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TheMonsantoTribunalisaninternationalcivilsocietyinitiativetoholdMonsantoaccountableforhumanrightsviolations,forcrimesagainsthumanity,andforecocide.Eminentjudgeswillheartestimoniesfromvictims,anddeliveranadvisoryopinionfollowingproceduresoftheInternationalCourtofJustice.AparallelPeople'sAssemblyprovidestheopportunityforsocial

movementstorallyandplanforthefuturewewant.TheTribunalandPeople'sAssemblywilltakeplacebetween14and

16October2016inTheHague,Netherlands.

WrittentestimonytotheJudgesoftheMonsantoTribunalThepoisoningofourNatureReservebyRoundup® andmanyindependent

scientificpapersthatconfirmthelossesofbiodiversitygloballyItisalmostimpossibletodescribeinwordstheten-yearperiodsincewefirstestablishedoursmallnaturereserve,soIhavesentovertwophoto-journalsfortheJudgestoexamine:SpeckledBushCricketsandTheYearoftheBumblebee.IquotefromthefirstparagraphofmyarticlepublishedintheInstituteofScienceinSocietyinSeptember2014:HowRoundup®poisonedmyNatureReserve.“InMarch2006,UK’sNaturalEnvironmentResearchCouncilannouncedtheclosureofitswildliferesearchcentres,adecisionopposedby99%of1,327stakeholders.MonksWoodCentre,whichhostedBBC’sSpringwatch,pioneeredworkonDDTandpesticidesinthe1960’sandmorerecentlyrevealedhowclimatechangeisaffectingwildlife,withspringarrivingthreeweeksearlier.TheresearchcentreswerealsoinvolvedinassessingtheimpactsofGM(geneticallymodified)cropsonwildlife,withfindingscontradictingindustryclaimsthatnoharmwouldbecaused.Inresponsetothatandtheunexplaineddisappearanceofbirdsandinvertebrates(suchasbumblebees,honeybeesandotherpollinators),wesetasideoneacreofthefieldnexttoourhouseinSouthWalestomakeachemical-freenaturereserve”.Itisnotonlybumblebeesandbushcricketsthatwehavebeenlosing.Wehavehundredsofphotographsofbeetles,moths,butterflies,hoverflies,dragonflies,damselfliesandspidersonourcomputersandphysicalalbumsofpicturesofmoths,butterflies,orthoptera,bumblebees,hoverflies,wasps,dragonflies,damselfliesandpondlifethatwemadeupintheearlydaysforidentificationpurposes---butnotalwaysidentified!ExplanationofthelifeofbumblebeesfortheJudgesThelifecycleofabumblebeediffersgreatlyfromthatofahoneybee.Onlythematedqueensurvivesthewinter.Therestofthecolonydies.ThenewqueengoesintohibernationanytimeafterJulywithhoneystores.SheemergessometimeinFebruary/March,dependingonthespecies,andsearchesforanestingsite.Shewilllayhereggsandthefirsttohatchareworkers.Theywillthentakefoodbacktothenestandsomecellswillproducemalesandothersnewqueens.Themaleswillhatchfirstthenthequeens,usuallyJuly/August.

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Ourreservehadsixspeciesofbumblebeetobeginwith:Bombuspratorum(early),Bombusterrestris(bufftail),Bombuslucorum(whitetail)Bombushortorum(gardenbumblebee),Bombuslapidarius(redtail)andBombuspascuorum(commoncarderbee).TheB.pascuorumandB.hortorumbothhavelongtongues;thatmeanstheyareabletoforagefromlongflowers;thatpresumablymusthaveasurvivaladvantage.DeclineoftheRedTailbumblebeeover10yearsIhavechosenthisbumblebeetoillustratethedeclinebecausequeens,malesandworkersareeasytodistinguishfromeachother;andwefoundthemthemostbeautifultoobserve.InJuly2010emergingredtailqueenshadtheirfavouriteflowers:Teasel,ScotchThistlesandGreaterKnapweedonwhichtheyfed(androosted)almostexclusively.In2010,wefounduptosixofthemonaTeasel,movingroundtheheads.Theystartedtodeclinewithincreasinglevelsofglyphosate.InMarch2016weonlysawoneredtailqueenandJuly/Augustwesawnonewqueens,onlymales.ProfGilles-EricSéraliniwhohasdone30yearsofresearchonglyphosateandwontheGermanWhistlebloweraward2015,saysthatnotonlyisRoundup®anendocrinedisruptor,butanervoussystemdisruptoraswell.1TheWhistleblowerAwardcitation:“Hewasthefirsttopublishanimaltestresultsdemonstratingthetoxicandcarcinogenicpropertiesofthemostcommonlyusedherbicideworldwide,theglyphosate-based“Roundup”bycarryingoutatwo-yearfeedingtestonrats.Aftertheresearchwaspublished,ProfSéraliniwasattackedbyavehementcampaignby‘interestedcircles’fromthechemicalindustryaswellastheindustry-financedBritishScienceMediaCentre.”OtherspeciesthathavedeclinedorcompletelydisappearedEightspeciesofshieldbug,ladybirdsandtheirlarvaeandpupaehadgone,plantswehadgrownasfoodplantsformothsandbutterflieswereuneaten,aphidshadgone,theorb-webspiderAraneusquadratuswhoselifehistoryandmatingwehadwitnessed,fourtypesofbushcricketandmanydragonflies.OutsideourreserveRagwortleavesusedtobestrippedbycinnabarmothcaterpillars.ThisyearwehaveseenfewcinnabarcaterpillarsandmostRagwortisintact.Whatweconcludedfromourobservationsover10yearsBumblebees:Theredtailbumblebee(B.lapidarius)isthemostsensitivetoRoundup®andhasprobablycompletelydisappearedfromthereserve.Thecarderbee(B.pascuorum)istheleastsensitiveandisstillpresentinreasonablenumbers.ItstillfeedsontheCheloneobliqua(turtle-head)forwhichitrequiresalongtongue,butwehaveonlyseenthreeB.hortorumfeedingfromitatthebeginningofitsfloweringperiod.In2010theratioofcarderbeestohortorumtakingpollenandnectarfromChelonewasabouttwotoone.Solitarybees:OursolitarybeehotelwasfullinJuly2015.July2016itisempty.Scientificpapers:InanarticleinAugust2016editionofNatureCommunicationsneonicotinoidinsecticideshavebeenfoundtohaveanegativeimpactonwildbeespeciesoveran18-yearperiodinEngland.2Wehavenocropsgrownwith

1http://www.gmoseralini.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Seralini-career-JBPC_2015.pdf2http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2016/160816/ncomms12459/full/ncomms12459.html

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neonicotinoidsapplied:theonlybiocidepresentinthevicinityisglyphosatesprayedonJapaneseknotweed.DrChristopherConnollyalsopointedoutontheScienceMediaCentrewebsitethattheyhadn’tconsideredglyphosate.Moths:Between2006and2010wehadmothcaterpillarsfeedingfromfoodplantsthatwehadspecificallygrownforthemonthereserve;e.g.mulleinmothsonGreaterMulleinandFigwort,GreatWillowHerbforElephantHawkMothcaterpillars.Theseplantshavebeenuneatenforseveralyears.Butterflies:Ourtotalcountofspeciesfor2010(20)transientlyincreasedto22;butthendecreasedrapidly.In2016wemostlyhavewhitebutterflieslayingeggsonoursprouts;thecolouredonesthatusedtobeplentifulonlyappearinonesandtwos;severalarenolongerpresent.Scientificpapers:ButterflieshavebeenstudiedinNorthCaliforniasince1972.Thenumbersstartedtodeclineinthemid-1990sandtheauthorscorrelateditwithamountsofneonicotinoidinsecticidesapplied.3ButglyphosatehasalsobeenappliedtoUSfarmlandinconjunctionwithGMcrops.Usageofglyphosatehasincreased15-foldinthelast20yearssinceGERoundupReadycrops;nearly75%ofthathasbeenappliedinthelast10years.But,asinBritainandEurope,theUSGSNationalWaterQualityAssessmentProgram(NAWQA)doesnotmonitorglyphosatelevelsingroundwater.HowevertheJournaloftheAmericanWaterResourcesAssociation2014reported:“ThemostcomprehensiveresearchtodateonenvironmentalglyphosatelevelsexposesthewidespreadcontaminationofsoilandwaterintheUS,aswellasitswatertreatmentsystem.Lookingatawiderangeofgeographicallocations,researchersfromtheUSGSanalysed3,732waterandsedimentsamplesand1,081qualityassurancesamplescollectedbetween2001and2010from38statesintheUSandthedistrictofColombia.Theyfoundglyphosatein39.4%ofsamples(1,470outof3,732)anditsmetaboliteaminomethyl-phosphonicacid(AMPA)in55%ofsamples.”InFebruary2015theUSCenterforFoodSafetyproducedan88-pageReport:Monarchsinperil:Herbicide-ResistantCropsandthedeclineofMonarchButterfliesinNorthAmerica.“Unlikemanyotherweedkillers,onceabsorbedit(glyphosate)istranslocated(movedinternally)toroottissue,whereitkillsmilkweedattherootandsopreventsregeneration.TheincreasinglycommonpracticeofgrowingRoundupReadycropscontinuouslyonthesamefieldsmeansthatmilkweedisexposedtoglyphosateeveryyear,withnoopportunitytorecover.In1999,commonmilkweedwasfoundinhalfofcornandsoybeanfields,butonly8%ofthemadecadelater.”Roundup®hasactedontheinvertebratesonourreserveasabiocide,notjustasaherbicideremovingfoodplants.Anotherpaperhasshownthatclothianidin,along-actingsystemicneonicotinoidinsecticide,contributestothedeclineofMonarchButterflies.4DrPeterLundgrenwasaWhistleblowerlikeProfSéralini:hisnamewasremovedfromthepaper.AfootnoteattheendfromthenowsoleauthoracknowledgesthatDrLundgrencontributedequallytotheresearch:“DrLundgrenisanentomologistemployedbytheUSDAAgriculturalResearchService(ARS).However,theARShasrequiredDrLundgrentoremovehisnameasjointfirstauthorfromthisarticle.“Ibelievethisactionraisesaseriousquestion

3http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/12/8/201604754https://www.sdstate.edu/nrm/publications/upload/Pecenka-and-Lundgren-2015.pdf

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concerningpolicyneutralitytowardscientificinquiry.”Thatisapolitewayofputtingit:thatconflictsofinterestimpedescientifictruth-tellingtoday.Spiders:Theorb-webspider,Araneusquadratushadvanishedby2011.Spidershaveacomplexneurologicalsystemtospinspiderwebs,forlocomotion,preycapture,reproductionanddevelopment.Infactwehaveseenfewspiderssince;in2016wehavefoundonlytwofunnel-webspiders(Agelenidae)inthewholereserve.Theremaybemore;autumnisspidertime!Birdsthatfeedtheiryoungoninvertebrates:Starlings,sparrows,swallows,housemartins,swiftsandskylarkshavealsodeclinedmassivelyintheareasince1979whenwemovedintothehouse.Thesoundofthecuckoo,theharbingerofspring,isnolongerheard.Bats:In1979whenwemovedinbatswereplentifularoundthearea.In2009,Istilldetectedafewwhenfollowingspeckledbushcricketsatnightalonghedgeswithabatdetector.In2016,onasummereveningatdusk,weareluckytosee(orhearwithabatdetector)evenonebat.Scientificpapers:WhenStahlschmidt&BruhlanalysedinsecticideresiduesinfooditemsinanappleorchardinGermanyin2012,theyfoundthatEFSA,intheirpesticideriskassessments,donotconsiderbatsasaseparatespecies;insectivorousmammalsarerepresentedbythegenericindicatorspecies‘shrew.’Astheauthorsobserve,batsandshrewsareverydifferent.Batsfeedonawiderangeofflyinginsectsandarthropodsthattheytakefromthetopsoftrees;theyarelong-livedwithlowreproductionratesandtheyhavehibernationperiodsinwhichlipophilicpesticidescanaccumulate.TheUSbatpopulationshaveplummetedduetoafungaldisease,WhiteNoseSyndrome.Thereareextinctionsofsomespecies.SincetheUKwildliferesearchsiteswereclosedin2006,asingleDefraveterinaryscientisthasbeenputinchargeofanalysingdeadbatssentinbythepublic.Therearefewinnumber.TheBritishsystemofmonitoringisafarcryfromtheUSFishandWildlifeService!Wasthatonereasontoturnwildliferesearchintoacomputerscience,withpopulationbiologyandmathematicalmodelling,asopposedtofieldscience?In2012,NERCproudlyannouncedtheGlobolakesproject,thefirstsatellite-basedglobalsurveillancesystem,tomonitorhowlakesandreservoirsarebeingaffectedbyenvironmentchange.Canbiodiversitylossesandpesticidelevelsbemeasuredfromspace?TheUSDAandtheUSDAARSareallowingMonsantoandDuPont’sGMcropstoproducebiologicaldeserts–surelytheymusthavenoticed?CraigChildsconfirmsitinhisbookApocalypticPlanet:FieldGuidetotheFutureoftheEarth.5TheStateofIowawasjustoneareainwhichtheUSGeologicalSurveyreportedwidespreadcontaminationofsoil,air,rainwaterandriverwaterwithglyphosateanditslonger-actingmetaboliteAMPA(α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionicacid).6GrundyCountyIowawaswhereCraigChildsspentalongweekendinamonocultureofGM“Roundup®Ready”cornlookingforwildlife."Ilistenedandheardnothing,nobird,noclickofinsect.MrOwenwasthefarmerwhohadgiven

5http://houseofrain.com/bookdetail.cfm?id=13446219709776http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jawr.12159/abstract

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uspermissiontobackpackacrosshiscornfields.HegrewacombinationofDuPontandMonsantostock.WewereinDuPontnow.Itdidn’tlookanydifferenttome.”RobertKrulwichblog:7Cornfarmerschampioncorn.Anythingthatmighteatcorn,hurtcorn,bothercorn,iskilled.Theircornisbredtofightpests.Thegroundissprayed.Thestalksaresprayedagain.So,Craigwondered,"WhatwillIfind?"Theansweramazedme.Hefoundalmostnothing.Therewerenobees.Theair,theground,seemedvacant.Hefoundoneant"sosmallyoucouldn'tpinittoaspecimenboard."Alittlelater,crawlingtoadifferentrow,hefoundonemushroom,"thesizeofanappleseed."Then,later,acobwebspidereatingacranefly(onlyone).Asingleredmite"thesizeofadustmotehurryingacrossthebarrenearth,"somegrasshoppers,andthat'sit.”Thoughhecrawledandcrawled,hefoundnothingelse."Itfeltlikeanotherplanetentirely,"hesaid,aworlddenuded.OnehundredyearsagotherewasarichbiodiversityofspeciesintheUS;nowithasgoneKrulwichcontinues:“Yet,100yearsago,thesesamefields,theseprairies,werehometo300speciesofplants,60mammals,300birds,hundredsandhundredsofinsects.Thissoilwastherichest,theloamiestinthestate.Andnow,inthesepatches,thereisalmostliterallynothingbutonekindoflivingthing.We'veerasedeverythingelse.Weneedtofeedourplanet,ofcourse.Butwealsoneedtheteenycreaturesthatdrivealllifeonearth.There'ssomethingstrangeaboutafarmthatintentionallycreatesabiologicaldeserttoproducefoodforonespecies:us.It'sefficient,yes.Butit'ssoefficientthattheantsaremissing,thebeesaremissing,andeventhebirdsstayaway.Something'snotrighthere.Ourcornfieldsaretooquiet.”

Thebackground;whatwediscoveredaboutRoundup®Swanseaisdubbed“theJapaneseknotweedcapitalofEurope.”Itgrowsfreelyintheoldminingsiteswherethegroundisdisturbed.Ithasadeeprootsystemandthebusheshavespreaddowntherivervalleys.TheherbicideRoundup®hasbeensprayedonthisso-called‘invasive’plantinunknownquantitiesforanunknownnumberofyearsintheSwanseaareabyacontractorCompleteWeedControlLtd.Theyclaimthat,accordingtoMonsanto,itissafeandisfullylicensedforusebytheChemicalsRegulationDirectorate.TheEnvironmentAgencyrefusedtomonitorglyphosateandSwanseaCityCouncildeclinedtostopsprayingRoundup®onJapaneseknotweedLordSmithrefusedtomonitorglyphosateingroundwater.Hisseniorscientistrepliedonhisbehalfon1stMay2013.“TheGCMSscanisnotabletomeasureglyphosate,andglyphosateisnotpartoftheroutinesuiteofsubstancesmonitoredfornationallyacrossournetwork.Themainreasonforthisisthatglyphosateanalysisisrelativelycostlyanditwasfeltthattheadditionalcostsofanalysiscould

7http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2012/11/29/166156242/cornstalks-everywhere-but-nothing-else-not-even-a-bee

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notbejustified.IflocalglyphosateproblemshavebeenidentifiedingroundwatertheEnvironmentAgencycancarryoutoperationalmonitoringatalocallevel.”IhadpointedouttoLordSmiththattheBritishGeologicalSurveywroteaReport:EmergingContaminantsinGroundwater8in2011usingEnvironmentAgencyfigures.Itsaidthatinviewofglyphosate’swidespreaduseandthefactthatitwasbrokendownintomoretoxicmetabolites,itshouldbemonitored.LordSmithignoredthis.TheReportwasneverpublishedandBGSbecameapublic/privatepartnershipworkingwiththeprivatesectoronhydraulicfracturing(fracking)thattheUKpublicdonotwant.TheHighCourtinFrancehasbanned‘fracking’sotheFrenchcompaniesarecomingtoBritain.BiocheckconfirmedthatthereisglyphosateinriverwaterandtapwaterInAugust2013,wecommissionedBiocheckinLeipzigtoanalysewatersamplesforglyphosate.WefoundthatwehadglyphosateintapwaterandwaterfromtheClyneRiveroftheorderofconcentrationsfoundinastudyin2013thatshowedthatbreastcancercellproliferationisacceleratedbyextremelylowconcentrationsofglyphosate.On18thSeptember2013SwanseaCityandCountyCouncilwrotetoourWelshAssemblyMemberandtoldhertheywouldn’tstopsprayingglyphosate-basedproductsuntilDefraortheHealthandSafetyExecutive(HSE)instructedthemtostop.IwrotetoHSEinFebruary2014askingthemtoinstructtheCounciltostopMsJudithHackitt(laterDameJudithHackitt)thethenChairofHSEfailedtoreply.TheCRDHeadofRegulatoryPolicyrepliedon28/02/2014toreprimandmeandtodefendtheauthorisationofglyphosate.Hetoldmethatthecapabilitytodetectindividualpesticidesinfoodhadincreasedfrom150in2003to393in2012.Hestated:“Inthe2012Report,althoughtherewerealargenumberofresiduesfoundinbread,noneofthesewereataleveltosuggestarisktoconsumerhealth.”However,hefailedtoreplytomyquestionastowhyEFSAwasregularlyincreasingtheMaximumResidueLevels(MRLs)ofglyphosateinfoodsattherequestofMonsantotoaccommodatetheirpracticeofdesiccationofcropsandtoprotecttheirimportsintoEurope.9GlyphosatewaspresentinlocaltapwaterandClyneRiverwaterinAugust2013.AyearlaterinAugust2014localtapwatershoweda10-foldincreasesince2013:from30ppt(partspertrillion)to300ppt.NewareaoferadicationofJapaneseKnotweedwithRoundup®Attheendof2014,officialsfromSwanseaCouncilannouncedtheyweregoingtoundertakea3-yearJapaneseKnotweederadicationprogrammestartinginApril2015withRoundup®(‘whileitwasstilllegal’)intheIlstonValley.ThisisavalleyevenclosertothereservethantheClyneValley.InAugust2015,wesentthemaphotographoftheareaoftheIlstonValleythathadbeensprayedintheApril,showingthatJapaneseKnotweedwassuperweed.Newshootswerealreadyemerging.AFOIrequestfromEnvironmentSwansearevealedthat1440kgofDakarPro,acommercialpreparationofRoundup®wasusedin2015.

8http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/14557/1/OR11013.pdf9http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2550.htm

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GlyphosatepreparationsauthorisedbyCRDAtleastninedifferentcompaniesmarketglyphosatewithdifferenttoxic,commerciallysecret,formulations.TheformulationRoundup®is1,000timesmoretoxicthanglyphosatealone.TheCRDlistsonitsapprovedpesticidesdatabase187differentglyphosateproductsthatarelicencedtobesoldassuitablefortheamateurgardener.Glyphosatepreparationsforprofessionaluseareevenmore:211.MonsantocallsRoundup®bydifferentnames:DakarPro,ClinicAce,ProVantageandProActiv,inordertoconfusepeople.Anaptphrasefromtheminingindustry:‘thecanaryinthecage’Withthiseffectonwildlife,humanhealthislikelytobeaffected;itis.TheareainthevicinityofRoundup®sprayingisahotspotforaggressivecancers(breast,prostate,lung(ofteninnon-smokers)pancreas,ovary,colon,kidney,bladder,liver,uterus(includingsarcoma),oesophagus,myeloma,non-Hodgkin’slymphoma,carcinoid,malignantmelanoma,braintumour,mostlyglioblastoma,andneurologicaldisorders(multiplesclerosis,Parkinson’s,DementiaandMND).Itisdifficulttoremainsilent,watchingthedistressoffamiliesstrugglingthroughchemotherapyandradiotherapy.Theunspokenfearthathangsintheair:whowillbenext?Whodecidedtoblamealcoholforcausingseventypesofcancer?TheplayersintheblamegameandtheirconflictsofinterestWasittheideaofCancerResearchUK?TheChairmanofCancerResearchUKworkswiththeAgrochemicalIndustry.MichaelPragnellwasfounderofSyngentaandformerChairmanofCropLifeInternational.Thissyndicatewasformedin2001fromBASF,Bayer,Dow,DuPont,FMCCorp,Monsanto,SumitomoandSyngenta.TheCRUKwebsitesaysthatthereisnoconvincingevidencethatpesticidescausecancer.Syngentahasaninterestindeflectingthemassiveincreasesincancerfrompesticides.ThecompanyisbothamemberoftheGlyphosateTaskForce(21Members)andoftheInternationalLifeScienceInstitute(ILSI)Europe(67Corporations).WasittheideaofProfDameSallyDaviestheChiefMedicalOfficerforEngland?ProfDameSallyDaviesmadetheannouncementinJanuary2016aftertheCommitteeonCarcinogenicityofChemicalsinFoods,ConsumerProductsandtheEnvironment(COC)producedevidencethatalcoholcausedcancer.ItwaswidelyreportedinthemediaandfromtheUKScienceMediaCentre.TheUKScienceMediaCentreishostedbytheWelcomeTrustandisfinancedbyindustry.ItwasresponsibleforsuppressingtheSéraliniratstudybyinvitingMonsantoandGMOscientiststogive‘expert’opinionsforjournalistsagainstit.COT/COC/ACPTheseUKcommitteesalsohadmemberswithconflictsofinterest.Theyhadclaimedthatreviewsonpesticideexposureandhumanhealthwereflawed.AttheCOCmeetinginJuly2006membersrejectedthe‘hypothesis’ofepigenetics;thisisthestudyofgenechangescausedbyexposuretochemicalsintheenvironment.

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TheFaroesStatement:HumanHealthEffectsofDevelopmentalExposuretoChemicalsinOurEnvironment.Publishedin2007byGrandjeanetal.Twenty-fiveexpertsinenvironmentalhealthfromelevencountriescontributedincludingtwofromtheUK.Theyputoutthisstatement:“Theperiodsofembryonic,foetalandinfantdevelopmentareremarkablysusceptibletoenvironmentalhazards.Toxicexposurestochemicalpollutantsduringthesewindowsofincreasedsusceptibilitycancausediseaseanddisabilityininfants,childrenandacrosstheentirespanofhumanlife”.WhenIcriticisedtheCMOfordismissingtheRoyalCollegeofObstetriciansandGynaecologist’sReportadvisingpregnantwomentoavoidchemicalexposureas‘unhelpful’sheaskedDrJohnHarrisonPublicHealthEnglandDirectorofCentreforRadiation,ChemicalandEnvironmentalHazards(CRCE)towritetoreassuremethattherewasnoevidencethatexposuretochemicalsinpregnancycausedbraindamage.ThatwastheconclusionofaReportbyascientistfromDow,themanufacturerofchlorpyrifosandfromExponentInc,afirmthathelpstoadvisegovernmentsandregulatorsaboutpesticides.PublicHealthEngland:DrJohnHarrisonwasalsothemainauthorofaReportoftheImpactofFrackingwhichconcludedthattheriskstopublichealthwerelow:“Inconclusion,thecurrentlyavailableevidenceindicatesthatthepotentialriskstopublichealthfromexposuretotheemissionsassociatedwithshalegasextractionwillbelowiftheoperationsareproperlyrunandregulated.Inordertoensurethis,regulationneedstobestronglyandrobustlyapplied.”ThiswasdespitethefactthattheAmericanChemicalAssociationassembledalistof190chemicalsusedinfrackingandconsideredtheirproperties:“Foraroundone-thirdofthem,therewasverylittledataabouthealthrisks,andeightofthemweretoxictomammals.Frackingisahighlycontroversialtechnique,andhasnotbeenhandedacleanbillofhealthbythescientificsocieties.”On19November2013MembersoftheHouseofCommonsHealthSelectCommitteequestionedtheprioritiesofthenewPHECommitteethathadonlytakenoverfromtheHealthProtectionAgencyinApril2013.10TheHealthProtectionAgencyhaddispleasedtheWorkandPensionsDepartment(WPD)bypublishingmajorstudyoffour-to18-year-oldsstatingthataroundoneinevery55,000vaccinationscausedbytheGSKPandemrixswinefluvaccinewasassociatedwithnarcolepsy.11Upuntilthen,theWPDwouldonlypayoutfor60%disability.ProfAlanBoobis:VicePresidentoftheInternationalLifeScienceInstitute(ILSI)Europe:conflictsofinterestintheUNJMPRArthurNeslenreported:“AUNpanelthatonTuesdayruledthatglyphosatewasprobablynotcarcinogenictohumanshasnowbecomeembroiledinabitterrowaboutpotentialconflictsofinterests.Ithasemergedthataninstituteco-runbythechairmanoftheUN’sjointmeetingonpesticideresidues(JMPR)receivedasix-figuredonationfromMonsanto,whichusesthesubstanceasacoreingredientinitsbestsellingRoundupweedkiller.ProfessorAlanBoobis,whochairedtheUN’sjointFAO/WHOmeetingonglyphosate,alsoworksasthevice-presidentoftheInternationalLifeScienceInstitute(ILSI)Europe.Theco-chairofthesessionswasProfessorAngeloMoretto,aboardmemberofILSI’sHealthandEnvironmentalServicesInstitute,andofitsRisk21steeringgrouptoo,whichBoobisalsoco-10https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/shale-gas-extraction-review-of-the-potential-public-health-impacts-of-exposures-to-chemical-and-radioactive-pollutants11http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f794#aff-3

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chairs.”WhenGlyphosatewasreassessedin2002,ProfAlanBoobiswasalsoChairmanoftheUN’sJMPRmeetingonpesticideresidues.12ProfBoobisiscurrentChairmanofCommitteeonToxicityofChemicalsinFood,ConsumerProductsandtheEnvironment(CoT),whichclaimedtobeanindependentscientificcommittee.Industryoffthehook:alcohollinkedtosevenformsofcancer:this‘allegedfact’iscontinuallyreinforcedbytheUKmediauntilthepublicbelievesitTheChiefMedicalOfficerforEnglandannouncedinJanuary2016thatalcoholcausedcancer;therewas‘nosafedose’.Shesaidthatshe,theCommitteeonCarcinogenicity,PublicHealthEnglandandthetwoCMOsforScotlandandWalesallagreedwithher.IhadwrittentoherinNovember2015tosaythattherewasnosafedoseofGLYPHOSATE(asacauseofcancer).AnarticlewaspublishedintheBritishMedicalJournalon9April2016reportingasurveycommissionedbyCancerResearchUK‘Peoplelackawarenessoflinkbetweenalcoholandcancer.’TheReportproducedbyresearchersattheUniversityofSheffield‘comesaheadoftheconsultationclosingonhowwellnewdrinkingguidelinesproposedbytheUK’sChiefMedicalOfficersinJanuary2016,arecommunicated.’“Almost90percentofpeopleinEnglanddon’tassociatedrinkingalcoholwithanincreasedriskofcancer”AlisonCox,CancerResearchUK’sDirectorofCancerPrevention.Shesaid:“Thelinkbetweenalcoholandcancerisnowwellestablished,andit’snotjustheavydrinkerswhoareatrisk.Drinkingalcoholislinkedtoanincreasedriskofsevendifferentcancers-liver,breast,bowel,mouth,throat,oesophageal(foodpipe),laryngeal(voicebox)-butwhenpeoplewereasked“which,ifany,healthconditionsdoyouthinkcanresultfromdrinkingtoomuchalcohol?”just13percentofadultsmentionedcancer.”DrPennyBuykx,aseniorresearchfellowatTheUniversityofSheffieldandlead-authorofthereport,said:“We’veshownthatpublicawarenessoftheincreasedcancerriskfromdrinkingalcoholremainsworryinglylow.Peoplelinkdrinkingandlivercancer,butmoststilldon’trealisethatcancersincludingbreastcancer,mouthandthroatcancersandbowelcancerarealsolinkedwithalcohol,andthatrisksforsomecancersgoupevenbydrinkingasmallamount.OnMay19th2016whentherewasanEUdecisiontodelaythevoteonglyphosate,ProfDavidCoggonformerChairmanofCoTsaidtotheSMC:“togiveananalogy,alcoholisadefinitecauseofcancerinhumans.”GuardianHealthEditorDenisCampbellreportedastudybyConnorfromNewZealandthatappearedtoconfirmthatalcoholwasadirectcauseofsevenformsofcancer.13HeimplieditwasNEWresearch.HequoteddirectlyfromtheUKScienceMediaCentre.ProfAlanBoobis,thefirstexpertsaid:“Thescienceisnowwellestablished.Themaindifficultyiscommunicatingeffectivelywiththepublic.”HegavealinktoCancerResearchUK.CampbellalsoreportedDrPennyBuykx,whohadbeencommissionedbyCRUKtoundertakeastudy…buthedidnotquoteProfDorothyBennettwhosaidthiswasn’taNEWstudyfromNewZealandbutareviewbyConnor.(TheUKSMChadpresenteditasanewstudy.)DenisCampbellappearedtobereinforcingthepesticidesindustry’sassertion12http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241665203_eng.pdf?ua=113https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/22/alcohol-direct-cause-seven-forms-of-cancer-study

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thatcancersarecausedbyalcoholandthereisnosafedose:theCMO’sphrase,lifestylechoices.AblogonCRUKreinforceditagainbyalinktoTheGuardianarticleandonetoTheIndependentthatrepeatedthealcoholandcancerstory.TheSMCin2011saidithadanunusualagreementwithjournalists.Theyhadtosignacontractthattheywouldn’tdiscussitwithanyonebeforehand.WasthatwhyDenisCampbellcouldn’ttalktohisGuardiancolleagueArthurNeslenanddiscoverthatProfAlanBoobishadfinancialconflictsofinterest?Cancersinpetshaveincreasedsimilarlyoverthattime:isthatduetoalcohol?TheAmericanVeterinaryMedicalFoundationnotesthat“Canceristheleadingcauseofdeathinolderpetsaccountingforalmosthalfthedeathsofpetsover10yearsofage”AccordingtoSamsel14mammarytumoursarecommonindogsandcatsandtheincidenceisincreasing.HeanalysedninebrandsofdogandcatfoodandfoundsignificantlevelsofglyphosateandAMPAinallofthem.Séralini’sgroupwroteapaper‘LaboratoryRodentDietsContainToxicLevelsofEnvironmentalContaminants:ImplicationsforRegulatoryTests’.Wedescribethecontaminationwithenvironmentalpollutantsof13laboratoryrodentdietsfrom5continents.”15In1985theUSEPAclassifiedglyphosateasaGroupCcarcinogenbutchangedtoGroupEin199116AnarchivaldocumentfromtheUSEPArevealedthatsomeUSEPAstaffcolludedwithMonsantotodowngradetheclassificationofthecarcinogenicityofglyphosate.TheoriginalPanelcomprisedofmembersoftheToxicologyBranchoftheHazardEvaluationDivisionwhoexaminedthecarcinogenicpotentialofglyphosate.InaconsensusreviewonMarch41985theCommitteeclassifiedglyphosateasaGroupCcarcinogen.Itwasbasedontheincidenceinrats/miceofrenaltumours,thyroidC-celladenomasandcarcinomas,pancreaticisletcelladenomas,hepatocellularadenomasandcarcinomasinmales.However,in1991TheHealthEffectsDivisionCarcinogenicityPeerReviewCommitteemetonJune261991todiscussandevaluatetheweightofevidenceonglyphosatewithparticularemphasistoitscarcinogenicpotential.InareviewofthedatatheCommitteeconcludedthatglyphosateshouldbeclassifiedasGroupE(evidenceofnon-carcinogenicityforhumans).Inordertocoverthemselvestheydeclared:“Itshouldbeemphasized,however,thatthedesignationofanagentinGroupEisbasedontheavailableevidenceatthetimeofevaluationandshouldnotbeinterpretedasadefinitiveconclusionthattheagentwillnotbeacarcinogenunderanycircumstances”Thereweresignaturesofthe11memberspresent,sixmemberssignedinabsentiabutthreemembersrefusedtosignbecausethey“didnotconcur.”PresumablytheyknewthatthechangeofclassificationofglyphosatefromGroupCtoGroupEwasfraudulent.

14https://www.academia.edu/17751562/Glyphosate_pathways_to_modern_diseases_IV_cancer_and_related_pathologies15http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.012842916http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/chem_search/cleared_reviews/csr_PC-103601_30-Oct-91_265.pdf

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Toxicitytowildlifeandtheecosystem:GermanRapporteurMemberState(BfR)claimedthatglyphosate’secotoxicityislowIchallengedEFSA’sDrJoséTarazonaandDrBernhardUrlaboutthisbetweenNovember2015andFebruary2016.IsentDrUrlacopyofourphoto-journal:TheYearoftheBumblebee.DrTarazonasaidIwasn’ttoworrybecausetherewerestill‘datagaps’.IfeltevenmoreoptimisticabouttheoutcomewhenfourMEPsaskedforFreedomofInformationabouttheconfidentialstudiesthatEFSAsaidshowedthatglyphosatewasn’tcarcinogenic.17WilliamEngdahl,veteranUSjournalistwroteon15/05/2016:TheAmazingGlyphosateRevoltGrows:“TodatetheEUCommissionhasreceivedastaggering1.5millioncitizenpetitionsdemandingtheynotre-approveglyphosate.TheoppositiontoEUCommissionapprovalofglyphosatehastakenonaself-expandingcharacterandthathastheagribusinessweed-killercartelalarmed.Theprocessisexposingtothegeneralpublic,forthefirsttimeinsuchaclearmanner,thedegreeofcorruptioninnotonlyBrusselsbutalsointheso-calledscientificbodiesthatadviseitonwhatissafeandwhatnot.”Glyphosaterelicensedfor18monthswithoutsignificantrestrictionsIfby30thJune2016,theMemberStateswereunabletodecide,glyphosatewouldhavebeentakenofftheshelves.Yet,despitethese‘datagaps’,theunelectedEuropeanCommissionre-licensedglyphosateon28thJunefor18monthswhiletheEuropeanChemicalAssociation(ECHA)produceditsverdict.

EUlegislationissetuptoprotectthepesticidesindustryMonsantoEuroperepliedtoHealthCommissionerAndriukaitison04/04/2016tosaythatthe24GTFmemberswerepreparedtograntverylimitedaccesstothedata.18FromthiswelearnthatthecurrentEUlegislationissetupto“protectintellectualpropertyandconfidentialinformationfrompublicdisclosure.”“Allconfidentialdata…shallbedeletedorredacted(Regulation1107/2009,Article63).”MuchoftheindustrydatasubmittedtotheGermanRMSwasredacted.BiocidesRegulationiscontrolledbythepesticidesindustryandbasedinBritain:‘toenhancethecompetitivenessoftheEUchemicalsindustry’AglobalindustryhasemergedtoadviseonBiocidesRegulation(=asubstancethatisKILLINGLIFE).BiocidesSymposiaareheldregularlyaroundtheworldto“getup-to-speedonallthat’snewinbiocidalproductsregulation”to“stayonestepahead.”Coursesarefrom£300-400perdayto$1585foraSymposium.Amultitudeoffirmshaveclientsfrom‘industry,cropprotectionandgovernment’.ChemicalWatchBiocidesHub(ShrewsburyUK)offers13EventsonBiocidesRegulationin2016,rangingfrombeginnerscoursestoadvancedcourses.REACH(Registration,Evaluation,AuthorisationandRestrictionofChemical17http://www.asktheeu.org/request/is_glyphosate_safe_we_have_the_r18https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/6366131/letter%20to%20Commissioner%20Andriukaitis.pdf

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substances)isaregulationoftheEuropeanUnion,adoptedtoimprovetheprotectionofhumanhealthandtheenvironmentfromtherisksthatcanbeposedbychemicals,whileenhancingthecompetitivenessoftheEUchemicalsindustry.Italsopromotesalternativemethodsforthehazardassessmentofsubstancesinordertoreducethenumberoftestsonanimals.Itcameintoforcein1stJune2007.ExponentInc.isacompanythathelpschemicalfirmswithREACHcompliance.19Itdescribesitselfas“aresearchandscientificconsultantfirmwithclientsfromindustry(includingcropprotection)andgovernment.”ExponentInc.wasemployedbyBayertocriticiseEFSA’sworkonneonicotinoidsandbeesin2013.ItalsocontributedtoareviewbyaDowemployeethatconcludedthat“exposuretospecificpesticidesduringcriticalperiodsofbraindevelopmentandneurobehavioraloutcomesisnotcompelling.20”UnansweredlettersfromtheUKGovernment,CivilServants,

Media,DoctorsandAcademicBodiesMyOpenLetterstotheCMOEngland,TheWellcomeTrustandPublicHealthEngland;TheDirectorGeneraloftheBBC,formerDefraMinisterLorddeMauley;TheBritishMedicalAssociation,theEditor-in-ChiefofNature,theBritishMedicalJournal,TheTimesandTheGuardian(amongmanyothers)wereunanswered.SurprisinglythePresidentoftheNFUdidreplytomy13-pageOpenLettertotheNFU,butpossiblyhehadn’treaditverycarefullyorhehadgotthepesticidesindustrytoreplyonhisbehalf.21MeurigRaymondwrotetodefendtherightoffarmerstousechemicalstoprotecttheircropseventhoughIhadinformedhimthattheyweredamagingthebrainsofchildreninBritain.“DearMsMasonTheNFUfirmlybelievesthattechnologiessuchasadvancedplantbreeding,biotechnologyandchemicalcropprotectionareapositiveandessentialpartofBritishfarmingandfoodproduction.Therearesignificantchallengesinherentinprovidingsafe,affordableandhighqualityfoodinasustainablewayinthecontextofgrowingpopulations,pressureonresources,volatilityandachangingclimate.Wemustthereforehaveallthetoolsintheboxtosourcesolutionstothesechallenges.TheNFUiscommittedtobasingitspoliciesonthemostrobustscientificevidenceandexpertisefromscientistsandregulatoryauthoritiesaroundtheworld.MeurigRaymondPresident”DameSallyDaviesusedtoreplytome:didmyquestionsgettoodifficult?InMarch2014Iwrotetotellherthatglyphosatehadfourpatents,oneofwhichwasasanantibiotic.Iaskedherwhethershewoulddenounceittothepressandparliamentasanapocalypticthreattohumansbybeingthemaincauseofantibioticresistance?Sherepliedthatshewouldleavethattothepesticidesregulators.On12/05/2014IwrotetoGinaMcCarthyUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyAdministratorandaskedheramongotherthings,ifsheknew

19http://www.exponent.com/REACH/20http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2377720021https://www.academia.edu/17144792/Open_Letter_to_the_National_Farmers_Union

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thatfourdifferentpatentshadbeenfiledandgrantedforglyphosate.IhadareplyfromtheOfficeofChemicalSafetyandPollutionPreventionon19June2014.“Monsantohasnotinformedusoftheseclaimsyoumakeand,todate,suchclaimshavenotbeensupportedbyrigorousscientificstudies…TheUSEPAensuresthatapesticide,whenusedaccordingtolabeldirections,doesnotcauseunreasonableadverseeffectstohumanhealthortheenvironment.”Monsanto’s(andtheRegulator’s)majorerrorsofhumanphysiologyMonsantoboughtglyphosateasachelatorofmineralsforcleaningoutboilers.Theyregistereditasaherbicidebecausekilledplants,fungiandbacteriabyextractingessentialmineralssuchaszinc,manganeseandcobalt.Theyclaimeditdidn’taffecthumans.Buthumanscanonlyabsorbnutrientsbymeansofthebacteriaintheirgut.Itwasalsopatentedasanantibioticandanantiprotozoal.BriefidenticalrepliesfromDefrabothbeforeandafterEFSAreportedBeforeEFSAhadreportedtheyconsistentlyrepliedthatIhadtowaitforEFSAtoreport.AfterEFSAhadreportedtheysaidthattheyagreedwithEFSA,glyphosatewasnotcarcinogenic.LordGardinerofKimble,DefraSpokespersonintheHouseofLords,promotedbyPrimeMinisterMaytoUnderSecretaryofStateforDefra,saidexactlythesame;glyphosatewasnotcarcinogenic.EvenwhenIwrotetoJeremyHuntMinisterforHealthtotellhimwhytheHealthServicewasfallingapart,IhadthesamerefrainfromtheDepartmentofHealth.

PesticideresiduesinfoodintheUKADASrecommendedpre-harvestcropsprayingwithRoundup®in198022andsprayingongrasslandin1985.ResearchesshowedtwoMonsantoscientistswrotethefirstpapers.DefraExpertCommitteeonPesticideResiduesinFood.23Thisiswhyweallhaveglyphosateresiduesinourbodies:itisinallourstaplefoodsTheresultsfrommonitoringofPesticideResiduesinfoodhavebeenpublishedquarterlysince2000.Breadandbreakfastcerealsarestaplefoodsbuttherearenomaximumresiduelevels(MRLs)forbreadorcereals.Residuesinbreadaretestedtwiceayear.20023rdQuarter:Comments:“Residuesofchlormequat,24glyphosateandpirimiphos-methyl25werefound(inbread).Thesepesticidesarecommonlyusedoncerealcrops,andresidueshavebeenfoundinothercerealproducts,thereforethesefindingsarenotunexpected.Noneoftheresiduesfoundwereofconcernforconsumerhealth.20063rdQuarter:Comments:“Eatingmorestarchyfoods,likebread,isanimportantpartoftheFoodStandardsAgency’s(FSA)adviceonhealthyeating.The

22http://www.hgca.com/media/185527/is02-pre-harvest-glyphosate-application-to-wheat-and-barley.pdf23http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/advisory-groups/PRiF/about-PRiF24Chlormequat,aplantgrowthregulatorwaspresentconsistentlythroughout.25pirimiphos-methyl,isanorganophosphateinsecticideforuseinstorage.Theapprovalwasrevokedon24/03/2011,butitwasonlyfinallybanned31/03/2013,presumablytoallowstockstobeusedup.

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incidenceofpesticideresiduesinbreadisrelativelyhigh,butourassessmentoftheriskindicatesthatthelevelswehavefoundinthissurveywouldnotbeexpectedtohaveaneffectonhealth.”20073rdQuarter:Comments:“Eatingmorestarchyfoods,likebread,isanimportantpartoftheFSA’sadviceonhealthyeating.Weoftenfindpesticideresiduesinbreadbutourassessmentoftheriskindicatesthatthelevelswehavefoundinthissurveywouldnotbeexpectedtohaveaneffectonhealth.WehaveaskedtheSecretariattowritetotheHomeGrownCerealsAuthorityabouttheincidenceofresidues”.Icouldn’tfindareply.20113rd/4thQuartersforLentils:Comments:SixteensamplesoflentilscontainedglyphosateabovetheMRL.Anewhigherlevelofglyphosateisexpectedtocomeintoforceinsummer2012.NoneoftheresiduesdetectedinthissurveywouldbeabovethenewproposedMRL.”Theuseofglyphosatefordesiccationonbothbarleyandwheatcropswasacceptedbythebrewinganddistillingindustriesin2007.26ManyfoodsimportedfromtheUShaveGMingredientsandwillcontainglyphosate(orotherherbicideresidues).Theseincludeproductsthataremadefromcornorsoya,suchasenergybars,sugardrinks;andfruitorvegetables.TheUSstilldoesnotrequirelabellingofGM.AnimalsintheUKarefedwithimportedGMsoyaandmaize.EFSA’sReasonedOpinionPanelincreasesMRLsattherequestofindustry(Monsantointhiscase,to100timesthepreviouslyauthorisedMRL)MonsantoEuropeaskedEFSAtosettheimporttoleranceforglyphosateinlentils“inordertoaccommodatetheauthoriseddesiccationuseofglyphosateinlentilsintheUSandCanada”from0.1mg/kgto10mg/kg27(i.e.100times:January2012).EFSAhadgrantedsimilarlyelevatedMRLsforglyphosateonwheatandGMsoya.HealthyHarvest-safeguardingtheCropProtectiontoolbox:June2014TheNationalFarmers’Union(NFU),theCropProtectionAssociation(CPA)andAgriculturalIndustriesConfederation(AIC)launchedHealthyHarvest–safeguardingthecropprotectiontoolboxinJune2014.TheNFUandpesticidecompaniescontinuallydefendtheuseofpesticidesforeconomicreasonsandcomplainatanyattempttorestrictthe320attheirdisposal.Onefarmerdefendedaerialsprayingofbrackenwithaherbicide.28CPA,AICandtheNFUcommissionedAndersonstowriteaReport:Theeffectofthelossofplantprotectionproducts(i.e.pesticides)onUKAgricultureandHorticulturethatpredicteddireeconomiceffectsonUKfarmingifpesticideswererestricted.29SoilAssociation’scampaignNOTINOURBREAD:30theUK’spositionisanomalous

26NotesontheuseofRoundup®productsonmalting,millingandseedcrops:MonsantoUKLtd2007.http://www.grainfarmers.co.uk/seeddownloads/Roundup%20on%20seed%20%20milling%20and%20malting.pdf27http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2550.htm28https://www.nfuonline.com/healthyharvest_final_digital/TheimpactoflosingplantprotectionproductsonUKFoodProduction29http://www.cropprotection.org.uk/media/89364/andersons_final_report.pdf30http://www.soilassociation.org/notinourbread

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Meetingon15July2015inLondonbetweentheSoilAssociationandaScientificPanel31ThescientificpanelincludedProfessorChristopherPortieroneoftheco-authorsoftheWorldHealthOrganisation’sInternationalAgencyforResearchonCancer’s(IARC)recentreportthatdeterminedGlyphosate’sstatusasaprobablecarcinogen.PortierreiteratedtheIARC’sconclusions,andsaid:“Glyphosateisdefinitelygenotoxic.Thereisnodoubtinmymind.”DrRobinMesnageoftheDepartmentofMedicalandMolecularGeneticsatKingsCollegeinLondon,revealednewdataanalysisshowingRoundUp®,themostcommonbrandofGlyphosate-basedherbicides,is1,000timesmoretoxicthanGlyphosatealoneduetotheinclusionofothertoxicchemicalsinitsmix.ClaireRobinson,aneditoratGMWatch.orggavetheinternationalperspectivelookingatmovesbyothercountriestobanGlyphosate;“OutsidetheUnitedKingdom,thereactiontotheWHOIARCreporthasbeendramatic.SomeretailersinSwitzerlandandGermanyhaveremovedGlyphosateproductsandFrancehascommittedtodosoby2018andGermanstatesarecallingforanEU-wideban.TheDanishWorkingEnvironmentAuthorityhasdeclareditasacarcinogenandElSalvadorandSriLankahavebanneditandtheColombiagovernmenthasbannedaerialsprayingoncocacrops.”PeterMelchett,SoilAssociationpolicydirectorsaid;“IfGlyphosateendsupinbreadit’simpossibleforpeopletoavoidit,unlesstheyareeatingorganic.Ontheotherhand,farmerscouldeasilychoosenottouseGlyphosateasasprayonwheatcrops–justbeforetheyareharvested.ThisiswhytheSoilAssociationiscallingfortheimmediateendingoftheuseofGlyphosatespraysonwheatdestinedforuseinbread.”Pesticideresiduesinnon-organicfoodareincreasingyearonyearAReportbyPesticidesActionNetwork-UKhasshownthat46%ofnon-organicfoodin2013containedresiduesofoneormorepesticides.Thishadincreasedfrom25%in2003.32AfurtherReportbyPAN-UK:Pesticidesinyourdailybreadshowedthatnearlytwo-thirdsofbreadcontainedoneormorepesticidesandthethreemostfrequentlyfoundwereglyphosate,chlormequatandmalathion.33

UKfarmersusemorecarcinogenicweedkiller:TheTimesAugust15201534“Farmershavesharplyincreasedtheiruseofaweedkillerthathasbeenclassifiedas‘probablycarcinogenicinhumans.’”BenWebster,TheTimesEnvironmentCorrespondentsaid.“Morethan1,700tonnesofglyphosateweresprayedoncropslastyear,upathirdon2012,accordingtotheDepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs(Defra).Thetotalareasprayedwiththeweedkillergrewbyalmost500,000hectaresto2.1millionhectares,anareathesizeofWales.”GuyGagen,ChiefArableAdviserfortheNationalFarmers’Union,saidthatglyphosate

31http://www.soilassociation.org/news/newsstory/articleid/8110/soil-association-calls-for-ban-on-glyphosate-the-world-s-most-widely-sold-weedkiller32http://www.pan-uk.org/files/pesticides_on_a_plate_2013_final.pdf33http://www.pan-uk.org/files/Pesticides%20in%20Your%20Daily%20Bread%20guide%20-%20FINAL%20(1).pdf34http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/article4528297.ece

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usagehadprobablyincreasedtocontrolblack-grass,35aweedthatisresistanttoweakerherbicides.Hesaid:“Nofarmerwouldbewantingtoputachemicalonacropwhenhedoesn’tneedto.”HeaddedthatsprayingwheatcouldresultintracesofglyphosateendingupinbreadsoldinsupermarketsbuttheamountwaswellbelowthemaximumresiduelevelsetbytheEU.ADefraspokesmansaid:“Thereareextensiveregulationsinplacesothatpeopleandtheenvironmentareprotectedfrompesticides.TheapprovalofglyphosateforuseacrossEuropeisbeingreviewedbytheEUCommission.”UKFoodandEnvironmentResearchAgency(FERA)surveyofpesticides1988to2014Thisreviewofpesticidesactivesubstancesandnumberoftimestreatedfrom1988to2014confirmsthatPesticideResiduesonBritishfoodareincreasingannually.Asurveyofpesticide(activesubstances)usageonOilSeedRape(OSR)1988-2014showedthatthenumberofactivesubstancesappliedhadincreasedfrom5in1988to15in2014(Fig1)andthenumberoftreatmentshadincreasedfrom5in1988to12in2014.(Fig2)In2014,herbicideswereusedon98.4%OSRandseedtreatmentson95.8%.In2014glyphosatewasusedonWheat(601,330kg)Winterbarley,Springbarley,Oats,Rye,Triticale,Oilseedrape(577,969kg),Linseed,Allpotatoes,Peas,Beans,Sugarbeet,withatotalof1,765,465kgglyphosateonallcrops.Thetotalweightofpesticides(herbicidesanddesiccants,fungicides,growthregulators,molluscicidesandrepellants,insecticidesandseedtreatments)appliedtofarmlandin2014wasinexcessof16,000tonnes.

Fig.1PESTICIDES:NumberofactivesubstancesusedonOilSeedRapeintheUKbetween1988and2014:BykindpermissionofJohnHoar,HampshireBeekeeper’sSprayLiaisonOfficer.

FiguressuppliedbyFERA

35HERBICIDERESISTANTBLACKGRASS,FIRSTSEENIN1982ISNOWFOUNDON16,000FARMSIN34COUNTIES.Thisisaglyphosate-resistantsuperweed,thesameasinGMintheUSandJapaneseKnotweedintheUK.DoestheNFUunderstandsuperweedsanddotheyreallywantGMOtechnology?

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Fig.2PESTICIDESTIMESTREATED:usedonOilSeedRapeintheUKbetween1988and2014:BykindpermissionofJohnHoar,HampshireBeekeepersSprayLiaisonOfficer.Figuressuppliedby

FERAOneofMonsanto’sownlongtermstudiesinratsin199036showedanincreasedriskofcataractsfollowingexposuretoRoundup®AnnualratesofadmissionforcataractsurgeryinEnglandrose10-foldfrom1968to2003:from62episodesper100,000populationin1968to637in2004.TherateofcataractsurgeryinEngland“increasedverysubstantially”between1989and2004from173(1989)to637(2004)episodesper100,000population.37A2016studybytheWHOalsoconfirmedthattheincidenceofcataractshadgreatlyincreased:38‘Aglobalassessmentoftheburdenofdiseasefromenvironmentalrisks.’saysthatcataractsaretheleadingcauseofblindnessworldwide.Globally,cataractsareresponsiblefor51%ofblindness–anestimated20millionindividualssufferfromthisdegenerativeeyedisease.TheratstudyoncataractswasoneofmanythatAnthonySamselobtainedunderFOIfromtheUSEPA.39Hesaid:“Fortyyearsofglyphosateexposurehaveprovidedalivinglaboratorywherehumansaretheguineapigs.”

TheBritishGovernmentjoinedforceswithMonsanto,EFSAandtheEUCommissionistofightcivilsocietyintheEUCourt40todefendtherighttoimportMonsanto’stransgenicsoybeanIntacta®whichproducesaninsecticideandisresistanttoglyphosateherbicidessuchasRoundup®.

36Stout,L.D.&Ruecker,F.A.Chronicstudyofglyphosateadministeredinfeedtoalbinorats.UnpublishedStudy,ProjectNo.MSL-10495.MonsantoAgriculturalCompany(2,175pp.)EPAMRID416438-01(26September1990)37http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1955650/38http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204585/1/9789241565196_eng.pdf39https://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/SamselSeneffGlyphosateIV.pdf40http://www.testbiotech.de/en/node/898

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TheproblemofobesityintheUK:isitalifestylechoice?CMOEnglandblamesobesityonlifestylechoices:butthesestudiessuggestthatitisaproblemrelatedtoglyphosateresiduesinfoodAstudyshowedthatby2025,theUKwillhavethehighestobesityratesamongbothmenandwomeninEurope,at38%:incontrastinFrancewomenhavehadvirtuallynoincreaseinBMIover40yearsAstudyonobesitypublishedinTheLancetinMarch2016says:“AboutafifthofalladultsaroundtheworldandathirdofthoseintheUKwillbeobeseby2025,withpotentiallydisastrousconsequencesfortheirhealth”.41TheLancetStudysaysthatthereiszerochancethattheworldcanmeetthetargetsetbytheUNforhaltingtheclimbingobesityrateby2025.“Overthepast40years,wehavechangedfromaworldinwhichunderweightprevalencewasmorethandoublethatofobesity,tooneinwhichmorepeopleareobesethanunderweight,”saidseniorauthorProfMajidEzzatifromtheSchoolofPublicHealthatImperialCollegeLondon.“TheEnglish-speakingworldisparticularlybadlyaffected.TheUKwillhavethehighestobesityamongbothmenandwomeninEurope,at38%.Incontrast:“Againstthetrendofsteadilyrisingweight,womeninsomecountrieshadvirtuallynoincreaseinBMIoverthe40years–inSingapore,Japan,andafewEuropeancountriesincludingCzechRepublic,Belgium,France,andSwitzerland.”ObesitylevelsinEnglandaresecondonlytotheUSandarerunningaparallelcoursetotheUS

HistoricalandprojectedoverweightratesinOECDcountries42SomeoftheUKpopulationhasbeenexposedtoglyphosateresiduesinfoodssince1980,evenwithoutgrowingGMGlyphosate-tolerantcrops.43TheUShas

41http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/31/one-fifth-of-worlds-adults-will-be-obese-by-2025-study-predicts42HealthyChoicesOECDHealthMinisterialMeeting,Paris,7-8October2010http://www.oecd.org/health/ministerial/46098333.pdf

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hadGMcropssince1996.ThethirdareawiththemostoverweightadultsisAustralia,whereobesitylevelsstartedtorisesteeplyin1990andby2000haveovertakenSpainandCanada,bothofwhichhaveGMs.Thereare553glyphosateproductsregisteredinAustralia.GlyphosateuseonGMcropsisaccelerating.GMcanolawasregisteredin2003,butbansinNSWandVictoriawereliftedin2008.44CanolahasbeenregisteredtobedesiccatedsinceOctober201445andsunflowerssince2012.46However,theCommonwealthScientificandIndustrialResearchOrganisation(CSIRO)ispromotedasAustralia’s‘pre-eminentpublicscientificresearchbody’.“Althoughostensiblypubliclyfunded,CSIROhas,inreality,beenencouragedtoget30%ofitsfundingfrombusiness,withtheCSIROtopmanagementencouragingitsstafftogoto40%.”AccordingtoJohnStocker,CSIRO’sformerChiefExecutive:“Workingwiththetrans-nationalsmakesalotofsense,inthecontextofmarketaccess.ThereareveryfewAustraliancompaniesthathavedevelopedmarketaccessintheUnitedStates,inEuropeandinJapan,theworld’smajormarketplaces.Yes,wedofindthatitisoftenthebeststrategytogetintobedwiththesecompanies.”47Children:AlmostoneinfourAustralianchildren(23%)isoverweightorobeseandoneinthreeexpectedtobeby2025(AIHW2012).Childrenwhoareobesearemorelikelythanotherchildrentodevelopasthma,type2diabetes,cardiovascularconditionsandsomecancers.CancerResearchUKwebsiteshowssimilartrendsforcertaincancers.Substantialincreaseinneurologicaldeaths1979-2010TenmajordevelopedWesterncountriesand10smallerWesterncountrieswerestudied.48Totalneurologicaldeathsrosesubstantiallybetween1980and2010inbothsexesin16outof20westerncountries;inparticularearlyonsetParkinson’s,Alzheimer’sandotherDementias,andMotorNeuroneDisease.Femaleneurologicaldeathsin9outof10countriesweregreaterthanmales.Theauthorsthoughtthecauseswerelikelytobeepigeneticratherthanhereditary.“Moreover,lookingback30ormoreyearstheconceptofearlydementiaortheneedforthecreationofaYoungParkinson’sDiseaseSocietyinBritainwouldhaveseemedatautology.”WhydidMonsantochooseBritaintobetheRapporteurMember

Stateforaspartame?ThescandalofBritainandEFSA’srelicensingofaspartame:Monsanto’sneurotoxicsweetener

43http://www.hgca.com/media/185527/is02-pre-harvest-glyphosate-application-to-wheat-and-barley.pdf44http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2012/11/15/factbox-gm-foods-australia45http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/cropping/general-news/new-canola-weed-control-option/2714416.aspx46http://www.australianoilseeds.com/about_aof/news/glyphosate_as_a_desiccant_in_sunflowers47http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/13325-csiro-in-bed-with-multinationals48http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phe.2012.12.018Pritchard,C.etal.Changingpatternsinmortalityfromneurologicaldeathsinthe10majordevelopedcountries:1979-2010PublicHealth(2013)

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Forthefirst16yearstheFood&DrugAdministration(FDA)bannedaspartamebecauseitwashighlytoxictothenervoussystem.FDAScientistAdrianGrosstoldCongressthatwithoutashadowofadoubt,aspartamecancausebraintumorsandbraincancerandthatitviolatedtheDelaneyAmendment,whichforbidsputtinganythinginfoodthatisknowntocausecancer.49TheUKfirstauthorisedaspartamein1982.ThatwastheveryyearthatDonaldRumsfeldwhowasCEOofSearle(atthattimethemanufacturerofaspartamebeforeMonsantoboughtSearle)managedtogetitlicensedwiththehelpofRonaldReagan.AspartamereviewedbytheUKFSA,theCommitteeonToxicityandEFSAUKCommitteeonToxicity(CoT)ofchemicalsinfoodpositionpaperonadoubleblindrandomizedcrossoverstudyofaspartame.50“Atitsmeetingon29October2013,theCommitteeonToxicitydiscussedapaper,describingresultsfromastudyledbyscientistsatHullYorkMedicalSchool…Thegovernmentwatchdoghasnotreleasedthefulldetailsoftheresearchbecausetheyremainconfidentialuntiltheyhavebeenpublishedinapeer-reviewedjournal.TheCommitteejudgedthedelayacceptablesincetheresultspresenteddidnotindicateanyneedforactiontoprotectthehealthofthepublic.”EFSAalsohasre-evaluatedthesafetyofaspartame.51Asaresult,itconcludedinDecember2013that'aspartameanditsbreakdownproductsaresafeforhumanconsumptionatcurrentlevelsofexposure'.ProfDavidCoggonwasChairmanofCoTandtherewerethreememberswithundeclaredconflictsofinterest:onefromSyngentaandtwofromAstraZeneca,Syngenta’sparentcompany.ProfAlanBoobisVice-ChairmanofILSIEuropehasnowreplacedProfCoggonasChairmanofCoT.ProfounddisagreementfrommanyindependentorganisationsProfessorErikMillstone52senta67-pagedetailedresponsetotheHeadofEFSA‘FoodIngredientsandPackaging’UnitandtheSeniorScientificOfficer.53ThecancerstudiesinratsbytheRamazziniFoundation54wereignored,justasDrBettyMartiniandDrJohnOlney55havebeenignoredintheUS.

Howdidwegetintothismess?

AnewgenerationofpopulationbiologistsbeganthescienceofmathematicalecologyandstatisticsSirJohnBeddingtonformerChiefScientificAdvisertotheUKGovernmentwasoneofthefirstofagroupofscientiststhatcalledthemselves‘populationbiologists’.(SirJohnthankedmepolitelyforsendinghimacopyofourphotojournal,butpresumablyfailedtogetasfarasthePostscript:AhistoryoftheUKGovernment’sresponsestotheBiodiversityCrisis).Infact,atameetinginMay2010inDundee,someofSirJohn’sformerstudentscelebratedthefactthat

49http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/80558150http://cot.food.gov.uk/pdfs/cotposponaspar.pdf51http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2013/dec/efsa-aspartame#.UuAtV3xFDcs52ProfessorofSciencePolicyattheUniversityofSussex.53http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/43821/1/EM_Letter_to_EFSA_on_Aspartame_22Feb2013.pdf54http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17805418e55http://www.scribd.com/doc/6669992/Dr-John-Olney-Statement-Aspartame-l987Dr.JohnOlney'slettertotheSenatein1987.

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hehadturned‘softscienceintohardscience’.Bythistheymeanthehadledthemawayfromstudyingorganismsinthefieldtostudythemtheoretically,inafarmorecomfortableplace….inaUniversityinfrontofacomputer.Theyalsosaidthathebegan‘thetraditionofstrongmathematicalecologyintheUK.’Healsoencouragedmathematicsgraduatestoenterbiology.Hefeltabiologydegreewasn’tnecessary;justanabilitytodostatisticsandmathematicalmodelling.WhydidtheEFSAGMOPanelsaythatglyphosateandGMwouldnotharmLepidopteraspecies?In2012theChairmanoftheGMOPanelProfJoePerry(togetherwith14otherscientistsincludingonefromEFSA)wasleadauthorofapaperintheJournalofAppliedEcology“EstimatingtheeffectsofCry1FBt-maizepollenonanon-targetLepidoptera,usingamathematicalmodelofexposure.”56Conclusion:MitigationmeasuresofrisksofBt-maizetosensitivelarvaeofnon-targetlepidopteranspeciescanbeeffective,butdependonhost-plantdensities,whichareinturnaffectedbyweed-managementregimes(sic).MathematicalmodellingfailedtopredictthenearextinctionofthemigrantMonarchbutterflybyGMORoundupresistantcropsintheUS.InFebruary2015theUSCenterforFoodSafetyproducedan88-pageReport:Monarchsinperil:Herbicide-ResistantCropsandthedeclineofMonarchButterfliesinNorthAmerica.57“Unlikemanyotherweedkillers,onceabsorbedit(glyphosate)istranslocated(movedinternally)toroottissue,whereitkillsmilkweedattherootandsopreventsregeneration.TheincreasinglycommonpracticeofgrowingRoundupReadycropscontinuouslyonthesamefieldsmeansthatmilkweedisexposedtoglyphosateeveryyear,withnoopportunitytorecover.In1999,commonmilkweedwasfoundinhalfofcornandsoybeanfields,butonly8%ofthemadecadelater.”Thisnewapproachtostudyingbiologyhasbeenheavilycriticizedintworecentpapers:NaturalhistoryiscriticallyimportantforlearningaboutorganismsTewksburyetal.inNaturalHistory’sPlaceinScienceandSociety58theauthorsarguethatnaturalhistoryisofcriticalimportanceforlearningaboutorganisms,theirlinkstocommunitiesandecosystemsandtheirbioticandabioticinteractions.Examplesareprovidedofthevitalimportanceofknowledgeofnaturalhistorytomanydisciplines:humanhealth,foodsecurity,conservation,managementandrecreationandthecostsofmistakesofnothavingthatknowledge.Naturaldecline:Fewbiologydegreesstillfeaturenaturalhistory.Isthenaturalistaspeciesincrisis?AneditorialinNaturein201459discussedtherequirementstobeawardedanundergraduatebiologydegree.Todayabiologydegreerequiresnocoursesinnaturalhistory,whereasintheUSin1950itrequiredtwoormorecourses.Subjectssuchasmolecularbiology,genetics,experimentalbiology,mathematical56http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2011.02083.x/pdf57http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/cfs-monarch-report_2-4-15_design_05341.pdf58https://www.academia.edu/6565695/Natural_historys_place_in_science_and_society59http://www.nature.com/news/natural-decline-1.14966

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modelling,populationbiologyandstatisticshavetakenover.However,manyofthefieldsrelyondata,specimensandcollectionsfromnaturalhistory.Theeditorsrecommendthatabiologydiplomashouldnotbeawardedwithoutacourseinidentifyingorganisms,learningthebasictechniquesforobservingandrecordingdata.(Thus,todaythereareseniorentomologistswhowritepapersabouttheeffectsofpesticidesonpollinators,yetdonotknowthecriticaldifferencesbetweenthelifecyclesofbeesandbumblebees).SustainingLife:HowHumanHealthDependsonBiodiversity60DrEricChivianfoundedtheCenterforHealthandtheGlobalEnvironmentatHarvardMedicalSchoolin1996:“Tohelppeopleunderstandthatourhealth,andthatofourchildren,dependsonthehealthoftheenvironmentandthatwemustdoeverythingwecantoprotectit”EricChivianandAaronBernsteinco-editedtheabovebook,whichincludescontributionsfrommorethan100leadingbiodiversityandhealthscientists.ItwaspublishedinJune2008byOxfordUniversityPressandwasco-sponsoredbytheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,theUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme,theSecretariatoftheConventiononBiologicalDiversityandtheWorldConservationUnion.Humansneedinvertebrates;withoutthemtheycannotsurviveProfE.O.WilsontheeminentfieldentomologistfromHarvard,whoinhisbookNaturalist,61hasdocumentedmassiveglobaldeclinesofantcoloniesatthehandofman,said:”Theoneprocessnowgoingonthatwilltakemillionsofyearstocorrectisthelossofgeneticandspeciesdiversitybythedestructionofnaturalhabitats.Thisisthefollyourdescendantsareleastlikelytoforgiveus.”

AnOpenLetterfromAmericaLivingwithGMOs:CitizentoCitizen:From57millioncitizensintheUStocitizens,politicians,andregulatorsintheUKandtherestoftheEUaboutthehazardsofgeneticallymodifiedcrops62We,theundersigned,aresharingourexperienceandwhatwehavelearnedwithyousothatyoudon’tmakeourmistakes.SignatoriesincludeNGOs,groups,academics,scientists,farmers,foodmanufactures,andhighprofileindividualsrepresentingsome57millionAmericans.Extracts:“Arecentreviewfoundthatbetween1996and2011,farmerswhoplantedRoundupReadycropsused24%moreherbicidethannon-GMOfarmersplantingthesamecrops.ThispesticidetreadmillmeansthatinthelastdecadeintheUSatleast14newglyphosate-resistantweedspecieshaveemerged,andoverhalfofUSfarmsareplaguedwithherbicide-resistantweeds.”TheyoutlinedeightindependentpapersdescribingEnvironmentalHarmandsixabouttheThreattoHumanHealth.“Americansarereapingthedetrimentalimpactsofthisriskyandunprovenagriculturaltechnology.EUcountriesshouldtakenote:thereareno

60https://global.oup.com/academic/product/sustaining-life-9780195175097?cc=gb&lang=en&61Wilson,E.O.Naturalist:NewEditionforaNewGeneration.Washington,DC:IslandPress(2006).62http://www.theletterfromamerica.org/

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benefitsfromGMcropsgreatenoughtooffsettheseimpacts.Officialswhocontinuetoignorethisfactareguiltyofagrossderelictionofduty.Westronglyurgeyoutoresisttheapprovalofgeneticallymodifiedcrops,torefusetoplantthosecropsthathavebeenapproved,torejecttheimportand/orsaleofGM-containinganimalfeedsandfoodsintendedforhumanconsumption,andtospeakoutagainstthecorporateinfluenceoverpolitics,regulationandscience.”DavidCameronignoredtheadvicefromAmericaandsentittoDefraLorddeMauley,theDefraMinisterreplied:hereistheendofhisletterwiththeusualmantra:63“TheUKGovernmentregardssafetyasparamountandwewillonlyagreetotheplantingofGMcropsorthemarketingofGMfoodsifitisclearthatpeopleandtheenvironmentwillnotbeharmed.”DefraconcealedtheletterfromtheBritishpublic.TheEuropeanCommissionandtheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthorityignoreditaswellandhavecontinuedtoapproveGMCropsforgrowingandforfoodandfeedintheEU.HealsoignoredtheadvicefromtheParliamentaryEnvironmentalAuditCommitteeaboutGMcropsInMay2012,theEnvironmentalAuditCommittee(EAC)adviceonGM:“theGovernmentshouldnotlicenseitscommercialuseintheUKnorpromoteitsuseoverseas.”InDecember2013thegovernmentdismissedthatadvice,butsaid:“TheGovernmenttakesascience-ledapproachtoGM,andtheprotectionofhumanhealthandtheenvironmentareouroverridingpriorities…”ThiswaspreciselywhattheDefraMinistersaid.However,theGovernmenthaslittlecareforhumanhealthortheenvironment:onlyforcorporations,money,business,theeconomy,andausterityforthepeoplebutnotforitsfriends.CorporatelobbyistsfinditeasiertoaccessthePrimeMinisterthanhisownMPsThisisillustratedinthefollowingarticlebyindependentjournalistJonathanGornall,whoconductedaninvestigationonbehalfoftheBritishMedicalJournal.AnEditorialintheBritishMedicalJournalon11/01/2014wasentitled:Ashamefulepisode.64DocumentsreleasedunderafreedomofinformationrequestshowedthatbetweenthecoalitiontakingpowerinMay2010andtheendof2013theDepartmentofHealthalonehad130meetingswithrepresentativesoftheindustry.Theextensiveinvestigationshows“beyonddoubtthatcommercialinterestsarecurrentlyincontrolofkeydecisionsaboutthepublic’shealth.”ThenewPrimeMinisterTheresaMayhasalreadyshownthatsheresemblesthepreviousgovernmentinherconcernforcorporateprofitsandherlackofinterestinobesechildren.21/03/2016BaronessChisholmofOwlpen(Con):(ReplyingonbehalfofLordGardinerofKimble,theDefraspokespersonfortheHOL)MyLords,theGovernmentsupportpesticideusewherescientificevidenceshowsthatthisisnot

63http://beyond-gm.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/BGM_Defra-letter_151214.pdf64http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g110

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expectedtoharmpeopleortohaveunacceptableeffectsontheenvironment.UKexpertsparticipatedintheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority’sassessmentofglyphosateandsupportitsconclusions,particularlythatglyphosatedoesnotcausecancer.TheGovernmentthereforesupportsthecontinuingapprovalofglyphosate.03/06/2016LordGardinerofKimbleinresponsetoaquestionbytheCountessofMar“TheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthorityconcludedthatglyphosateisunlikelytoposeacarcinogenichazardinhumans.Thisconclusionfollowedaverythoroughconsiderationofawiderangeofscientificdata,includinganumberofstudiesonlaboratoryanimals.ThemousecarcinogenicitystudieswereperformedbyindependenttestinglaboratoriesandcomplywiththeapplicableOECDtestguidelineandGoodLaboratoryPractice.CarcinogenicitystudiesinmiceareamongthemanyEUdatarequirementsforpesticides,andhelptoestablishwhetherornotanactivesubstanceinapesticidehascarcinogenicpotential.Undertheregulatorysystemforpesticides,studiesarenotpublishedbecauseofthedangerthatdatamaybewronglyusedtosupportotherrivalapplicationsforauthorisation.However,requeststoviewthedocumentscanbesubmittedtotheHealthandSafetyExecutive’sChemicalsRegulationDirectorateandwillbeconsideredonacase-by-casebasis.”20/05/2016MonsantoweedkillerfacesrecallfromEurope’sshopsafterEUfailstoagreeadeal65“Governmentsarebeginningtounderstandthattheircitizensrefusetobetreatedaslabrats.Monsantoandotherchemicalgiantsareusedtogettingtheirway,butpublicpressurehasforcedpoliticianstostandfirmbehindtheprecautionaryprinciple.IntheEUstandingcommitteewhichfailedtotakeadecisiontoday,theUKstronglybackedanewlicenseforglyphosate.Germanyabstained,alongwithSwedenandItaly.OppositiontotherelicensingisthoughttohavebeenledbyFrance,whichhasbannedthesubstance.”AsEuropesays,thecitizensofBritainbeingtreatedaslabratsAndsoistheenvironment,asaresultoffarmersusingmassiveandincreasingamountsofpesticides:insecticides,fungicides,molluscicides,herbicidesandseedtreatments(seepage15/16).In2015itwasreportedthat:“Morethan1,700tonnesofglyphosateweresprayedoncropslastyear(2014)upathirdon2012,accordingtotheDepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs(Defra).Thetotalareasprayedwiththeweedkillergrewbyalmost500,000hectaresto2.1millionhectares,anareathesizeofWales.”Anapocalypticmassextinction66This‘neworder’ofmathematicalecologyintheBritainhasturnedawholegenerationofbiologistsawayfromfieldobservations---intoanapocalypticextinctioncrisisthattheydidnotseecoming---simplybecausenoonewaslookingattheenvironment.65https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/20/monsanto-weedkiller-faces-recall-from-europes-shops-after-eu-fail-to-agree-deal66http://www.amsi.ge/jbpc/31515/15-3-abs-5.htm

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TheStateofNatureSeptember14th2016:Britain'swildlife'crisis'withmorethan120speciesatriskofextinctionduetointensivefarming“Britain’swildlifeisfacinga“crisis”withmorethan120speciesatriskofextinctionduetointensivefarming,areportwillwarn.Hundredsofthecountry’sbest-knownanimals-includingtypesofwoodpeckerandbutterfly-willhaveanuncertainfuturewithsomedisappearingcompletelyastheirnumbersdeclinerapidly,theStateofNature2016reportwillsay.”67ItwillbepublishedonSeptember14th2016.FrancehasbannedglyphosatebutBrexitBritainplans

tore-licenseitinagreementwithMonsantoRosemaryMasonSwanseaWalesUKSubmittedtotheMonsantoTribunal23August2016

67http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/21/britains-wildlife-crisis-with-more-than-120-species-at-risk-of-e/