The third annual ‘March against Monsanto’ protest is taking place in cities around the world. Activists are highlighting the monopoly the GMO giant has in controlling food supply. Protesters say Monsanto controls 90 percent of the seed market in the US.
24 May 2015
Check out RT’s wrap-up story on global protests against Monsanto and GMO products:
World stands up against Monsanto: Over 400 cities protest GMOs
Toronto's March Against Monsanto was a success !!! #MarchAgainstMosanto#MAMpic.twitter.com/oEemRsh0Zz
— polarsets (@TorontoFiction) May 24, 2015
23 May 2015
Protesters in London, Ontario, Canada want “Real food” – and want it “now!” Ontario beekeepers also symbolically dumped a coffin full of dead honey bees during their protest, which they had gathered from farms across the province, CBC News reported.
#MarchAgainstMonsanto March In #LdnOnt#Ontario May 23rd 2015 #onpoli#MAM2015#Canada#NoGMO#stopMonsantohttp://t.co/PC1SKLL1Y5
— Occupy WSIB (@occupywsib) May 23, 2015
Activists demand ‘GMO-free’ Hawaii at a protest against the agriculture giants.
Happening now! #MarchAgainstMosanto#GMOFreeOahuhttps://t.co/xtRcCd9WnPpic.twitter.com/zy0wOdcs2k
— BabesAgainstBiotech (@BabesAgainstGMO) May 23, 2015
Love this peacefully protesting #dog#gmo#MarchAgainstMosantopic.twitter.com/UEY0aZEQW9
— D (@Synthpopper) May 23, 2015
Chicago protesters have marched against Monsanto and GMO food, blocking off traffic in several streets.
#MarchAgainstMosanto Chicago rallies for #foodjusticepic.twitter.com/cipBRZujyg
— danette sokacich (@danettesokacich) May 23, 2015
Buy local, organic, free trade, non GMO, sustainable. March against Monsanto Chicago #hellnoGMO#Organic@URBANROOTSpic.twitter.com/pdOqMjErvr
— Ryan Kucinski (@RyanKucinski) May 23, 2015
March against Monsanto tying up traffic in Chicago Loop. #noGMO#NoFastTrack@ABC7Chicago@abcWNNpic.twitter.com/bQPtiwyUZm
— Debra Hopkins (@ladydashby) May 23, 2015
Meanwhile, in San Francisco...
#MarchAgainstMosanto SF arrives at the world famous crab sign here at fisherman's wharf pic.twitter.com/rK3DaNXSnU
— #pUNkIsAStateOfMind (@punkboyinsf) May 23, 2015
In San Francisco, protesters against #Monsantopic.twitter.com/7mqCIJRu83
— Shawn Freeman (@smf_chi) May 23, 2015
The Los Angeles Police Department attempted to block Hollywood Boulevard as a crowd of anti-Monsanto protesters marched through East Hollywood. Activists posted surreal clips of LAPD cars seemingly joining the march, with their sirens running, to escort the protesters. The march has since headed to a park.
VID: March on Monsanto in Los Angeles taking Hollywood Blvd #mampic.twitter.com/R2d5CuMMiD
— Nancy Mancias (@nancymancias) May 23, 2015
LAPD have joined the March on Monsanto in East Hollywood pic.twitter.com/8jpvnVN9QM
— Nancy Mancias (@nancymancias) May 23, 2015
California.
Now that's the spirit. #GMOLabeling#MarchAgainstMosantopic.twitter.com/c1yFG0PmDt
— Christie Mayer (@IDzine01) May 23, 2015
Hundreds of protesters have marched on the White House and Monsanto’s Washington headquarters as part of the anti-GMO action. Watch Ruptly’s video of the protest.
Some impressions of the protests in Indianapolis, IN.
WE WILL BE HEARD - #MarchAgainstMosanto#mam#Indianapolis#RealPowersPeoplepic.twitter.com/ERbxQ0DugG
— Blooded the Brave (@BloodedtheBrave) May 23, 2015
"Until lambs become lions." - Kids with Courage #MarchAgainstMosanto#GMO#BornFree#mam#UpTheRebelspic.twitter.com/f6mDdHTK1r
— Blooded the Brave (@BloodedtheBrave) May 23, 2015
More from anti-Monsanto march in Los Angeles.
HELL NO GMO #MarchAgainstMosantopic.twitter.com/TddVBDVX9D
— The Veronicas (@TheVeronicas) May 23, 2015
Watch RT’s Marina Portnaya reporting from a march against Monsanto in New York City, RT’s Lizzie Phelan describing the atmosphere of the Paris march and anti-Monsanto moods in France, and RT's Peter Oliver talking to anti-GMO activists in the German capital Berlin.
Eugene, Oregon is also taking part.
happening now: protest & march against #monsanto in #eugene. #nogmopic.twitter.com/pAZmdFws2f
— kimberly grace (@grace8ming) May 23, 201
An anti-GMO speech is taking place in Portland, Oregon, in both English and Spanish. The person on stage says: "We want justice. Stop poisoning our food. Stop being ignorant. Wake up!"
@AnonLegion_Arg "stop poisoning our food!" #MarchaContraMonsanto#MonsantoPDX#Monsanto#Portlandpic.twitter.com/hiBV2TuCpG
— Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) May 23, 2015
Protesters in Washington, DC are marching on the White House.
Anti-#GMO groups march on White House for Occupy #Monsantohttp://t.co/yHYYmegmvJpic.twitter.com/NSkFOUl343
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) May 23, 2015
The streets of Los Angeles are filled with protesters.
NOW: 100s gathered in Los Angeles protesting #Monsanto! #MarchAgainstMonsantopic.twitter.com/FCS3U9onmn
— ANSWER Coalition (@answercoalition) May 23, 2015
A demonstrator carries a protest sign in Brazil while wearing a hazmat suit.
#Brazil#Monsanto V/ @AnonLegion_Arg#MAM#MAM2015 MT pic.twitter.com/V06qjEYtDO
— Loli Lopesino (@LoliLopesino) May 23, 2015
Farmers are taking part in a demonstration in Asutuare, Ghana.
Farmers embark on #GMO demo at Asutuare in Ghana http://t.co/Fv7gKI7tN2#Africa
— GMWatch (@GMWatch) May 23, 2015
Protesters have hit the streets of the Big Apple.
From New York to @via_campesina, from Wall Street to main street, we are oppressed and killed by #Monsanto#Syngentapic.twitter.com/kiu3A45nrC
— End Your Silence (@EndYourSilence) May 23, 201
Participants in Puerto Rico are marching along to music. One sign shows the words "No more venom," along with the picture of a gas mask.
Marcha contra la experimentación #Monsanto en #PuertoRico#MarchAgainstMonsantohttp://t.co/5KCW4mGDqM@ElNuevoDiapic.twitter.com/ht2dETEg6S
— Lluís Ahicart (@lluisahicart) May 23, 2015
Demonstrators in the city of Kelowna in British Columbia, Canada, are shouting "Hey hey, ho ho, GMOs have got to go!" More than 100 people are reportedly taking part.
More than 100 people rallying on Harvey Ave in #Kelowna for March Against #Monsanto right now. pic.twitter.com/sksg0MdAH4
— Neetu Garcha (@NeetuGarcha) May 23, 2015
The march in San Diego is reportedly 1,500-strong.
Taking whole street downtown #Sandiego 1500 marching @OccupySDpic.twitter.com/JqVgzv2fAT
— Artful Activist SD (@ArtActSD) May 23, 2015
Protesters are marching through the streets of Oakland, California, chanting and carrying anti-GMO signs.
#Monsanto#MarchAgainstMonsanto#Oaklandpic.twitter.com/d4wy2tDWRU
— Erika (@ErikaStaci) May 23, 201
Miami is also protesting. One person's sign reads: "Label GMOs since you claim they are good." Another says "Seeds belong to nature, not to Monsanto." A third one says: "Monsanto's worst enemy is an informed public."
Happening Now:Miami hundreds stand against #Monsanto GMOs we demand food labeling @CBSMiami#Banned@c4gmolabelingpic.twitter.com/tVkSdUXElS
— Ecomarketstore (@ecomarketstore) May 23, 201
Morges, Switzerland is holding a protest, with one Twitter user stating that 1,500 people are in attendance. As RT previously reported, the Swiss city of Basel is also taking part.
#Switzerland: 1500 people in the streets of #Morges against #Monsanto. Sit-in in front of its european headquarter. https://t.co/7Ik1dZaVPj
— Emmanuel (@EmmanuelGMay) May 23, 201
A protest in Amsterdam's Dam Square. Signs are speaking out against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). It was reported on Friday that EU moves to regulate hormone-damaging chemicals were shelved following pressure from US trade officials over the TTIP.
Demo tegen #ttip en #Monsanto in Amsterdam. pic.twitter.com/blSSQg74x8
— Brigitte vd Bent (@BrigittevdBent) May 23, 2015
Anti-GMO protesters in Las Vegas have jumped on board, too.
#MarchAgainstMosanto#Vegas@MonsantoCopic.twitter.com/ExdbRWWwXi
— armyofi (@armyofi) May 23, 2015
Those who support Monsanto and GMOs have launched the 'March against Myths.' This photo shows a few of them holding signs reading: "We love GMOs" and "Don't be myth informed." They are posting pictures of their cause under the hashtag #MAMyths.
We have biology students that joined us! #MAMythspic.twitter.com/mq9A6HYFiw
— Marc Brazeau (@realfoodorg) May 23, 2015
This shot shows just some of the demonstrators that protested in Paris today.
#Paris Against #Monsanto@UFO4Upic.twitter.com/M9o6STvQb5
— bambou (@bamboudesmers) May 23, 2015
Sign-wielding demonstrators in Chile have joined the action against Monsanto.
MT @Sweetfran25: On the #MarchAgainstMonsanto in Santiago, Chile pic.twitter.com/CgolKh5gx5#MAM#MAM2015#gmo
— GMWatch (@GMWatch) May 23, 2015
Protesters in Mexico were accompanied by a burst of color during their march.
Continua festival del maíz en #Mexico, en defensa del cultivo tradicional y en contra de #Monsantopic.twitter.com/xArtmQzUL5
— Eduardo Martinez (@EduardomteleSUR) May 23, 2015
People of all ages have been telling the public just what they think about Monsanto.
10 yr old giving an angry speech directed at @MonsantoCo#MarchAgainstMonsantopic.twitter.com/insdwiCTOo
— Brandon (@b__zimm) May 23, 2015
This 10 year-old was giving a speech hitting out at the multi-national company in Easton, Pennsylvania.
The supporters of Monsanto have had a difficult time of things in trying to express their position.
We put the #ProGMOshills behind Monsanto crime scene tape! #MAM2015@MAMDCMetropic.twitter.com/D844syXjDW
— Occupy Monsanto (@gmo917) May 23, 2015
Some colorful banners in Cordoba, Argentina, in the March against Monsanto.
"Monsanto - We are not intending for a better world," says the placard in the middle.
#FueraMonsanto - #Argentina - #Cordoba MARCHA CONTRA MONSANTO #MarchAgainstMonsantopic.twitter.com/JMIGarxWIr
— BWN Argentina (@bwnnoticias) May 23, 2015
The Occupy Monsanto organization, which is committed to stopping genetic contamination and seeking people to act locally in order to bring change globally, released a series of statements.
“We are marching because we’re tired of being ignored by the White House, FDA, and the USDA,” said Gene Etic, an organizer with Occupy Monsanto.
The White House has still failed to respond to a number of petitions to make sure that GMO products are labeled. The Food and Drug Agency officially states that there is not any material difference between GMO plants and their non-GMO counterparts.
“I want this basic information so I can choose which foods to feed my children,” said Natalie Freeds, an organizer with the Washington, DC, March against Monsanto. Over 64 countries around the world either ban GE foods or require them to be properly labeled, including Russia, China, and the EU.
Not all fast-food restaurants are using GMOs. In late April, Chipotle became the first chain to ban them in all the food it serves. The Mexican chain removed non-organic soya and corn from its tortillas and other menu items.
"Chipotle was the first national restaurant company to disclose the GMO ingredients in our food, and now we are the first to cook only with non-GMO ingredients," the company wrote on its website.
READ MORE: GMO-free burritos: Chipotle 1st fast-food chain to ditch genetic-modifications
Back in 2013, Chipotle started showing which items contain GMOs. On April 27, it removed those items altogether from the 68 ingredients ‒ including salt and pepper ‒ served at its 1,831 restaurants.
An interesting Tweet from Rotterdam in the Netherlands...
#Monsanto#Rotterdam is genuinly concerned about your health.. When it comes to driving! #Irony#MarchAgainstMosantopic.twitter.com/b28IoVvc12
— Eveline van Wanrooij (@RotterdamTours) May 23, 2015
Protesters in Albany, New York getting their placards ready.
#marchagainstmonsanto#albanypic.twitter.com/u6N9ODEwo1
— Felicia Bee (@babyfishfel) May 23, 2015
RT's Lizzie Phelan has been busy in and around Paris today. This is part of her latest report from the French capital:
“There have been several thousand people today in Paris bringing parts of the capital to a standstill. They have been chanting ‘Monsanto no! My health, yes!" she said.
Phelan mentioned that while Monsanto's corn is banned in the country, the company's pesticides are not - something that the protesters in France want to change.
“People here want the French government to take Monsanto to court for poisoning the global food supply and they say that unless Monsanto is stopped then people worldwide will be suffering from the consequences for generations to come," she concluded.
Meanwhile, Colombia is taking steps to do just that. It wants to ban the controversial herbicide Glyphosate, which is also known as RoundUp and supplied by Monsanto.
READ MORE: Colombia plans to eradicate Monsanto weed killer in drug war
The South American country had employed US contractors for decades to spray illegal cocoa fields. However, President Juan Manuel Santos says this process is going to come to an end over fears of health hazards and collateral damage to legal farmlands.
“I am going to ask the government officials in the National Drug Council at their next meeting to suspend glyphosate spraying of illicit cultivations,” the Colombian president said.
Protesters in Malta are calling on the government to ban pesticides from public spaces, residential zones, and both public and private gardens.
Malta’s govt urged to ban pesticides from public spaces in #MarchAgainstMonsantohttp://t.co/HSQJp3EtIG#MAM#MAM2015pic.twitter.com/au0V62eQ50
— GMWatch (@GMWatch) May 23, 2015
“The World Health Organization has recently categorized the leading global pesticide glyphosate as probably carcinogenic,”John Portelli, the head of the Malta Organic Agriculture Movement said. He mentioned that a urine sample test carried out by Friends of the Earth Europe showed that 90 percent of those who participated had traces of the pesticide in their bodies.
The March against Monsanto is continuing in Washington, DC. The rally started at the White House and is now moving on towards Monsanto's office.
#MarchAgainstMonsanto@MarchAgainstM blocks roads around Farragut Square in DC pic.twitter.com/Ri2tGPOWmq
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) May 23, 2015
Road blocks have been put in place around Farragut Square in the US capital, though there is a minimal police presence.
Watch RT's latest report from anti-Monsanto rallies
Monsanto has benefited from having people in the right places, which has helped the biotech giant to get legislation passed through Congress. This Tweet shows just some of the people who have connections to the company.
Monsanto's government ties #MarchAgainstMonsantopic.twitter.com/dl7J5Naezo
— Dulce (@HeavenLeeOps) May 23, 2015
RT’s Peter Oliver who is following the protest in Berlin spoke with Heidi Osterman, who is an activist and nutritionist.
“The changes in the human food supply are irreversible and there is no going back. We are losing choice because it will all become GMO,” she said, wearing steel chains around her neck and arms to symbolize the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement between the US and EU, which critics say will increase corporate power.
READ MORE: EU drops controls on dangerous chemicals after TTIP pressure from US – report
This is a Tweet from a march in Strasbourg in France. One of the signs reads "I want nature without Monsanto!"
je veux la Nature pas #Monsanto! #Strasbourg#MAM2015#MarcheContreMonsanto#MarchAgainstMonsanto@Stop_Monsanto#MAMpic.twitter.com/41SZBlLlHw
— Cristo (@Christo_MICHE) May 23, 2015
RT’s Lizzie Phelan has joined the demonstration in Paris, which is one of 20 cities across the country where rallies are taking place. France is one of Monsanto’s biggest markets, even though production of its corn has been banned in the country for several years.
In 2012, a French court found Monsanto guilty of chemical poisoning of a French farmer. Paul Francois said he suffered neurological problems including memory loss, headaches and stammering after inhaling Monsanto's Lasso weedkiller in 2004.
A beautiful day in Washington, DC, as the March against Monsanto rally gets underway in front of the White House.
The #MarchAgainstMonsanto rally has begun pic.twitter.com/0aE7ekytlF
— UnTold Media (@UnToldCarlisle) May 23, 2015
Monsanto was founded in 1901 and originally produced food additives. In over a century, it has grown to employ over 22,000 people in factories across 61 countries and has become the world’s leader in producing genetically engineered seeds and chemical herbicides.
A spokesperson for Monsanto told the Sputnik news agency in regards to the mass protests taking place that “people are free to express their opinion." The spokesperson added that the company is committed to “making a more balanced meal accessible for everyone.”
However, going by some of the Tweets appearing on the internet, it would seem not everyone agrees with the spokesperson’s position.
Brace yourselves! The #MarchAgainstMonsanto is tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/ANbjb2AhET
— Anarcho Tree Hugger (@BronyAwakening) May 23, 2015
While millions are protesting around the globe against Monsanto, there are a few people in support of the agricultural giant. They are outside Monsanto’s headquarters, with banners in favor of the use of GMOs.
We have counter-protesters waiting for us outside of Monsanto's HQ #ProGMOshills#mam2015@MAMDCMetropic.twitter.com/DCCpwmsTFP
— Occupy Monsanto (@gmo917) May 23, 2015
RT’s Laura Smith has been gauging the attitude of the British public who are attending the March against Monsanto rally in London.
“The British issue with Monsanto and more generally with GM crops is that this is a very small island and there is not a lot of room here. If you start planting GM crops on this kind of size of territory then they can take over very quickly and there is no way to back out once you have begun,” she said.
Meanwhile, marches are starting to get underway in North America.
Toronto March against Monsanto right now #MAM#MarchAgainstMosantopic.twitter.com/EqaYhmV21O
— polarsets (@TorontoFiction) May 23, 2015
In Toronto, the march started at Queens Park, by the Edward VII statue.
A message on the city's March against Monsanto Facebook page stated that the organizers are looking for an increase in the 3,000 protesters that attended last year.
The demonstrators want to raise their voices in solidarity to reclaim our food system and unite against the corporations who are threatening our health, our children and our planet.
Some tweets from marches going on around the globe:
PHOTOS. Les Rennais dans la rue pour la Journée mondiale contre #Monsantohttp://t.co/wcu7tyH2l5pic.twitter.com/EOgeaj6vPA
— Citizenside France (@CitizensideFR) May 23, 2015
"Against Monsanto" says the banner in Rennes. There has been a big turnout it the French city, with a number of protesters carrying inflatable pieces of corn.
Activistas cruceños se unen a las movilizaciones internacionales contra #Monsanto#Boliviapic.twitter.com/4zv3TYHa79pic.twitter.com/uxJkoqAi4z
— EL DEBER (@diarioeldeber) May 23, 2015
Meanwhile, activists from the Santa Cruz region in Bolivia have been joining the international movement against Monsanto.
2,000 #MarchAgainstMonsanto and for food sovereignty in Ouaga, Burkina Faso pic.twitter.com/AVc9lfL6CL#Africa#MAM#MAM2015 ht @isabellehanne
— GMWatch (@GMWatch) May 23, 2015
Meanwhile, this final tweet from Burkina Faso says 2,000 people have attended the march.
RT’s Laura Smith has been gauging the attitude of the British public who are attending the March against Monsanto rally in London.
“The British issue with Monsanto and more generally with GM crops is that this is a very small island and there is not a lot of room here. If you start planting GM crops on this kind of size of territory then they can take over very quickly and there is no way to back out once you have begun,” she said.
Marchers have taken to the streets of Basel in Switzerland.
March against Syngenta & Monsanto #mitessenspieltmannicht#konzernverantwortungsinitiative@MarchAgainstMpic.twitter.com/8durqQzPkY
— JUSO Baselland (@jusobl) May 23, 2015
The banner in the center of the picture says: "No one plays with food."
The Swiss demonstrators are angry that Monsanto is seeking to buy local firm Syngenta AG, which is the world's largest producer of crop chemicals.
This is how #MarchagainstMonsanto is trending around the globe.
Meanwhile, RT's Peter Oliver in Berlin says the protest hasn't really got going there yet, but those in attendance are certainly making themselves known.
Not the biggest crowd for the anti #Monsanto demo in #Berlin certainly a vocal bunch though. pic.twitter.com/PsaIpjHhFV
— Peter Oliver (@PeterGOliver_RT) May 23, 2015
Here's an update from RT's Lizzie Phelan in Paris.
#MarchAgainstMonsanto starting in #Paris. #MarcheContreMonsantopic.twitter.com/eH1f1uuYB1
— Lizzie Phelan (@LizziePhelan) May 23, 2015
The March against Monsanto is getting underway there.
More March against Monsanto marchers in Bangladesh.
They’re marching against #Monsanto in Bangladesh. Here in Pabna (Ishwardi). #MarchAgainstMonsanto#MAM#MAM2015#gmopic.twitter.com/1YJBMbEMtZ
— GMWatch (@GMWatch) May 23, 2015
The Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon and Poribesh Bachao Andolon are leading the event, which included a human chain being formed around the faculty of fine arts at Dhaka University in the country's capital.
In 2013, Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to allow the cultivation of the genetically modified Bt Brinjal, despite the indefinite moratorium imposed on its cultivation in India and a ban on its field trials in Philippines, the Dhaka Tribune reports.
Anti-Monsanto marchers are also getting in on the act in Malta.
March against use of harmful pesticides in public spaces & GMOs held in Malta http://t.co/JBryfWd4VY#MAM#MAM2015pic.twitter.com/GyPv0roAkN
— GMWatch (@GMWatch) May 23, 2015
Perhaps the biggest loser of Monsanto’s products has been the monarch butterfly, which has almost been wiped out because of the herbicides made by the bio-tech giant, which target milkweed – its primary food source. The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced in February that around 970 million butterflies or 90 percent of the population have vanished across the US since 1990.
Help us save the Monarch Butterflies! You can sign the petition at https://t.co/f0v8viM31B#MarchAgainstMonsantopic.twitter.com/NVE4xMhfVA
— We The Change (@WeTheChangeNews) May 20, 2015
Monsanto’s Roundup Ready herbicide is the guilty party. Sold to farmers and homeowners as an effective method for eliminating milkweed plants, Roundup Ready, introduced in the 1970s, is widely blamed for decimating the monarch butterflies’ only source of food in the Midwest.
READ MORE: Monsanto monarch massacre: 970 million butterflies killed since 1990
Monsanto has launched a public relations drive by helping to fund a “reporter boot camp” that will be hosted by the National Press Foundation. This will include an all-expenses paid journalism conference called “Food, From Farm to Table.”
READ MORE: Monsanto helps fund all-expense-paid ‘reporter boot camp’ for food writersThe event, which will be attended by 20 journalists selected by the National Press Foundation, will include a visit to an organic farm and Monsanto’s research lab.
National Press Foundation President Sandy Johnson said she came up with the idea following a dinner party, which was attended by a member of Monsanto's board of directors and defended the company’s dubious reputation.
“In whose eyes? In your eyes? I'm familiar with the Monsanto that created research and science around agriculture that has allowed the United States to feed the world,” Johnson responded.
LIVE STREAM of the anti-Monsanto demonstration in Amsterdam
A healthy crowd of protesters have turned out in the Dam, right in the heart of the Dutch capital. A number of speakers are also on hand to give the demonstrators more information on a variety of topics.
Vlammend betoog van @ewaldeng tegen TTIP bij #MarchAgainstMonsanto op de Dam. Zeg Nee tegen TTIP! pic.twitter.com/5EjRext6IN
— Corinne Cornelisse (@CorinneCornelis) May 23, 2015
RT's Peter Oliver is in Berlin and will be keeping an eye on the March against Monsanto demonstration's in the German capital.
World wide anti #Monsanto demonstrations taking place today. Here's some guys getting ready in #Berlinpic.twitter.com/DmXe8tqzUH
— Peter Oliver (@PeterGOliver_RT) May 23, 2015
Adam Eidinger is organizing an anti-Monsanto protest outside the White House in Washington, DC, with a march to follow.
Rally at the #Whitehouse at 12 noon today and march at 1pm to Monsanto. #MarchAgainstMonsanto#mam#gmopic.twitter.com/qkR2meQEXg
— Adam Eidinger (@aeidinger) May 23, 2015
Earlier, Eidinger spoke to RT saying:
"People are fed up. We should break up Monsanto. "Monsanto is a monopoly, and it's acting like one. It's basically controlling 90 percent of the seed market in the United States. We wouldn't let one cell phone company control 90 percent of the cell phones. But for some reason we let food be controlled."
Democracy Now has been promoting a new video by Neil Young for his song 'Rock Starbucks,' which will be part of his album, 'The Monsanto Years.'
The lyrics include:
"I want a cup of coffee, but I don’t want a GMO."
"I love to start my day off without helping Monsanto."
The musician turned activist, urged supporters to boycott Starbucks in 2014, for the chain's support of Monsanto.
Across the Irish Sea, protesters in Dublin are ready to march.
The demonstration will proceed up O'Connell Street, around by Trinity College via Grafton street, ending at the small square outside the Department of Agriculture which is located on Kildare Street.
RT DublinFoodCoop: Our marchers are ready! #MarchAgainstMonsantopic.twitter.com/I8LnWD7vrOpic.twitter.com/gvLjnK0lHk
— Stef. (@_5T3F4N_) May 23, 2015
The March against Monsanto is getting underway in London, with demonstrators gathered around the parliament building. The grim reaper has also made an appearance, along with two chill peppers.
#MAMLondon TwitterStorm Officially Ends Thank You All Carry On Tweeting! http://t.co/YoQZJbsWo5#MAM#GMO#GETreespic.twitter.com/HmvYncxm8x
— MAM London (@MAMLondon) May 23, 2015
Protesters in France have also been marching in the small town of Peyrehorade in the south west of the country. Peyrehorade, which has a population of under 4,000, is home to a major Monsanto plant
RT’s Lizzie Phelan says locals in Melun, a town south east of Paris have been “distributing organic seeds produced by a collective,” ahead of the big march.
In Melun outside Paris, locals distributing organic seeds produced by a collective ahead of big #MarchAgainstMosantopic.twitter.com/PqSIEjHnNC
— Lizzie Phelan (@LizziePhelan) May 23, 2015
The director of the “Beyond GM” campaign, Pat Thomas, has been speaking to RT about some of the dangers that Monsanto poses.
“It’s an environmental problem, it’s a health problem, and it’s a social problem, in terms of our connection to food culture. It started to occur in the US and it will start to occur here [in the UK] and it will happen faster if we adopt GMO technology.”
Anti-Monsanto activists have been out in force in the Dutch city of Groningen.
Wij nemen ook deel aan de March Against Monsanto, nu in het Noorderplantsoen. Mooie opkomst! #MarchAgainstMosantopic.twitter.com/gTAGCpOvOP
— GroenLinks Groningen (@GroenLinksStad) May 23, 2015
The protest is one of a number being organized by the Green Left party. Another march is taking place in the capital Amsterdam, which starts at 14:00 local time.
Campaigners against Monsanto say there is a conflict of interests in the United States, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for ensuring food safety for the population, is advised by a number of former Monsanto executives.
The organization adds that Congress and the US president recently passed the so-called “Monsanto Protection Act,” which among other things, bans the courts from halting the sale of Monsanto’s genetically-modified seeds.
Campaigners are urging those who can’t attend one of the marches around the globe, to make their own protest by buying local organic food.
If you can't #MARCHAGAINSTMONSANTO today, then #BuyLocal and #Organic as your way of protesting. #RightToKnow#GMOFREE
— Colleen Gorman (@colleenjumps) May 23, 2015
This map shows where the protests are taking place around the globe. A total of 452 rallies have been registered with the March against Monsanto organization.
Protesters in Accra, the capital of Ghana are getting ready to hold their protest.
Some marchers gather before Monsanto office in Accra just before the march! #MarchAgainstMonsanto ACCRA pic.twitter.com/CGTQiqecCK
— FoodSovereigntyGhana (@FoodSovereignGH) May 23, 2015
The march is being led by the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, the General Agricultural Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress, the Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development and the Agriculture Sovereignty Ghana.
Adam Eidinger of Occupy Monsanto explained to RT why the giant's activities cause concerns.
"People are fed up. We should break up Monsanto," Eidinger said. "It's basically controlling 90 percent of the seed market in the United States. We wouldn't let one cell phone company control 90 percent of the cell phones. But for some reason we let food be controlled."
READ MORE: ‘March Against Monsanto’: Protest against GMO giant to roll in 38 countries this weekend
It’s not just the large urban centers across the globe, which are holding protests. Chalon-sur-Saone in France, which is located between Dijon and Lyon, is holding a demonstration.
Journée de mobilisation contre #Monsanto. A Chalon-sur-Saône. Avec @gabrielamard et @VivienRebierepic.twitter.com/8mx38mth1Y
— Alexis David (@alexisdavidpg) May 23, 2015
'The day of mobilization against Monsanto' - reads the caption in French.
RT's Laura Smith will be covering the March against Monsanto protests in London later today. You can follow her Twitter feed for the latest information.
Covering #MAM15 March Against Monsanto today in London.
— Laura Smith (@LauraSmith_RT) May 23, 2015
The first March against Monsanto rally was held in 2013, which saw over two million protesters from around the globe taking to the streets to demonstrate against Monsanto. Those attending the rallies are looking to protect food supply, health, local farms and environment.
Here is a link to an RT article from last year's protests.
Activists have also been seeking to promote organic solutions to food production, while “exposing cronyism between big business and the government.”
There are 452 March against Monsanto rallies that have been registered around the world. Over 300 hundred are taking place in the United States across the country. Further afield, protests have been registered in countries such as Mauritius, Uruguay and Malta.
The demonstrators were luckier across the country in Durban, where the sun was shining. Dozens of protesters gathered in the city with placards and banners denouncing the policies of the agricultural giant.
Say no to GMOs! March Against # Monsanto in Durban pic.twitter.com/308Wa6e4i5
— groundWork (@groundWorkSA) May 23, 2015
Protests have also been taking place in South Africa. Marchers braved the rainy weather in Cape Town to take to the streets.
Anti-Monsanto March in a rainy Cape Town. pic.twitter.com/wmf585FLN7
— Wamuwi Mbao (@WamuwiM) May 23, 2015
Some of the first ‘March against Monsanto’ protests took place in Sydney, Australia, with the demonstrators holding up placards, carrying slogans such as “Sick of lies” and “GMO is killing our children slowly.”
“Papa Sean,” the nickname of a march organizer in Sydney, told RT’s video agency Ruptly that protesters want to promote clean food and are against the corporation’s policies.
"This company has repeatedly committed I would say crimes against the Earth and what we are trying to show is accountability for corporations,” he said. “It's not just them, there are other corporations who are doing exactly the same thing in other ways or another but also we also want to promote clean food. Food that's free of pesticides, which our grandparents just called food."