Glenn Ashton
Seattle Times
Posted April 6, 2012
(FEB 27) Bill Gates’ support of genetically modified (GM) crops as a solution for world hunger is of concern to those of us involved in promoting sustainable, equitable and effective agricultural policies in Africa.
[...]
For example, experimental “drought-resistant” corn, supported by Gates and Monsanto, is far less robust than natural maize varieties and farming methods requiring less water. Thus, Gates’ GM “solutions” depend on higher-cost inputs — such as fertilizers, pest controls and the special seeds themselves — distracting attention from proven, lower-cost approaches.
Secondly, Gates sponsors compliant African organizations whose work with multinational agricultural corporations like Monsanto undermines existing grass-roots efforts to improve local production methods. He has become a stalking horse for corporate proponents of industrial agriculture which perceive African hunger simply as a business opportunity. His Gates Foundation has referred to the world’s poor as the “BOP” (bottom of pyramid), presenting ” … a fast growing consumer market.”
[...] Gates’ philanthropy is undemocratic at both ideological and practical levels. It ignores democratically derived African solutions to our food security problems. Further, it runs counter to the traditional methodology of bi- and multilateral foreign aid, which is obliged to consider local policies and sensitivities.
Glenn Ashton is a South African agricultural consultant and researcher who has worked with grass-roots organizations across a broad range of social interests in the region. He may be reached at ekogaia@iafrica.com
This article was posted: Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Comments are closed.
Military Says No Presidential Authorization Needed To Quell “Civil Disturbances” (631 comments)
Update: Radio Host Adam Kokesh Locked Up in Federal Jail Til Monday (457 comments)
Council Vetoes Display of English Flag Because It’s “Offensive to Muslims” (411 comments)
Police Department Forced To Borrow Ammo From Local Resident (289 comments)
Obama-Backed Rebels Carry Out Public Executions (277 comments)
Friday: Nightly News. Military Says No Presidential Authorization Needed To Quell “Civil Disturbances”
Friday: The Alex Jones Show. The Disintegration of Posse Comitatus and The 2nd Amendment.
Thursday: Nightly News. IRS Targets Come Forward. Obama-Backed Rebels Carry Out Public Executions.
Thursday: The Alex Jones Show. Obama's Buffet of Corruption and Tyranny. The American Drug War Victimizes Children. And Larry Pinkney Begs You to Reclaim Your Mind!
Wednesday: The Nightly News. Congress Demands to See the Cards the Obama Administration is Holding. The IRS Wants to See Your Papers!
Wednesday: The Alex Jones Show. The Bumbling Lawless Obama Administration.
IRS Scandal
Tuesday: Nightly News. The White House Knows "Nothing" concerning the DOJ's seizure of AP Records? Highly Incompetent or Just Another Cover Up?
Friday: The Alex Jones Show. Expert Analysis of Benghazigate.
Thursday: Nightly News. Printable Gun Ordered Shut Down by Government.
Why Marching with Loaded Rifles into DC is Civil Disobedience
Friday: Nightly News. Military Says No Presidential Authorization Needed To Quell “Civil Disturbances”
Friday: The Alex Jones Show. The Disintegration of Posse Comitatus and The 2nd Amendment.
Thursday: Nightly News. IRS Targets Come Forward. Obama-Backed Rebels Carry Out Public Executions.
Thursday: The Alex Jones Show. Obama's Buffet of Corruption and Tyranny. The American Drug War Victimizes Children. And Larry Pinkney Begs You to Reclaim Your Mind!© 2013 Infowars.com is a Free Speech Systems, LLC company. All rights reserved. Digital Millennium Copyright Act Notice.