Despite the dark, deadly past of chemical giants Monsanto and Bayer, a proposed merger between them is expected to be approved, despite a pattern of international war crimes and a trail of dead bodies.

This post was originally published in Toward Freedom on 23 December 2016.

The authors Ruddy Turnstone and Carolyn Lansom work for Global Justice Ecology Project and Theresa Ipolito co-wrote this piece as a volunteer for GJEP.  You can find their bios at the bottom of this post.   Orin Langelle, GJEP’s Strategic Communications Director, was interviewed for this post.  Langelle’s father was killed by PCB poisoning after Monsanto covered up its deadly impacts for many years.

Bayer and Monsanto are negotiating a possible merger, which would make them one of the biggest, most dangerous companies on the planet.  This article explores the companies’ shocking histories and the possible impacts of such a merger.
_________
On December 8th 2016, the State of Washington’s Attorney General office filed a lawsuit against Monsanto for contaminating rivers, land, air, people and wildlife. 120 bodies of water in Washington were named as suffering from PCB contamination. This recklessness by Monsanto comes at no surprise and is a glimpse as what to expect if the Bayer-Monsanto merger is completed.

From Bayer’s systematic killing of and forced-testing on people in Nazi Germany, to their preventable spread of HIV to thousands, and Monsanto’s deadly development of Agent Orange, PCBs and dioxin, this merger would mark a dangerous new precedent for the biotechnology/biochemical industry if approved.

Together, these two corporations have been responsible for the suffering, torture and deaths of millions. Communities, organizations, small farmers and social movements are working to resist these corporations, and have made a resounding rejection of their merger.