Activists join March Against Monsanto in Mexico City

Record ID: 102555

  • Title: Activists join March Against Monsanto in Mexico City
  • Date: 21st May 2016
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MAY 21, 2016) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS TAKING PART IN THE MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO STARTING AT THE CENTRAL REFORMA AVENUE NEAR THE LANDMARK INDEPENDENCE ANGEL MONUMENT CLOSE-UP OF A FLAG CARRIED BY A DEMONSTRATOR READING IN SPANISH, '#OUT WITH MONSANTO; #CORN CARNIVAL WOMAN CARRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF CORN IN A BASKET CLOSE-UP OF BASKET OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF CORN VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS THROWING COLOUR POWDER INTO THE AIR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEMONSTRATOR AND ENVIRONMENTALIST ACTIVIST, URBANO SILVESTRE, SAYING: "They (Monsanto) want every grain of corn in the world to have some of their chemical products. Why? So every time someone wants to sow corn, they have to ask permission and pay Monsanto to do it. And each time someone sells corn, they have to pay a commission to them." DEMONSTRATORS DRUMMING IN FRONT OF A GREENPEACE BANNER READING IN SPANISH, '#MEXICOWITHOUTMONSANTO CLOSE-UP OF T-SHIRT OF A DRUMMER READING IN SPANISH, 'MONSANTO, STAY OUT OF MEXICAN CORN' (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEMONSTRATOR AND ENVIRONMENTALIST ACTIVIST, ADELITA SAN VICENTE, SAYING: "We believe that in Mexico, as the origin point of maize (corn), the most important cereal for humanity today, the sowing of (Monsanto seeds) should not be allowed at any point. We are the genetic reservoir of this cereal which is capable of resisting climate change and, after oil, is the most widely used product and that status as the origin point (of maize) should be preserved." VARIOUS MORE OF DEMONSTRATION CLOSE-UP OF A T-SHIRT WITH A LARGE EAR OF CORN ON IT DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING PROTESTS SIGNS ON THE LEFT READING, 'NATURAL CORN IS LIFE, MONSANTO IS DEATH' AND ON THE RIGHT READING, 'IN DEFENCE OF CORN, EARTH, ROOTS, LIFE, WOMEN, ANIMALS, EDUCATION AND RIGHTS'
  • Embargoed: 5th June 2016 21:31
  • Keywords: Mexico Monsanto corn march protest
  • Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014IR3D4Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Scores of people marched against U.S. seeds group Monsanto in Mexico City on Saturday (May 21) as part of the global March Against Monsanto campaign.
    Demonstrators gathered at the landmark Independence Angel Monument and continued down the central Reform Avenue wielding signs and banners denouncing the seed giant and calling for the protection of native maize or corn varieties.
    Many of the demonstrators donned traditional clothing and touted the indigenous roots of corn which is native to Mexico.
    Demonstrators said they did not want Monsanto's genetically-modified seeds to take root in the country arguing it threatened natural, native plant strains.
    "They (Monsanto) want every grain of corn in the world to have some of their chemical products. Why? So every time someone wants to sow corn, they have to ask permission and pay Monsanto to do it. And each time someone sells corn, they have to pay a commission, royalties to them," one activist, Urbano Silvestre told Reuters.
    "We believe that in Mexico, as the origin point of maize (corn), the most important cereal for humanity today, the sowing of (Monsanto seeds) should not be allowed at any point. We are the genetic reservoir of this cereal which is capable of resisting climate change and, after oil, is the most widely used product and that status as the origin point (of maize) should be preserved," another demonstrator, Adelita San Vicente said.
    Demonstrators from around the world held demonstrations against Monsanto on May 21 from places as far away as Argentina, Japan, the United States and Europe.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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