Seeds of Support
Yuwei Gao Arts Editor

Monsanto, an international organization specializing in genetically modified foods, enters the scene and makes the farmer's life miserable. Already present in the land with its popular herbicide Roundup, Monsanto introduces the Roundup Ready Canola Seed to the Saskatchewan farmers. This seed will be immune to the Roundup herbicide, allowing farmers to kill the weeds, but not the crop - only as long as the crop comes from Monsanto. However, the Roundup seeds have been genetically modified with toxins that prevents it from germinating a second time, thus farmers are unable to save seeds and force to buy fresh seeds from Monsanto each year.

Farmers buying seeds from Monsanto are required to sign a contract that promises to buy new seeds each year and allows Monsanto to inspect their fields.

Schmeiser, from the very start, refused to buy from Monsanto as he had his own seeds. However, private investigators trespassed onto Schmeiser's land to obtain seed samples and found some Roundup seeds in his fields. Despite the obvious possibility that the seeds could've been blown onto the field from a passing grain truck to contaminate the fields, Monsanto sues Schmeiser for using its patented seeds illegally.

Furious, Schmeiser takes up the challenge in court. However, the battle was destined to wage outside the courtroom. The judge sides with Monsanto and rules for Schmeiser to pay Monsanto $20,000 plus legal costs. Not to be deterred, Schmeiser mounts an appeal. At the injustice of it all, in June 2000, Schmeiser said, "in my case, I never had anything to do with Monsanto, outside of buying chemicals. I never signed a contract. If I would go to St. Louis and contaminate their plots - destroy what they have worked on for 40 years - I think I would be put in jail and the key thrown away."

Meeting at a party three months ago, organiser Brian Lamb and local Saskatchewan rock band Superstock, came up with the idea of a benefit concert to raise awareness and money to help Percy pay his legal fees.

"You have a giant corporation that just doesn't really give a damn about an independent farmer, and they screw this guy over." Lamb said. "Not only did they not apologize and help him out, they go on the offensive. I guess it bothered us a little not only that this guy was getting picked on, but that nobody really seemed to care."

Lamb has since engaged the bands Silt and Burden to the cause as well.

The tyranny of Monsanto brings to mind the underlying issues in our society concerning the concentration of power in the hands of a few corporations.

"More people should be aware of this issue," says Doug the bass player from Superstock. As a Saskatchewanite himself, Doug is glad to help out a comrade.

"We're all playing for free. The sound system has been donated by Rob Harvey Sound Systems and he'll be doing the sound that night as well. Ms. T's Cabaret has told us that all proceeds from the door, we'll get, so that will all go to Percy's defense."

Asked about his feelings on genetically modified foods, he says, "well, it kinda scares me. This is our food supply, you know, and it's kinda been taken out of our control. Now they're trying to take it away from the farmers too. Their [Monsanto] first concern is making money and that scares me too.

Appearing on stage will be speakers and the bands. On the music, "The bands came because they wanted to do it. Silt is a country rock band, quite accessible, quite nice. But Superstock and Burden are loud. Superstock isn't really a punk band, they're more kinda rift-rock, fun party music. Burden is a hardcore, political, left-wing band," Lamb says "We don't want to be preachy. What we're hoping to do is that people who are usually not politically active will come and people who are political activist will come and have a good time. We want to get different people involved."

Lamb stresses that if one wishes to make a difference, "you don't have to go through organisations, you don't have to go through the accepted ways of doing a benefit, you don't have to wait for a march to take part."

"Think of all the issues that make you angry and things that you want to change. Then go and do something small, something real, something you can do right now."

Lamb is proud of the fact that they thought up the idea themselves and set about organising it. This was the first time for both Lamb and Superstock organising and participating in an event such as this one.

Internationally, Schmeiser has become quite a celebrity, touring the globe to speak at universities and conferences. However, nationally, he has been, but a speck in the wind.

Asked about the Canadian mainstream coverage of Schmeiser, Doug says, "well, it's not a surprise to me, these corporate media are not talking about it much because they have their own interests, just like a corporation. Our media don't cover it much and if we [the citizens] don't know about them [genetically modified foods], how can people make a decision? The media in Europe are different and more independent. People over there knows what's going on."

So to students who are the next in line to tackle the world, Doug has this to say: "Be concerned with what you put into your mouth because that's what makes up your body. If nobody cares about it, then we're all kinda lost. I just think people should pay attention and read alternative sources of media and get involved."

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