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So here we go, in no particular order... |
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2. Monsanto et al. What would a list of this nature be without our esteemed friends who want to turn the whole world into one giant corporate-owned petrie dish? Why, not much of a list, that's for sure. Monsanto and the rest of the industry giants are slowly coming to the realization that WE. DON'T. WANT. THEIR. FOOD. How many countries will it take to ban U.S. exports of genetically engineered products and seeds until they realize that they are not wanted? It's almost like some poor, pathetic creature that didn't get invited to the party but keeps pounding on the door trying to get in. Except this poor, pathetic creature is in fact a massive corporate beast bent on trademarking life itself, making farmers indentured servants and consumers their science experiment. Well, it's all backfiring. Across the world, anti-biotech sentiment has reached a fever pitch and unified people of many backgrounds and nationalities against the corporate seed pushers. And Monsanto: it's not simply because of your, er, "enthusiasm" for biotech. Try marketing it any way you want and the answer will be the same: we don't want it. Period. To read about Monsanto and company's marketing machinations, click here.
5. StarLink corn and Aventis. StarLink, oh how we love you. It was the biggest public embarrassment for both the biotech industry and the government agency that supposed to be protecting our food supply. Hello FDA! First, the illegal biotech corn showed up in some Taco Bell shells. Next it was found in some store brands at Safeway. In all, about 300 products had to be recalled, and that's not counting the mysterious secret recall of a bunch of Kellogg's cereals ("they're GR-RRR-OSS!!). Aventis lost millions of dollars, and the biotech industry ended up with a well-deserved black eye. This one rated five stories: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
With a field this rich with options, it's oh so hard to find the
egregious examples that, shall we say, rise to the top. But, for
the sake of our loyal visitors, we took it upon ourselves to clench
our noses, hold our breath and plunge into the mire. And this
is what we dug up. Pity us. A 5-hour long hot shower with loofah
and soap, not to mention a cleansing sage burning ceremony, could
not wipe the stench of corporate ickiness from our pores. See
what we're willing to do for you? We're all about love, people.
Shall we proceed?
1. ABC News and John Stossel. Mr. Stossel, I have a question for you... What starts with an
H, rhymes with flack, and is a four letter word? No, John, 'apple'
doesn't start with an H, it doesn't rhyme with fl - oh, never
mind. The word is HACK. As in, "My cat hacked something up" but
worse. According to my Oxford Concise English Dictionary, a hack
is a person hired to do dull routine work. As an addendum to my
friends at Oxford, I will add that a hack is a person hired to
do dull routine work, and get paid large amounts of money to make
inflammatory, shrill and ultimately bogus reports that benefit
corporate interests whilst posing as a "contrarian" and a "voice
of the people". And when ABC did not demand your resignation after
your "exposé" (who was truly exposed, John?) against organic foods,
they reinforced shoddy journalism and journalists everywhere.
ABC's reputation is diminished, Stossel's reputation as transparent
corporate shill has been buffed and shined, and - oh - what's
that sound? Edward R. Murrow is spinning in his grave. To read
about the Stossel debacle (hey, it's a rhyme! well, sort of),
3. The USDA. Technically not a corporation, but, really, who are they kidding?
With the rotating door between the USDA, Monsanto and the FDA,
it's really one big happy family anyway. Imagine their summer
picnics! Anyway, after all their years of bowing to corporate
interests and treating consumer protection as though it's a poker
card they desperately want to get rid of, we hereby decree that
the USDA is an honorary corporation (perhaps USDA, Inc.?) Congratulations,
guys! This year the USDA displayed their obvious contempt and
disregard for human health by approving meat with cancers, tumor
and open sores for consumption. Dee-lish! Those who crave cancer,
tumor, and sore-laden meat shan't be discriminated against, 
4. Fox News and Monsanto. It is with unbridled glee that we mention Monsanto again! Those
guys were busier than heck this year. Kids, gather around the
computer and we'll tell you a little story. Once upon a time,
there were two esteemed reporters who worked for Fox news in Florida.
They wanted to tell the story about how rBGH - a growth hormone
injected into cows - made the cows sick, the farmers poor, and
consumers worried about the effects of all those growth hormone's
they and their loved ones were ingesting. The problem is that
when Monsanto, the manufacturer of rBGH, got wind of the story,
they warned the news director to put the kibosh on it or suffer
serious repercussions. After months of wrangling, maneuvering
and rejected rewrites, the reporters were unceremoniously fired.
The reporters sued. Read about their trials and tribulations here,
and about one reporter's landmark settlement 
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