In one chapter entitled “Attack of the Killer Potatoes”, Rampton and Stauber[1] describe events in the late 1990’s concerning Dr Pusztai, the world’s leading expert on lectins. Lectins are present in all carbohydrate containing vegetables and some are more toxic than others. Dr Pusztai was one of the top scientists at the prestigious Rowett Research Institute and was experimenting with the snowdrop lectin in GM crops. The snowdrop lectin is not harmful alone, but when added to GM potatoes and fed to rats, profound changes in size and weight of their body organs, and immune system depression occurred.

Whatever your opinion of GM scientists, Dr Pusztai showed honesty, integrity and courage in trying to bring this issue to public attention. Initially, the Institute supported him, and he appeared on a British documentary to discuss it. He did not specifically mention the snowdrop lectin, but spoke in general terms about the importance of biological testing of GM food stuffs before they were accepted for human consumption.

Two days after the broadcast Pusztai was called into the Rowett Research Institute director's office and handed a news release effectively stating that he had been sacked. When he went to his laboratory he found his computers sealed, his desk locked, his data and potatoes confiscated and his team disbanded. He was also issued with a gag order and false information was provided to the press on the nature of his experiments. This fictitious information claimed that he had been working on another lectin, called concanavalin A which was already known to be toxic. It also alluded to Dr Pusztai as a bumbling, muddled, elderly idiot.

One might expect criminal charges to be brought against the individuals at the Rowett Institute responsible for this egregious and reckless endangerment of public safety. But no, a 1998 press release stated that Dr Pusztai’s claims were unfounded.

The company continues its activities unmolested and apparently untainted while Dr Pusztai's career and life lie in ruins.

The lunatics have not only taken over the asylum, they have taken over our food supply. Heaven help us!

1. Rampton, S. and J. Stauber, Trust us, we're experts! : how industry manipulates science and gambles with your future. 2001, New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam. 360 p.

Why are people so surprised at the direction in agricultural GM food production.  Each of these little incidents get looked at with surprise.  It seems overwhelming to try and put out all these little fires one at a time. But if you read up on the Codex Alimentarius which is to take full effect by Dec 31, 2009 (not too far away folks), you will find that its purpose is to give total control of food to large corporate interests:  pharmacy, agribusiness, chemical, medical, etc.  The Codex  mandates that all fruit and vegetables be irradiated.  There goes organic produce.  All flesh for human consumption is to be treated with hormones, etc, as well.  The Codex goes further in supporting GM foods.  But what is even more telling is the history of the Codex which goes back to the end of WWII when the idea of controlling the world through food was thought of by a Nazi survivor by the name of Farber.  I would suggest that people google the video Nutricide: Criminalizing Natural Health, Vitamins and Herbs by Rima Laibow.   Actually this newsletter should link to this video to make it more accessible to people.   Currently there are 4 (i think) bills in Congres designed to gut the DSHEA regualtions which gives us our legal right to chose organic and holistic ways of dealing with our food and health.  In NYS there are 4 bills in the legislature designed to do the same thing on a State level.  This is the tactic, to assault our freedom of health choice piece by piece while priming the public with scare stories about some herb or vitamin or healthy food.  Let's not forget the attack on organic spinach last year with the e-coli scare--which is now attributed to contaminated feces from animals on nearby farms.  We wont hear much about this.  Folks, Codex is now law as per the CAFTA treaty of 2005!

is this cannibalism?

      Considering what we have now learned about the advantage to those who use humans and this earth for monetary gain at all costs, we should expect more and more foods, vaccinations, medicines, etc. to be designed for creating ill health.  Ill health also makes many people feel socially weak and often wipes out resources, so fear becomes another easy tool for control in these circumstances.

We can be proactive by voicing concern via our signatures, staying aware that our highest good is decided, ultimately, by us, and becoming in all ways - spiritually and physically - more self sufficient.  For instance, we can have God and a garden.  As for the garden, read the first book of the Ringing Cedars series.