By Rich Bindell, senior writer and blogger at Food & Water Watch
Bullying is usually discussed in the context of kids—misguided youth who don’t have the maturity to know better. But, what about the bullying that happens in business, perpetrated by adults? We certainly know of a few companies within our food system that would qualify as bullies.
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley wrote a letter asking other governors to take a pledge against bullying. That same day he wrote a letter to the Univeristy of Maryland's environmental law clinic.
Instead of fists, they use expensive attorneys, lobbying power and—in a strange twist—even anti-bullying politicians.
For years, Monsanto has usually gotten their way.
Their billions of dollars buys them serious lobbying power and lots of lawyers to take advantage of farmers by suing them for accidentally acquiring Monsanto patented genetic material in their fields through contaminated seeds or drifting pollen. Many farmers that end up on the wrong end of a Monsanto lawsuit usually settle because they can’t afford to fight it, which is why the story about Percy Schmeiser is so special. He counter-sued Monsanto… and won! Continue reading
