Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble for Its New Weedkiller

Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by techer on Thursday October 26, 2017 @11:41AM (#15559898)

Same old shit.

This was doing the rounds:

https://twitter.com/GeorgeMonbiot/status/920935967082639360

and this

http://swns-digital.com/2KU4-15FL6-095I05M7FE/cr.aspx

Hi Monty

We have a story that we thought might be of interest to you, looking at plans to ban key chemicals in weed-killers.

Quick Pitch: Green-fingered Brits could soon be forced to weed their entire gardens by HAND if Brussels bureaucrats ban a chemical found in the biggest selling weed-killers, it has emerged.

More: For more than 40 years glyphosate has been the key component of weed-killers such as Round-Up, enabling keen gardeners to eradicate menaces such as knotweed, hogweed, bindweed and black grass.

But environmental activists Greenpeace and a string of anti-pesticide socialist MEPs want it banned despite it being certified as safe by numerous chemical and food safety agencies.

Experts fear a vote in favour of removing the chemical will leave gardeners to rely on less effective weed-killers, or even further down the line products which contain a fast-tracked replacement chemical.

News Copy can be downloaded from our online newswire.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by zymhan on Thursday October 26, 2017 @11:56AM (#15560049)

This isn't about Glyphosate (Round Up), this is about Dicamba

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by mcguire on Thursday October 26, 2017 @12:57PM (#15560735)

Arguably, the glycophosphate resistance and patent issues mean Monsanto wants everyone to switch to the new product asap. What better way than getting it banned?

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by ceejayoz on Thursday October 26, 2017 @12:11PM (#15560203)

You're missing the point of the comment. The same company produces both products, and has a long history of manipulating media coverage in this manner.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by tptacek on Thursday October 26, 2017 @12:27PM (#15560354)

By "manipulating media coverage", you mean "having a PR team that pitches stories"? Because virtually every company listed on the NASDAQ does that --- as does every company that has ever issued a press release.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by grasshopperpurp on Thursday October 26, 2017 @12:36PM (#15560442)

So, that makes it cool to spread terrible lies? If not, why post this? What's your point?

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by tptacek on Thursday October 26, 2017 @12:39PM (#15560496)

I mean, hats off for a deft deployment of the assumptive close in your argument --- I don't really even understand what the arguments they're promoting are, let alone whether they're "terrible lies", but my point was pretty straightforward: the comment to which I replied singled out Monsanto as having a reputation for media manipulation, and if pitching stories is that, basically all major media companies are guilty as well. That's what PR groups do.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by grasshopperpurp on Thursday October 26, 2017 @01:05PM (#15560830)

So, here's my issue with your comment and the mindset it betrays: rather than acknowledging that this is a serious issue that we should not take lightly, you do the opposite. You say, 'That' what PR firms do. They lie to help the company. Everyone does it.' We can get to everyone as we go, but it's time to start holding people accountable, rather than accepting it as the way it goes/is.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by tptacek on Thursday October 26, 2017 @01:14PM (#15560925)

You're putting words in my mouth. I didn't say "they lie to help the company", or that they lie at all.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by grasshopperpurp on Thursday October 26, 2017 @01:23PM (#15561022)

>Yesterday's groundbreaking news of a new lawsuit regarding Monsanto's collusion, cover ups, and corruption inside the EPA is a part of a long string of unraveling safety claims.

Decades of faulty chemical review procedures are beginning to be overturned. Last week, after years of asking, I received an email from the EPA confirming that the National Toxicology Program is currently reviewing glyphosate and glyphosate formulations.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/324...

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-simon/top-10-lies-tol...

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by tptacek on Thursday October 26, 2017 @01:25PM (#15561048)

That is a string that does not occur in the story we're commenting on, but rather an op-ed that you've brought in.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by grasshopperpurp on Thursday October 26, 2017 @01:54PM (#15561328)

>You're missing the point of the comment. The same company produces both products, and has a long history of manipulating media coverage in this manner.

^That's the original comment you replied to. We're talking about Monsanto's history of lying and manipulation through the media.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by Jesus_Jones on Thursday October 26, 2017 @01:53PM (#15561324)

It seems like what you are doing is saying there's no basis to be concerned about monsanto's actions because everyone does it. That's not good enough, and not accurate about Monsanto. They are pretty much always acting as an overpowering bully. In one state, they are suing regulators who are concerned about the use of their chemicals in that state.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by wglb on Thursday October 26, 2017 @03:30PM (#15562207)

> what you are doing is saying there's no basis to be concerned about monsanto's actions

He said no such thing. He was addressing the extremely common practice of using PR to further business.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by posterboy on Friday October 27, 2017 @07:42AM (#15567434)

he didnt say anything general as that unless you find that lying is all that pr firms do and only they do lie.

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Re:Monsanto Attacks Scientists After Studies Show Trouble fo... by urspx on Thursday October 26, 2017 @11:51AM (#15559990)

Wow, this really has everything – the poor Brits against the evil Brussels bureaucrats and environmental activists.

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