstheRighttoKnow”)ActonbehalfofMonsanto,isunknowinglyeatingfoodcontaminatedbyneonicotinoidinsecticides.54IftheyarecurrentlyvotingforGMfoodnottobelabeled,howwilltheythemselvesknowwhatfoodcontainsGMandglyphosate?DavidGutierrezwroteon07/08/2015:“AbillpendingbeforetheUSSenatewouldnotjustdenyconsumerstherighttoknowwhethertheirfoodcontainsGMOs,itcouldalsostripstatesoftheirrighttolimitorregulatetheuseofdangerousherbicidechemicalswidelysprayedoverfieldsofGMcrops.Thebillinquestion,whichpassedavoteintheHouseofRepresentativesofJuly22,isformallyknownasH.R.1599,theSafeandAccurate”.FoodLabelingAct,buthascometobeknownbyorganicandnaturalfoodsadvocatesastheDARKAct”—because,farfromensuringaccuratefoodlabeling,thebillisactuallydesignedtopreventtheimplementationofmandatoryGMOlabelinglaws.55Abiologicaldesert:correlationoflossofbiodiversitywithglyphosatelevelsonanIowafarm.TheStateofIowawasjustoneareainwhichtheUSGSreportedwidespreadcontaminationwithglyphosate.56GrundyCounty,IowawaswhereCraigChildsspentalongweekendinamonocultureofGM“RoundupReady”cornlookingforwildlife.57“Inthiscornfield,Ihadcometoadifferentkindofplanetaryevolution.Ilistenedandheardnothing,nobirdnoclickofaninsect…MrOwenwasthefarmerwhohadgivenuspermissiontobackpackacrosshiscornfields.HegrewacombinationofDuPontandMonsantostock.WewereinDuPontnow.Itdidn’tlookanydifferenttome.”RobertKrulwichblog:58Cornfarmerschampioncorn.Anythingthatmighteatcorn,hurtcorn,bothercorn,iskilled.Theircornisbredtofightpests.Thegroundissprayed.Thestalksaresprayedagain.So,Craigwondered,"WhatwillIfind?"Theansweramazedme.Hefoundalmostnothing.Therewerenobees.Theair,theground,seemedvacant.Hefoundoneant‘sosmallyoucouldn'tpinittoaspecimenboard.’Alittlelater,crawlingtoadifferentrow,hefoundonemushroom,‘thesizeofanappleseed.’Then,later,acobwebspidereatingacranefly(onlyone).Asingleredmite‘thesizeofadustmotehurryingacrossthebarrenearth,somegrasshoppers,andthat'sit.’Thoughhecrawledandcrawled,hefoundnothingelse.‘Itfeltlikeanotherplanetentirely,’hesaid,aworlddenuded.Incontrast,“Yet,100yearsago,thesesamefields,theseprairies,werehometo300speciesofplants,60mammals,300birds,hundredsandhundredsofinsects.Thissoilwastherichest,theloamiestinthestate.Andnow,inthesepatches,thereisalmostliterallynothingbutonekind

54http://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CongressionalDiningHallReport_July2015.pdf55http://www.globalresearch.ca/dark-act-would-cause-americas-crop-fields-to-be-saturated-with-cancer-causing-glyphosate-monsanto-roundup/546788956http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jawr.12159/abstract57Childs,C.ApocalypticPlanet.FieldGuidetotheFutureoftheEarth,ch.6,SpeciesVanish,p.187.NewYork:VintageBooks(2013)58http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2012/11/29/166156242/cornstalks-everywhere-but-nothing-else-not-even-a-bee

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oflivingthing.We’veerasedeverythingelse.There’ssomethingstrangeaboutafarmthatintentionallycreatesabiologicaldeserttoproducefoodforonespecies:us.It’sefficient,yes.Butit’ssoefficientthattheantsaremissing,thebeesaremissing,andeventhebirdsstayaway.Something’snotrighthere.Ourcornfieldsaretooquiet”.59USwildbeesaredisappearingfrommostoftheimportantfarmlands60“Thefirst-everstudytomapU.S.wildbeessuggeststheyaredisappearinginthecountry'smostimportantfarmlands--fromCalifornia'sCentralValleytotheMidwest'scornbeltandtheMississippiRivervalley.Ifwildbeedeclinescontinue,itcouldhurtU.S.cropproductionandfarmers'costs,”saidTaylorRicketts,aconservationecologistattheUniversityofVermont,attheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience(AAAS)annualmeetingpanel,PlanBee:Pollinators,FoodProductionandU.S.PolicyonFeb.192017.GMRoundupReadycropsarebeinggrownovermuchofUSfarmland.Monsanto’sSodaSpringsplantinphosphorusminesSoutheastIdahooperatingsincethe1950swasgiventoxicwastesitedesignationin1990bytheUSEPA:itiscurrentlyactiveBartElmore,anassistantprofessorofenvironmentalhistoryattheOhioStateUniversityandaCarnegieFellowatNewAmericawrotethefollowingaccount:61“IobtainedfilesfromtheEPAviaaFreedomofInformationActrequestthattellthestoryofRoundup’soriginsataSuperfundhazardouswastesite.Thesedocumentsshowthattherearedisturbingenvironmentalandhumanhealthconcernsatthebeginning,notjustattheend,ofRoundup’slifecycle.Monsanto’sweedkillercomesfrombeneaththesoil.TheactiveingredientinRoundupisglyphosate,whichisultimatelyderivedfromelementalphosphorousextractedfromphosphaterockburiedbelowground.MonsantogetsitsphosphatefromminesinSoutheastIdahonearthetownofSodaSprings,asmallcommunityofabout3,000people.

59http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2012/11/29/166156242/cornstalks-everywhere-but-nothing-else-not-even-a-bee60https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170219165128.htm61https://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/monsanto-roundup-production-superfund-sites-radioactive

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Thecompanyhasbeenoperatingtheresincethe1950s…Thisdumpinghappenedabouteveryfifteenminutes,lightingupthenightsky.Horsesgrazedinafieldjustafewdozenyardsaway,glowingintheradiatingrayscomingfromthelava-likesludge.Rowsofbarley,forBudweiserbeer,*wavedinthedistance.Monsanto’sSodaSpringsplantiscurrentlyanactiveSuperfundsite,havingachievedthattoxicwastesitedesignationin1990.TheEPAofferedadishearteningconclusion:“Monitoringtrendsindicatethatthegroundwaterperformancestandardswillnotbemetintheforeseeablefuture.”Harmfulonsitepollutantsincludecadmium,selenium,andradioactiveradiumallofwhichcancauseserioushealthproblemsinhumansinhighconcentrations.”*Glyphosateresidueswerefoundin14Germanbeers.62

DouglasGowanhadtohavepoliceprotectionuntilhisReportwas‘lost’andthedangerofanInquiryintoBrofiscinQuarrywasoverbutheisleftwithlong-termeffectsofPCBs“GowanhashighlevelsofPCBinhisblood–30timesabovetheaverage–andsuffersimmunesystemsuppressionandmuscularseizuresthatimmobilisehim.Heisregistereddisabled.HetoldTheEcologist(2007)thathewasrecentlythreatenedbytelephonewithhavinghisbenefitsstoppedifhecontinuedtospeakout.HisunwelcomecallerclaimedtoberepresentingtheTreasuryandEnvironmentAgency”.

Monsanto’ssecretlong-termstudiesonanimalslodgedwiththeUSEPAAnthonySamselhasobtainedunderFOIfromtheUSEPAalargenumberofdocumentsoflong-termstudiesonanimalsthatconfirmthatMonsantoknewglyphosatewascarcinogenic,butlikePCBs,concealedthefacts.63OneofMonsanto’ssecretstudiesinalbinoratsin1990showedglyphosatecausedcataractsandeyedamage.64Thisisnumber4intheseriesof6sofar:Glyphosate:pathwaystomoderndiseasesbySamselandSeneff.

USEPAGlyphosateIssuePaper:EvaluationofCarcinogenicPotential65TheUSEPAdismissedSamsel&Seneff’sfive(nowsix)papersonGlyphosate:PathwaystoModernDiseasesas‘notoriginalwork’.

DrDonHuberspeakingaboutGMOcropsandglyphosate“Futurehistoriansmaywelllookbackuponourtimeandwrite,notabouthowmanypoundsofpesticidewedidordidn’tapply,butbyhowwillingwearetosacrificeourchildrenandfuturegenerationsforthismassivegeneticengineeringexperimentthatisbasedonflawedscienceandfailedpromisesjusttobenefitthebottomlineofacommercialenterprise.”

RosemaryMason MB ChB FRCA

30May2017

62http://sustainablepulse.com/2016/02/25/german-beer-industry-in-shock-over-probable-carcinogen-glyphosate-contamination/63http://www.amsi.ge/jbpc/31515/11SA15R.pdf64Stout,L.D.&Ruecker,F.A.Chronicstudyofglyphosateadministeredinfeedtoalbinorats.UnpublishedStudy,ProjectNo.MSL-10495.MonsantoAgriculturalCompany(2,175pp.)EPAMRID416438-01(26September1990)65https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0385-0094