> ATTACHMENT part 2 message/rfc822
> Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1999 23:35:06 -0400
> To: ban@tao.ca, genetics@gn.apc.org,
> rvanstaveren@iatp.org
> From: Brian Tokar <briant@earth.goddard.edu>
> Subject: ACTIVISTS DISRUPT MONSANTO STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING
>
> >From: T4shea@aol.com
> >Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1999 16:58:36 EDT
> >
> >Gateway Green Alliance
> >P.O. Box 8094, St. Louis MO 63156
> >E-mail: fitzdon@aol.com or T4shea@aol.com
> >
> >For Immediate Release: April 24, 1999
> >
> >GATEWAY GREENS DUMP MILK AS SHAPIRO AND MONSANTO
> STOCKHOLDERS WATCH
> >
> >Security Outnumbers Environmentalists 100 to 1
> >
> >April 24, 1999. St. Louis, Missouri. As Monsanto CEO
> Robert Shapiro
> >addressed the company's annual stockholders meeting,
> Gateway Green Alliance
> >(GGA) member Steve Cassilly stood up, saying, "I would
> like to talk about
> >labeling of genetically altered food. "I will get to
> that later," Shapiro
> >retorted.
> >
> >"We need to discuss it now!," Cassilly insisted. "There
> are real safety
> >concerns about Monsanto's blatant refusal to label their
> genetically altered
> >food. This is being voiced by people all over the
> world....And your company
> >wants to deny them their rightful choice.. If your food
> products are so great
> >why don't you advertise them as genetically enhanced.
> >
> >Shapiro refused to answer the question put to him.
> Cassilly continued to
> >prod him for an answer. He added, Hey Bob, I would
> like an answer to my
> >question. In protest Cassilly then poured a container
> of milk onto the
> >carpet saying loudly, "This is what I think of your
> hormones in our milk."
> >His action referred to the Monsanto produced rBGH
> (recombinant Bovine Growth
> >Hormone), which is injected into cows to increase milk
> production. Many
> >independent health experts believe the hormone is
> responsible for health
> >threats to both cows and people. The future of rBGH is
> dubious, as the US
> >remains the only industrialized country allowing its
> use.
> >
> >Stockholders watched as Cassilly then dismissed himself
> from the meeting
> >escorted by a number of security personnel and
> eventually by local
> >authorities.
> >
> >During discussion, one shareholder, a farmer, voiced
> concern about the closed
> >market in Europe and the announcment by Archer Daniels
> Midland not accepting
> >genetically modified crops. He also added that he was
> troubled by the huge
> >benefits and compensation being given to board members
> while dividends
> >remained almost non existent. Shapiro glossed over the
> market issue and
> >replied to the farmer that, "We are working very hard at
> this company, we're
> >not just sitting around smoking cigars." Referring to
> the amount of money
> >executives are making.
> >
> >Some stockholders commented on the intense levels of
> security. One asked
> >Shapiro, "With so many guards, how did those people ever
> manage to throw a
> >pie in your face?"
> >
> >According to Tammy Shea, the other Gateway Green
> present, "With over 200
> >security guards, they outnumbered Steve and me 100 to 1.
> There was a lot of
> >confusion created when the meeting was changed from its
> announced location at
> >Monsanto World Headquarters to the Solutia compound.
> >
> >The supposedly independent Solutia separated from
> Monsanto in 1998.
> >
> >"Guards followed me wherever I went," she noted.
> Monsanto security had
> >attempted to block her entrance into the meeting. When
> she connected them by
> >phone to her stockbroker, they reluctantly stood back.
> >
> >Shea felt that "A lot of stockholders are worried.
> Clearly the topic of what
> >to do about the European markets not being completely
> open to genetically
> >modified imports is a touchy one with Shapiro and
> shareholders. When I asked
> >Shapiro to offer further opinion on that subject, his
> response created an
> >unsettled feeling that was clear to everyone.
> >
> >Outside Monsanto World Headquarters, two dozen GGA
> members picketed and
> >chatted with reporters. Asked why they were there, Don
> Fitz explained "We
> >want to urge Monsanto stockholders to consider the
> viability of a company
> >which is putting all of its effort into genetic
> engineering at the same time
> >the technology is being protested throughout the world."
> >
> >The environmental group is particularly concerned with
> the high levels of
> >cancer-causing Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) in
> milk. GGA spokesperson
> >Daniel Romano stated "It is clear that cows injected
> with rBGH release IGF-1
> >into their milk. When people drink this milk, they have
> an increased risk of
> >colon, breast and prostate cancer."
> >
> >The Gateway Green Alliance is a chapter of the Missouri
> Green Party and the
> >Greens/Green Party USA, one of several organizations
> participating the
> >"Global Days of Action against Genetic Engineering."
> During April 22-28,
> >demonstrations and teach-ins are being held in the US,
> Canada and Europe.
> >For more information
> >
> >Contact: Tammy Shea, 314-458-5026 (voice/fax);
> >Don Fitz, 314-727-8554
> >
> >-30-
>
>
>
>
===
------------------
Kate A. Smith, Ph.D.
Vice President
AUS Consultants, Inc.
155 Gaither Drive
Moorestown, NJ 08057
609-234-9200
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