 Friday, October 05, 2007by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger Editor of NaturalNews.com |
..."No patents on seeds
Those of you familiar with the subject know I'm talking about basmati rice, a type of rice native to India. It has been harvested for centuries throughout India and Southeast Asia. But a few years ago, a U.S. company filed for a patent on basmati rice and the U.S. Patent Office said, "Sure enough, you own it." That company then proceeded to try to shut down the harvesting and farming of basmati rice in India. They said, in effect, "All you farmers out there? You owe us a royalty now. We own the patent on this seed." Luckily, the Indian government intervened and thwarted the patent by having the rice listed under the European Commission's regulations that protect regional foods.
But the fact that the patent was issued at all illustrates how intellectual property has spiraled out of control in the United States and other countries. If you wonder why companies are granted patents for the human gene sequence or for seeds, here's the reason: It's because corporations are in charge, and they run governments. Who do you think runs the Food and Drug Administration? It's the drug companies. Who do you think runs the U.S. Department of Agriculture? It's the farming, beef and the dairy industries.
Take a look at every single decision the USDA, the FDA, and various government departments have made: they benefit big business. It's all about not just protecting business, but helping big business become more profitable."
..."We are committing suicide as a species today. It is well past time to wake up, and the cost of staying ignorant is going to increase exponentially in the decades ahead. Eventually, people will have no choice but to wake up and do something about it. I hope that happens sooner rather than later because when it's too late, it's too late for all of us."
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