{"id":1006,"date":"2017-04-29T17:30:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-29T16:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/navdanyainternational.org\/stop-bayer-monsanto-germany\/"},"modified":"2023-05-08T16:01:40","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T14:01:40","slug":"stop-bayer-monsanto-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navdanyainternational.org\/de\/stop-bayer-monsanto-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cStop BAYER \/ MONSANTO\u201d days of action in Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"

Along with the Coalition against Bayer Dangers<\/a>, IFOAM \u00a0Organics International<\/a>, Colabora<\/a> and many others, Navdanya organised a \u201cStop Bayer \/ Monsanto\u201d mobilization in Germany from 25-29 of April 2017<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Multinationals are closing ranks through mergers to become bigger and more powerful, to further pressure and aggressively lobby politicians to dismantle the regulations gained through years of social struggle through free trade agreements and in this way, secure free access to markets all over the world. Free access which rings like conquest and domination. But civil society is \u00a0also closing ranks to reclaim its rights to healthy food and a healthy and safe environment.<\/p>\n

At the People\u2019s Assembly & Monsanto Tribunal<\/a>, co-organised by Navdanya along with IFOAM \u00a0Organics International<\/a>, Biovision<\/a>, Organic Consumers Association <\/a>and many other civil society organisations and movements, it was decided to hold the next People\u2019s Assembly in Cologne\/Bonn at the Bayer Shareholder Meeting<\/p>\n

Thus, along with the Coalition against Bayer Dangers<\/a>, IFOAM \u00a0Organics International<\/a>, Colabora<\/a> and many others, Navdanya organised a \u201cStop Bayer \/ Monsanto\u201d mobilization in Germany from 25-29 of April 2017<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Farmers movements, environmental groups, trade unions and students organizations joined the series of actions, which converged in Bonn on April 28th, for a demonstration in front of the World Conference Center where the 2017 Bayer shareholders meeting was held. During the shareholders meeting, inside the building, a protest was staged<\/a> by representatives of the Coalition against Bayer Dangers. On the other hand, Markus Arbenz, Executive Director at IFOAM – Organics International made an official statement<\/a>, voicing the objections many have to the proposed merger. The demonstration was followed by a Press Conference organised by CBG \/ IFOAM \/ Navdanya and others at IFOAM office in Bonn.<\/p>\n

The actions received unprecedented extensive Press Coverage<\/a> on German and international media.<\/p>\n

The announced merger between Bayer and Monsanto confirms the concerns and warnings put out by Navdanya over the past few years. The mega $ 66 billion merger further tightens corporate control on our food and our right to health with the use of \u00a0pesticides and genetically modified seeds.\u00a0 Corporate interests are, however, clearly pointed in the direction of profit at any cost, with the opening of more and more markets through continuing lobbying and pressure on democratically elected politicians for the elimination of regulatory barriers.\u00a0 There are those who are already betting that the announced merger between the German company Bayer and the American giant Monsanto will help the US to finally open Europe\u2019s doors to genetically modified organisms, despite the universally accepted principle of precaution and the will of huge numbers of citizens on both continents.<\/p>\n

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Along with AStA Uni K\u00f6ln,<\/a> Colabora, IFOAM Organics International, the Coalition against Bayer Dangers eV- and others, Navdanya also co-organised a Townhall Meeting in Cologne on April 27th, 2017.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Read the Press Release<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBayer-Monsanto: Get-off our Plates<\/strong>!\u201d event is strictly connected to the \u201cStop Bayer demonstration which took place in Bonn on April 28th in front of the World Conference Center.<\/p>\n

The \u00a0\u201cBayer-Monsanto: Get-off our Plates!\u201d Town Hall Meeting in Cologne featured the following international speakers:<\/p>\n

Andre Leu, IFOAM Organics International \u2013 President.<\/p>\n

Nnimmo Bassey (Nigeria, Health of Mother Earth Foundation<\/a>, Member of Navdanya International Board, 2010 Right Livelihood Award, former President of Friends of the Earth International), connected via Skype.<\/p>\n

Axel K\u00f6hler-Schnura (Coalition against Bayer dangers),<\/p>\n

Johannes Remmel (NRW LW-minister, \u00a0well known for his criticism of Bayer-Monsanto merger<\/a>),<\/p>\n

Miguel Lovera, former head of Paraguay\u2019s National Service for Plants and Seeds Quality and Health and witness at the Monsanto Tribunal<\/a>, who also was a witness at the Monsanto Tribunal last October.<\/p>\n

Jon Tester (democratic US Senator, organic farmer and the only GM opponent in the Senate<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The five speakers well addressed the theme of the evening with their contributions and positioning. Minister Johannes Remmel expressed his concern about the Monsanto Bayer merger. Miguel \u00a0Lovera \u00a0from Paraguay gave an impressive account on what it means to have agro-chemical corporations lobbying in his and other Latin American countries, while the president of IFOAM Andre Leu emphasized the connection and impact that agro-chemical farming has on (organic) farmers and the society at large.<\/p>\n

This series of actions in Germany is part of the global mobilization which was initiated last October during the People\u2019s Assembly and the Monsanto Tribunal<\/a><\/strong> in the Hague, co-organised by Navdanya, along with multiple civil society organisations<\/p>\n

Movements across the world have already joined this renewed \u201cCall to Action against the Corporate Takeover of our Food and Health<\/a>\u201d and events and actions have been organised<\/a> along the month of April and beyond.<\/p>\n

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Movilizaci\u00f3n #StopBayerMonsanto<\/a> en Alemania 25-29 de Abril 2017 con @CBGnetwork<\/a> @IFOAMorganic<\/a> @NavdanyaIntl<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/ZZqKeTgyma<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/F2YCnqPX7o<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Seed Freedom (@occupytheseed) April 27, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Hier versammelt sich der Widerstand gegen die \u00dcbernahme von #Monsanto<\/a> durch #Bayer<\/a>! #Bonn<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2KCy2dKcb9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Renate K\u00fcnast (@RenateKuenast) April 28, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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@Andreleu1<\/a> & @RenateKuenast<\/a> protesting to #stopbayermonsanto<\/a> in Bonn at the #Bayer<\/a> shareholder meeting #Luvorganic<\/a> @occupytheseed<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/mq7H1NMiWm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 IFOAM (@IFOAMorganic) April 28, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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major shareholders question risks of #Bayer<\/a> #Monsanto<\/a> merger. #mergerfromhell<\/a> #Bagm17<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/JoCuD77I2B<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Adrian Bebb (@AdrianBebb) April 28, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Join us to stop the #CorporateTakeover<\/a> of our #Food<\/a> & #Health<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/xyDVOajV65<\/a> #stopbayermonsanto<\/a> #GetOffOurPlates<\/a> @drvandanashiva<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/AsYWnOAUdY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Seed Freedom (@occupytheseed) April 27, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cStop BAYER \/ MONSANTO\u201d days of action in Germany \u2013 Key Dates<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Kick off \u2013 Panel Discussion in Bonn<\/strong>
\n25 April 2017, 7.30pm<\/b>
\nOrganised by: CBG \/ IFOAM \/ Navdanya a.o.
\nVenue: Bonn University, Lecture Room XVII in the main building
\nMetro station: Universit\u00e4t\/Markt<\/p>\n

International Town Hall meeting in Cologne<\/a><\/strong>
\n27 April 2017, 7.30pm<\/b>
\nOrganised by: IFOAM \/ Navdanya \/ AStA University of Cologne a.o.
\nVenue: University of Cologne, Lecture Room 1 in the main building,
\nAlbertus-Magnus-Platz<\/p>\n

\u201cStop Bayer \/ Monsanto!\u201d actions in Bonn \u2013 28 April 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n