In Cordoba province, Argentina, there is a growing area planted with genetically modified crops, especially soya, leading to serious intoxication problems in rural and urban population. Last week there was a massive march against Monsanto in Cordoba’s capital.

Over 6,000 took part in the so called “dust mask’s March”, led by the Mothers of Barrio Ituzaingo, which filed the historical suit against two soya businessmen and a fumigator that began last month.

The march rejected the installation of Monsanto in Cordoba. A report published in April by Via Campesina, Friends of the Earth International and Combat Monsanto, claims the US company faces growing resistance in certain parts of the world.

Sofía Gatica, a leader of the group of Mothers, said in the act held after the demonstration of July 19 “we have been fighting, we have been defending our lives, our health for 12 years and we continue to be ignored. Unfortunately they tried to conceal the problem of Barrio Ituzaingo so it did not came to light”.

Gatica also blamed the governor of Cordoba, Jose Manuel de la Sota, for promoting the installation of a Monsanto industrial plan in the town Malvinas Argentinas. The woman claimed “now Mr. Governor is bringing Monsanto here. We know what will happen. We don’t want Monsanto here. Health is not negotiable and we will not negotiate our people’s health”.

Meanwhile, Maria Godoy, one of the mothers of Ituzaingo said they “didn’t think there would be so much joy, so much color, so much support, even though people have always supported us”.

Another genocide

Nora Cortiñas, of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo also supported the demonstration. She said “I am here on behalf of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. I say on behalf of them that we support the Mothers of Ituzaingo who have been fighting for 12 years to expose the atrocious fumigations”.

Read the report here

Audio produced by Foro Argentino de Radios Comunitarias www.farco.org.ar

Photo: libresdelsur.org.ar