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offer even more appealing. Since then, the downturn in beef prices has conveniently allowed Tyson Foods to buy IBP Corporation at the devalued price of $US3.2 billion, or $30 per share of stock valued at only $24.11. Dr Horowitz's press release ends as follows: "Dr Horowitz, in support of the British Farmers for Action, is calling for an imme- diate halt to the slaughter of uninfected herds, and an investiga- tion by the British government into the possibility that the entire foot-and-mouth disease outbreak was premeditated." Sears, Ford, Philip Morris and the United States Army. But in the PR game, ‘perception management’ is the key corporate mission phrase down at Burson-Marsteller. Its website states boldly:*! "Perceptions are real. They colour what we see...what we believe...how we behave. They can be managed...to motivate behaviour...to create positive business results." The agency ensures that the perceptions surrounding a client are consistent with the client's desired business objectives. Monsanto states in a 1998 report:* "There are clearly large forces at work that are making public acceptance of genetically engineered foods problematic." MONSANTO'S DEADLY "TERMINATOR" PLANS acceptance of genetically engineered foods problematic.” We continue our theme of corporate marauders with reference to Monsanto, the US-based biotech multinational. POPULATION CONTROL TACTICS Monsanto is also renowned for its "Terminator" seed develop- The following example of calculated, Western-led psychologi- ment. Terminator seeds allow for one crop growth only; no viable cal warfare is excerpted from our book, World Without AIDS. seeds are produced from that crop. This brings an end to ongoing, — The level of detail which goes into planning a subtle change of independent food production. The grower has to return to direction in the minds of a given populace is extraordinary. Monsanto to buy more seed, so, in effect, he is being controlled. ‘Hidden persuasion’ tactics are frequently used by the World He has been swallowed up. Health Organization, World Bank, IMF and related organisations In "Terminator Unleashed: Patenting Life — Patenting Death", to coerce nations into adopting Western ideals not necessarily Mary Jo Olsen states: suited to the indigenous culture. In this instance, the Western "The only thing that can keep pace with the rate of agricultural __ ideal being introduced is population control—in other words, the biotechnological change these days is target nation is being coerced into limit- the speed with which the transnational ing the size of its families. The terms Life Industry is eating itself. In the last . + pee . ‘audience identification’ and 'message couple of years, Monsanto has spent While on an individual basis design’ are of particular interest to this more than US$6.7 billion buying seed 8 study.”* and other agri-biotech companies... these chemical and We have at best two years, and at pharmaceutical giants worst six months, to safeguard the OFS right of farmers as seed-savers and compete over specific breeders... Whose interests are being products, they are cooperating served? The 12,000-year-old right of ° very closely in other ways. farmers to save and improve seed could be coming to an end—now." Monsanto will then not only be able million by the year 2020. to control who receives seed, but also Aware of the fact that Ghanaians do who receives the means to grow it. And Monsanto's close links to not wish the size of their country to be manipulated by outsiders, Coercion Strategies in Ghana In November 1990, the World Bank launched a US$27 million population control project for Ghana, with the goal of cutting the size of the next generation of Ghanaians in half from approximately 45 million to only 25 the major institutes espousing population control philosophies, the World Bank commissioned Opia Mensah Kumah, senior pro- such as the World Health Organization, World Bank and IMF, gram officer for the US government's population communication force us to ask what unsavoury plans might be birthed as a result. campaign in Africa, to produce a ‘procedural’ report. The report of these conglomerates' being in control of both food and water. stated that deeply held traditional beliefs and values would hinder population control efforts, making persuasion more difficult. THE CORPORATE PR SPIN ON GE FOOD Indeed, in many parts of the continent, cultural prohibitions exist While on an individual basis these chemical and pharmaceutical against even counting one's children as they are believed to be a giants compete over specific products, they are cooperating very blessing, not a curse. closely in other ways. Based on Kumah’s research, both the World Bank and USAID Novartis, for example, is one of the 39 multinational biotech implemented programs designed to overcome resistance to popu- corporations (made up of about 600 companies like DeKalb, lation reduction and bring about drastic changes in public atti- DuPont, Monsanto and Zeneca) and 14 national research organi- tudes and personal conduct. Involving coercion and deception, sations that have joined together as EuropaBio, an umbrella group their tactics conform exactly to the strategies outlined by Colonel formed to represent the industries’ genetically modified interests Michael Dewar in his book, The Art of Deception in Warfare, a in Europe. According to EuropaBio's website, its mission is: "To study on psychological warfare and covert actions. Dewar is a establish an encouraging climate for biotechnology [formerly former army intelligence officer who now runs his own public known as genetic engineering] in Europe, and thereby promote _ relations agency in London. He outlines six basic principles: the creation of wealth and skilled employment."” 1. The operation must be well planned and centrally Because of overall marked resistance from consumers to geneti- coordinated, so as to be consistent and sustained. cally modified and engineered products, EuropaBio hired public 2. Preparation is essential. relations firm Burson-Marsteller, the PR arm of the well-known 3. Those conducting the campaign must be thoroughly familiar advertising firm Young & Rubicam, to smooth the way for the with their audience and be able to gauge its probable reaction to future acceptance of genetically engineered foods. As an indica- the campaign. tion of its ability to 'get the job done', Young & Rubicam’s partial 4. False information must be made to appear absolutely logical, client-list speaks for itself: AT&T, Colgate-Palmolive, DuPont, seeming neither out of harmony with current events nor in any THE CORPORATE PR SPIN ON GE FOOD While on an individual basis these chemical and pharmaceutical giants compete over specific products, they are cooperating very closely in other ways. Novartis, for example, is one of the 39 multinational biotech corporations (made up of about 600 companies like DeKalb, DuPont, Monsanto and Zeneca) and 14 national research organi- sations that have joined together as EuropaBio, an umbrella group formed to represent the industries’ genetically modified interests in Europe. According to EuropaBio's website, its mission is: "To establish an encouraging climate for biotechnology [formerly known as genetic engineering] in Europe, and thereby promote the creation of wealth and skilled employment."” Because of overall marked resistance from consumers to geneti- cally modified and engineered products, EuropaBio hired public relations firm Burson-Marsteller, the PR arm of the well-known advertising firm Young & Rubicam, to smooth the way for the future acceptance of genetically engineered foods. As an indica- tion of its ability to 'get the job done', Young & Rubicam’s partial client-list speaks for itself: AT&T, Colgate-Palmolive, DuPont, APRIL — MAY 2002 NEXUS ¢ 17 While onan individual basis www.nexusmagazine.com