There was a lively turnout in central London today as part of a global ‘March Against Monsanto’ protest.
The main protest was outside Parliament, where there was a fine turnout of banners on display, along with a mobile band,which the police didn’t seem too keen on. Here’s some photos from the protest:
Drum kit and PA system on a bicycle trailer. They played a lot of Clash covers.
The band goes mobile and heads off into Parliament Square.
Cops try to push the protesters back.
Into Parliament Square.
Background info from the event page:
Why do we march?
- Research studies have shown that Monsanto’s genetically-modified foods can lead to serious health conditions such as the development of cancer tumors, infertility and birth defects.
- In the United States, the FDA, the agency tasked with ensuring food safety for the population, is steered by ex-Monsanto executives, and we feel that’s a questionable conflict of interests and explains the lack of government-lead research on the long-term effects of GMO products.
- Recently, the U.S. Congress and president collectively passed the nicknamed “Monsanto Protection Act” that, among other things, bans courts from halting the sale of Monsanto’s genetically-modified seeds.
- For too long, Monsanto has been the benefactor of corporate subsidies and political favoritism. Organic and small farmers suffer losses while Monsanto continues to forge its monopoly over the world’s food supply, including exclusive patenting rights over seeds and genetic makeup.
- Monsanto’s GMO seeds are harmful to the environment; for example, scientists have indicated they have caused colony collapse among the world’s bee population. [more]
What are solutions we advocate?
- Voting with your dollar by buying organic and boycotting Monsanto-owned companies that use GMOs in their products.
- Labeling of GMOs so that consumers can make those informed decisions easier.
- Repealing relevant provisions of the US’s “Monsanto Protection Act.”
- Calling for further scientific research on the health effects of GMOs.
- Holding Monsanto executives and Monsanto-supporting politicians accountable through direct communication, grassroots journalism, social media, etc.
- Continuing to inform the public about Monsanto’s secrets.
- Taking to the streets to show the world and Monsanto that we won’t take these injustices quietly.
We will not stand for cronyism. We will not stand for poison. That’s why we March Against Monsanto.
Related posts:
Parliament student protest, 9th Dec 2010 – photos
Save the NHS protest, Department of Health, London
Carol singing in Parliament Square, 2005
March for the Alternative, London demo: 220 photos
Protest the Pope march, central London – photo report
Photos from the TUC March for the Alternative, 26th March 2011
Lambeth Save our Services: March, Demo and Rally
Climate change march, London
SO as it started missed the march but thought we’d be able to make it up by voicing at the march endsite. It turns out that the city did not sign off of amplifiers so it was one woman yelling vital facts she what I believe I heard her say was that she was a teacher at UC Berkley. The crowd was so minimal that it felt like it was making me lose my voice. It’s hard fighting that helpless feeling, I don’t understand why it makes me cry out internally yet can’t vocalize it properly. It felt as if there was a deliberate attempt to drown out this march. It felt as if many other big events like some city thing and fanimecon were set around this date to deter everyone’s attention, and it worked. There were few honks as drivers drove past with no idea that they were slowly being poisoned to death.
I cried….I felt hopeless….I felt like they had won.
Luckily I have my amazing boys and ****** reminded me that AT LEAST that many people were educated. at least THAT many people cared, I saw mothers there outraged that their children are being targeted for slaughter. A firetruck pulled over and listened to the woman speak, and waved to us showing their support…
I am so thankful for wonderful people, and it hurt so much that it has inspired me to try to do more. I do not, in ANY way understand how it is alright to be outright to our face poisoned,
lied to about said poisoning,
treated like idiots or worse
a number
and people are not outraged. We are so hooked on the finer things that life would be tragic without them. I am going to do my best to not eat ANY GMO foods but it is hard (and kinda terrifying) considering that MOST FOODS HAVE THEM, even and especially one’s marked “All natural” or “organic” there are symbols and seals to look for. ugh…
***** then went out of his way to show generosity with hugs and snarky remarks to make me smile about the doom of humanity but we’ll be koo. (all in jest I was trying desperately to hide my complete and utter defeat through semi-suicidal thought inducing depression.) He reminded me of what the concept of peace can be as he handed out white daisies to strangers insisting that we do as well. Humanity can be seen in a smile, he reminded me that the concept of peace can and WILL happen naturally otherwise humanity will perish, and this idea was oddly comforting to me.
But all in all my AMAZING boys ******** ***** and ******* ***** helped re-assure me that it is not lost, it’s still in the beginning stages…that group WILL grow. The marches WILL be longer… Government sanctioned mass-genocide will end, one way or another. I just hope I’m alive to see it
<3 )O( Blessed Be…)O( <3
Extremely encouraging! Wish I could have been there!
The only way “they” will win is if we all give up and stop fighting.
I agree 100% with that one
Dearest BlueDreamGirl, do you have any idea how many people, you and all the other marching and non marching souls in only preparing this event,you have reached and touched??? No way you must feel even near to ‘defeated’!!!! There is sooo many silent folks,who, through this event, got aware what’s going on. I personally don’t believe, that our governments will change anything,cos they’re all earning too much from ‘Monsanto’,’Bayer ‘ & co. into their private pockets. BUT,if we can make people growing their own food, on roofgardens,pots,rented land,where many families together could grow and share, if we could make them keep their seeds and encourage them to look for only old sorts,that would really change something. There will be many more marches, and one fine day,we will not need them anymore, we will have outlived these greedy superpower-companies.The thing is: WE KNOW ,WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH…-…THEY DON’T!!!!!