The herbicide glyphosate made by Monsanto is reportedly modifying children's genes and causing birth defects, according to the Daily Expose.
The dangers of Monsanto-produced chemicals were highlighted by a 2016 film titled "Genetically Modified Children." According to the movie, the issues began when the government of Argentina approved in 1996 the use of genetically modified (GM) crops to withstand the herbicide glyphosate sold under the name Roundup. Since then, an increasing number of Argentinian children are being born with severe birth defects and deformities.
A report by the Daily Expose elaborated that low-income tobacco farmers in the South American nation are the main victims of this scheme. The farmers are prompted to choose from either "poverty or poison," with most opting for the latter.
Glyphosate is sprayed on the tobacco crops they plant, which is then sold to Big Tobacco firms like Philip Morris. Refusing to use the dangerous chemical would mean their crops won't be certified and bought to be made into cigarettes.
"The tobacco makes its way into the hands and mouths of consumers worldwide in Philip Morris tobacco products. [Meanwhile], the poisons used to harvest the crops contaminate the farmers’ blood and are modifying the human genome, creating genetically modified children," the Expose wrote.
The film featured one example of a child whose genes were altered by the dangerous chemical. Five-year-old Lucas Texeira, son of a tobacco farmer, was born with an incurable genetic disease that left his skin with no pores. The lack of pores on the boy's skin means he cannot sweat, trapping body heat and causing severe, painful itching.
According to the Texeira family, Lucas' condition is believed to stem from his mother's exposure to glyphosate early in her pregnancy. His mother alleged that no one informed her of the weedkiller's toxicity. Meanwhile, Lucas' father expressed sadness over his son's condition and his fear that another child could suffer the same fate as Lucas.
Glyphosate has poisoned the Land of Silver
According to the piece, GM crops that tolerate Roundup such as the tobacco planted by the Texeira family first entered Argentina in 1996. The decision to plant the GM crops, which was first done in the country's northeastern Misiones Province, was based solely on studies conducted by Monsanto.
The land was sprayed with glyphosate and agrochemicals for more than 20 years, resulting in a rise in miscarriages, birth defects and cancer. Despite this, Buenos Aires was not convinced of the dangers of such chemicals. It even continued to subsidize GM crops such as soybean, given that the government receives 35 percent in taxes from GM soybean exports.
The film also visited the city of Cordoba, the capital of the eponymous province in the center of the country. Cordoba is where most GM soybeans are grown, and where glyphosate is applied from above by means of aerial spraying. It is also the home of activist Sofia Gatica, co-founder of the group Mothers of Ituzaingo which seeks to stop the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals.
Gatica is widely recognized for her work in tracking the abnormal rates of cancer, kidney disease and other conditions in areas close to where glyphosate was applied to GM soy crops. However, she herself is a witness to the ills of agrochemical use. Her infant daughter died due to kidney malformation, while her son lost his ability to walk after being exposed to a local agrochemical spraying operation.
Gatica's group of mothers had blood tests done on their children, with shocking results. They found that three in four children living in their community had agrochemicals in their blood. Aside from pesticides, the children's blood also contained heavy elements such as chromium, lead and arsenic.
The mother has repeatedly faced threats and physical assault for her efforts in fighting the giant firms. In one instance, an armed man threatened to "blow her brains out" if she did not stop protesting against Monsanto. Despite this, Gatica has remained steadfast in fighting for her cause.
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