October 12, 2007

 
Q: You were conservative farmers in Canada. Did you ever imagine yourself fighting a David vs Goliath battle against one of the world's biggest multinational corporations?

A: My wife and I have never ever thought or been engaged in a dispute with a multinational corporation. Besides being farmers, we also had a business where we dealt with corporations and in my role as a politician I also had negotiations and discussions with corporations.


Q: Has your perception of globalisation and its effects on people changed, since you learned about Monsanto's practices?

A: Globalization affects people around the world. It has drastically changed not only trading practices but also the culture of many countries. In North America we have the North American Free Trade Agreement which includes Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This is besides the WTO Agreements. This Globalization has affected the agricultural industry drastically in all our three countries, so while certain industries might benefit, agriculture is severely affected and farmers now have a very difficult time making enough money to stay on the land. This is because of high input costs and low prices for their products.


Q: What about Monsanto makes you most upset?

There are a number of reasons why Monsanto makes me upset. First of all, they are the only company in the world at this time which promotes that farmers should never own their own seed and/or plants. Each year they should have to buy from a company like Monsanto. Monsanto has drastic tactics they use against farmers, such as: sending letters to farmers to intimidate and harass them, if they think the farmer is using GMO's without a license from them. Farmers call these letters extortion letters. Monsanto also have their own investigating persons and police force (former police officers) who they send out to check on farmers and to go into crops planted by farmers to check to see what is growing. This is done without the permission of the farmer and is trespassing.


Q: Has Canada's legal system failed you?

A: I feel that the Canadian legal system has really failed not only myself and my wife but thousands of other farmers. A farmer does not have the money and time to stand up to a multinational corporation in court which may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and involve maybe 6-7 years in court. Monsanto knows this and abuses people's rights because they know that it is very difficult for any individual to stand up to them in court. What we say is we have a legal system in Canada but do we really have justice?


Q: Why is there still no specific law regarding patents on genetically modified organisms in Canada? And what would you like to tell lawmakers who will, for sure, be lobbied vigorously by Monsanto?

A: The patents' issue regarding GMO's has not really been presented in parliament up to now. Although the Supreme court's decision in my case, stated that the parliament of Canada has to address this whole issue on whether life can be patented (including seeds and plants). There is a lot of pressure on the government now to bring in legislation that will give the rights back to people. Corporations should not be able to control people, seeds, plants, and food through patent law. Monsanto and other companies have lobbied vigorously against bringing in any patent law that would hurt the corporation.


Q: What has your fight cost you?

A: Besides my legal costs, which were in excess of $400,000, there were also 8 years of my time, the stress on our family and my friends and neighbours. Also the many threats my wife and I received from Monsanto that they were going to destroy us because they have stated to us that no one stands up to them. At one point Monsanto tried to seize our house, our farmland, and our machinery, through loans and charges. They were determined to destroy and stop us. That is why when many farmers get threats from Monsanto, they just give in because they can not afford to fight them in court. When farmers give in, they must sign a non-disclosure statement to Monsanto, that they can not talk or give information to anyone about what Monsanto has done to them.  So the farmers' freedom of speech and expression is taken away.


Q: You are/were a farmer in one of the richest countries in the world, yet, it is a hard and draining fight. How much do you think the poor farmers in the 3rd World will suffer from Monsanto?

A: Many third world farmers have suffered and continue to suffer from Monsanto's policies. How can a third world farmer purchase his/her seeds each year from the corporations and buy the chemicals and pay license fees? Many times when I have spoken in third world countries, people have said to me, "Percy don't give up your fight with Monsanto, you in Canada at least have a chance to stand up to them. We don't have the resources to do so". This always gave me an incentive to continue to fight for the rights of farmers and that we always have safe and good food and that no one has a right to patent life.


Q: How have your farmer friends reacted to your resistance?

A: Many of my friends have stood behind me all these years. Even at times when Monsanto would come to some of my neighbours, and offer them as high as $20,000 worth of free chemicals to say something false or negative about me they refused to do so. Monsanto used every tactic possible to try and discredit me and my family. This was one of the hardest parts in fighting a multinational corporation.


Q: How do you think this Award can help your fight?

A: This award is a great honour to my wife and myself. It will motivate us to continue our fight for the rights of farmers and consumers around the world.