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Along with the Coalition against Bayer Dangers, IFOAM  Organics International, Colabora and many others, Navdanya organised a “Stop Bayer / Monsanto” mobilization in Germany from 25-29 of April 2017.

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  also closing ranks to reclaim its rights to healthy food and a healthy and safe environment.

At the People’s Assembly & Monsanto Tribunal, co-organised by Navdanya along with IFOAM  Organics International, Biovision, Organic Consumers Association and many other civil society organisations and movements, it was decided to hold the next People’s Assembly in Cologne/Bonn at the Bayer Shareholder Meeting

Thus, along with the Coalition against Bayer Dangers, IFOAM  Organics International, Colabora and many others, Navdanya organised a “Stop Bayer / Monsanto” mobilization in Germany from 25-29 of April 2017.

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 by representatives of the Coalition against Bayer Dangers. On the other hand, Markus Arbenz, Executive Director at IFOAM – Organics International made an official statement, 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.

The actions received unprecedented extensive Press Coverage on German and international media.

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  pesticides and genetically modified seeds.  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.  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’s doors to genetically modified organisms, despite the universally accepted principle of precaution and the will of huge numbers of citizens on both continents.

Along with AStA Uni Köln, 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.

Read the Press Release

“Bayer-Monsanto: Get-off our Plates!” event is strictly connected to the “Stop Bayer demonstration which took place in Bonn on April 28th in front of the World Conference Center.

The  “Bayer-Monsanto: Get-off our Plates!” Town Hall Meeting in Cologne featured the following international speakers:

Andre Leu, IFOAM Organics International – President.

Nnimmo Bassey (Nigeria, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Member of Navdanya International Board, 2010 Right Livelihood Award, former President of Friends of the Earth International), connected via Skype.

Axel Köhler-Schnura (Coalition against Bayer dangers),

Johannes Remmel (NRW LW-minister,  well known for his criticism of Bayer-Monsanto merger),

Miguel Lovera, former head of Paraguay’s National Service for Plants and Seeds Quality and Health and witness at the Monsanto Tribunal, who also was a witness at the Monsanto Tribunal last October.

Jon Tester (democratic US Senator, organic farmer and the only GM opponent in the Senate)

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  Lovera  from 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.

This series of actions in Germany is part of the global mobilization which was initiated last October during the People’s Assembly and the Monsanto Tribunal in the Hague, co-organised by Navdanya, along with multiple civil society organisations

Movements across the world have already joined this renewed “Call to Action against the Corporate Takeover of our Food and Health” and events and actions have been organised along the month of April and beyond.

“Stop BAYER / MONSANTO” days of action in Germany – Key Dates

Kick off – Panel Discussion in Bonn
25 April 2017, 7.30pm
Organised by: CBG / IFOAM / Navdanya a.o.
Venue: Bonn University, Lecture Room XVII in the main building
Metro station: Universität/Markt

International Town Hall meeting in Cologne
27 April 2017, 7.30pm
Organised by: IFOAM / Navdanya / AStA University of Cologne a.o.
Venue: University of Cologne, Lecture Room 1 in the main building,
Albertus-Magnus-Platz

“Stop Bayer / Monsanto!” actions in Bonn – 28 April 2017

  • “Get Up Early !!” demonstration in front of Bayer Group general meeting venue

7am – 10am
Organised by: Coordination against BAYER dangers (CBG)
Venue: World Conference Center Bonn, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 2

  • “Stop Bayer / Monsanto!” Rally in front of Bayer Group general meeting venue

8.30am – 10am
Organised by: Coordination against BAYER dangers (CBG)
Venue: World Conference Center Bonn, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 2

  • Actions and talks at the BAYER shareholders meeting inside the World Conference Center

10am to 6pm
Venue: World Conference Center Bonn, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 2

  • International Press Conference

11am
Organised by: CBG / IFOAM / Navdanya a.o.
Venue: IFOAM office in Bonn, Charles de Gaulle-Straße 5

“Stop Bayer / Monsanto!” demonstration in Berlin ”
29 April 2017, 2pm
Organised by: “Stop Bayer / Monsanto!” initiative
Starting from: Petersburger Platz

More information [German]
http://cbgnetwork.org/7002.html
http://cbgnetwork.org/7000.html