A World United... Monsanto OUT!

May the 25th 2013: over forty countries, hundreds of protests and an estimated over two million people made a stand against food cultivators Monsanto - a company already banned from many countries, but which are still operating in both the UK and the USA.

A business which claims their research into agriculture could be revolutionary - letting farmers grow more, and faster.

But at what cost?

Genetically modified plants are grown from seeds which are engineered to not only resist insecticides and herbicides, but contain added nutritional benefits and increase the global food supply.

Research studies have shown that Monsanto’s genetically-modified foods can lead to serious health conditions, such as the development of cancer, infertility, birth defects and is thought to be a possible cause for the increase of developmental disorders and illnesses like Parkinsons disease. There are loopholes in the laws due to the fact that these foodstuffs are grown from seed.

Now I'm not going to tell anybody what to eat... nor am I going to come on all militant regarding this, as it is none of my business what goes past your lips.

However, I do believe everyone has the right to know what we are actually eating, and if that product contains genetically modified produce and therefore is a health risk. The environmental consequences could be disastrous; GMO effects our biodiversity, making a serious impact, killing wildlife and being a potential catalyst for cross pollination of crops.

Many countries have banned GM produce, as they cannot sell it.

At any rate...

I was one of those millions.

I've done a total of six hours travelling today, to join my nearest protest, where I met a lot of interesting people from all walks of life:

A scientist who worked for Monsanto in Argentina, and witnessed first hand the damage it can do.

Microbiologists, Farmers, Doctors, Students, the young and the old alike.

People willing to speak out, using their professional experience, about concerns and the possible dangers that we are being unwittingly led into.

My usual routine, first thing in the morning is this: running late. Today was no different, so I called a cab to get to the nearest tram stop. On the journey, the usual cabby / passenger chitchat occurred... so it came out where I was heading.

The cabby told me that he admired people like me as I was going out of my way to make a stand.
He was in full agreement with my motivation for going; he didn't want to eat GMO, and said if there had been a protest in Manchester, he would have probably joined in.
But then if the football wasn't on, and so forth...
Due to the length of my journey, I had plenty of opportunity to reflect on this.

It's a great shame that society may agree with something and have some serious opinions on these things, yet this man's voice, for instance, would never get heard as speaking out just would not take priority if it meant doing anything which wasn't everyday routine.

So joining your local Occupy movement might not be for you; getting off your arse in any shape or form might not be for you, but if you are reading this you have one of the best resources of our time at your fingertips:

The Internet.

STAY INFORMED. You get to keep abreast of the facts - facts that our governments won't necessarily tell us. Moreover, at present many of us are not asking for them! Nevertheless, the answers are there to be found.

With a quick internet search, you can find independent research on such matters like Monsanto; google the pictures.

I dare you!

So what's the one thing we all do??

We have to buy food. The best way is to vote is with your dollar, buying organic and boycotting Monsanto owned companies using GMOs in their products.

I hope this has shed some light on the name MONSANTO, which I'm sure many of you have come across today in some way or another...

Take up the torch and find out more. It's your right, and might well mean your health. Or your childrens.

RIP Ray Manzarek

This evening, I learned of the passing of The Doors' keyboard player, Ray Manzarek.
He passed away this morning in Germany after suffering bile duct cancer.

I'm truly saddened by this news; when you read about the death of a public figure, you often feel that it's a shame, and you feel sad for their family, especially when they have left a legacy that means something to you. But the death of Ray feels like losing a personal friend. I feel sad for his family and those who he was close to - but I also feel sad for myself!!

I don't buy into the ''celeb grief mentality'' syndrome, but this time when I say I'm gutted, I am.

The Doors' music has been with me since I was eleven years old; losing myself in the heady melodies and rolling riffs has got me through some of the toughest times in my life.

Their music has grown up with me and has defined some of the key moments of my life, such as hitting puberty and noticing boys for the first time. (Jim)

My father died... and I found solace and comfort within their music, rather than trying to make sense of the concept of sudden death going around your head - and being told by a religious figure that my father was needed for greater things...

Yeah right; FUCK YOU!

but from that moment I realised that all I needed to get through in life was rock n' roll... and to a certain extent, that is still true:

Sneaking into the cinema for my first 18 certificate film, dancing my socks off in the aisles, along with my two best girlfriends, what a wonderful experience.

Teenage years of  getting high with friends; you could ride those organ notes...

Introductions to classic writers and philosophy.

Lusty nights of young romance.

Pilgrimages to European cities.

and then you get a little older and a tad more sophisticated, and you start to notice the sheer brilliance of the musicianship; Ray held it together by holding down that bass line - and keeping it rhythmically tight with John - while from his tactile right hand, the melodies flowed.

I can still lose myself in the music of The Doors  - and do so on a regular basis. I got to see Ray and Robbie play twice; once was a stadium gig, the other a much smaller venue, and each time they blew me away.

When I had just left school, Ray recorded the Myth and Reality double CD where he talked about his time at UCLA, the Blues, Leather Trousers, Beat Poetry and growing up with the Blues and Jazz.

Ray was for real.... he was the nineteen-sixties spirit that I longed to try to get a feel for, and nothing came closer  to that than listening to Ray Manzarek talk.
For myself and kids all over the world, he made it possible to get a feel for what things might have been like.

Whether The Doors are your thing or not, Ray undoubtedly was one of the best organists to define a generation.

Thank you for the good times Ray!

Though you are no longer on earth, your music and energy will flow through the millions who hold your music close every time it is being played.

Please consider leaving a donation in Ray's name by donating to: www.standup2cancer.org

R.I.P 1939-2013