Hundreds March in Springfield to Stop GMO's

By Scott and Ruth Ledbetter

5-25-2013

People from all across Southwest Missouri marched down streets in Springfield today raising awareness of the harm of genetically modified organisms (GMO's) and calling for all GMO ingredients to be labeled. Over 250 people showed up in support of the international March Against Monsanto. Springfield was just one of over 250 cities worldwide that saw a swelling of grass root efforts to label and ban all GMO's. 

Marchers began at around 11:30 this morning from Meador Park and moved around the Battlefield Mall, to the honking of cars and cheers from onlookers, until they reached the Springfield Farmer's Market at the corner of Battlefield and Glenstone.  They carried signs and chanted "No more GMO" as they walked.

GMO's are food that have had specific changes to their DNA caused by genetic engineering (GE).  Although the leading companies, such as Monsanto and Dow Agribusiness, have submitted scientific papers in support of their GE crops, scientists really do not know what these changes to crops DNA can do to the human body. 

Monsanto, and companies that buy from them such as Coca-Cola, Kraft and General Mills, have fought hard to prevent the mandatory labeling of GMOs.  Monsanto fears that both the people will reject the food if they know that GMOs are present, and that companies who buy from them would not want to have to label the GMOs and will stop buying from them.

Monsanto also is known to have lawmakers and others on their payroll.  The three politicians that they financed the most are Missouri Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt, as well as President Obama.  Republican Senator Blunt actually admits that he wrote the Monsanto Protection Act along with personnel from Monsanto.  US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas once worked for Monsanto.

Organizers of this years March hope that this will be an annual event.