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"The Court's decision confirms the extraordinary scope of the material support statute's criminalization of speech. But it also notes that the scope of the prohibitions may not be clear in every application, and that remains the case for the many difficult questions raised at argument but dodged by today's opinion, including whether publishing an op-ed or submitting an amicus brief in court arguing that a group does not belong on the list is a criminal act."
CCR called the ruling "one of a very few times that the Supreme Court has upheld a criminal prohibition of speech under strict scrutiny, and the first time it has permitted the government to make it a crime to advocate lawful, nonviolent activity."
Given extremist right wing governance under both parties, (Eric Holder the new John Ashcroft, Alberto Gonzales, or Michael Mukasey; Obama the new Bush) no longer do constitutional protections apply. As a result, anyone may be prosecuted for supporting human rights, civil liberties, democratic freedom, writing articles like this one, or airing populist views on programs like the Progressive Radio News Hour.
High Court Lifts Ban on GMO Alfalfa in Monsanto v. Geertson Seed Farms
On June 21, The New York Times published Greenwire writer Jennifer Koons' article, headlined, "Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Planting GM Alfalfa," saying:
"In its first ruling on genetically engineered crops, the Supreme Court today overturned a lower court's decision prohibiting Monsanto Co. from selling pesticide-resistant alfalfa seeds until the government completes an environmental impact study."
In 2006, environmental groups, farmers and consumers sued the USDA, forcing it to rescind its 2005 approval, arguing that cross-pollination could contaminate farmland, and that overusing Monsanto's Roundup herbicide would harm soil and groundwater, creating "Roundup-resistant 'super weeds.' "
After the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ban, Monsanto appealed to the Supreme Court, winning 7 - 1, Justice Stephen Breyer abstaining because his brother, US District Court Judge Charles Breyer, ruled against the USDA in 2007.
Another case is now affected, "involving Monsanto's breed of pesticide-resistant sugar beets, US District Court Judge Jeffrey White allow(ing) plantings of the modified crops to continue this year but warned that he might block use of Monsanto's seeds in future seasons while an environmental review takes place."
Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Humane Society of the United States, and National Resources Defense Council filed an amicus brief against the ruling, arguing that it will limit their ability to rely on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) protections "to ensure a meaningful consideration by federal agencies of the impacts of their actions on the environment, and particularly wildlife and plants."
California, Oregon and Massachusetts Attorneys General also filed briefs for their "states' interests in protecting their natural resources and their citizens' rights to be informed about the environmental impacts of federal actions."
Monsanto supporters included the US Chamber of Commerce, the American Petroleum Institute, CropLife America (favoring pesticide proliferation), and the National Association of Home Builders, filing their own brief, advocating no restraints on the right to pollute and plunder, even at the expense of human health, the usual position they endorse.
Alfalfa is America's fourth largest crop, grown on about 23 million acres, according to Monsanto.
Harmful GMO Seeds and Foods
In 2003, Jeffrey's Smith's "Seeds of Deception" exposed the dangers of GM foods and ingredients, independent tests showing them harmful to human health. For example, rats fed GM potatoes had smaller livers, hearts, testicles and brains, damaged immune systems, and structural changes in their white blood cells, making them vulnerable to infection, disease and early deaths - compared to other rats fed non-GM potatoes.
In addition, after 10 days of testing (the human equivalent of 10 years), thymus and spleen damage, enlarged tissues, liver atrophy, and significant proliferation of stomach and intestines cells (a sign of future cancer risk) showed up.
