11
10
8
Remember that the modern Golden Rule is: He who hath the gold makes the rules!
For decades, Monsanto has been involved in an unbelievable number of lawsuits. Among them was one described in the Toronto Star, Sunday Ontario Edition on February 17, 2002, when residents of Anniston, Alabama, sought compensation from Monsanto for secretly poisoning them for decades.
"From 1935 to 1972, Monsanto manufactured polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at its Anniston plant. Documents show that Monsanto knew as early as the 1950s that PCBs were a toxic danger, but that the company skillfully hid that evidence from residents, all the while dumping PCB waste - sometimes more than 110 kilograms of it a day - into two huge unlined landfill sites."
The landfills leached PCBs, lead and mercury into Anniston's streams and soil.
"The EPA concluded that its tests, along with those conducted by Alabama agencies, 'have determined that the PCB contamination is attributable to the operations of the former Monsanto plant.'
Scientists confirm that PCBs can cause cancer, neurological disorders, reproductive problems, immune-system depression, developmental problems in children, liver damage and skin irritation.
Critics of the genetically modified food industry see the Anniston story as a cautionary tale, since Monsanto is one of the multinational corporations now asking the world to accept its word that GM food crops are safe."
"Donald Stewart, lawyer for the plaintiffs, told the jury it's clear Monsanto knew for decades about the problem it was causing - Harvard scientists linked PCBs to health hazards in the late 1930s - but did virtually nothing. Instead, he said, the company put "profits before safety."
Luckily for Monsanto, in 2000, it was able to sell the NutraSweet Company to J.W. Childs and Equal was sold to Merisant. Tokyo-based food and chemical maker Ajinomoto Co. also purchased part of the company. Undoubtedly, this was cleverly done to keep artificial sweetener lawsuits out of the courts and away from Monsanto's doors.
However, aspartame is still as much of a danger as it was when it was first marketed.
Just as Monsanto hid the dangers of PCBs, it skillfully hid the dangers of aspartame.
As a teacher, I am especially upset when students drink diet soda.
In addition to causing other serious health problems, aspartame can definitely have a subtle effect on cognitive functioning and can interfere with the concentration and attention skills of the students.
Most students realize that illegal drugs and smoking are bad for them, but many don't know anything about the hazards of aspartame. With all the media attention on obesity these days, Americans will start using even more "diet" products.
Yes, obesity is a serious problem!!! However, what upsets me even more is that people turn to artificial sweeteners in an attempt to lose weight or prevent weight gain.
Several important studies have shown that artificial sweeteners contribute to weight gain!!! People who lose weight while consuming them are losing only because they have the determination to make proper food choices and to exercise.
