Read this article to learn more about the global days of action to shut down Monsanto on March 16 & 17. We urge you to challenge corporate power directly at "the gates of evil," as the organizers of the protests have dubbed Monsanto's headquarters, research facilities and lobbying offices, but, before you leave this screen to head to the nearest Occupy encampment to get involved, please take action now on these important campaigns...

National Public Radio's Diane Rehm Show covered the organic standards debate on Tuesday. Here's the show's teaser: "The market for organic food has grown from just $1 billion in 1990 to nearly $30 billion today. As big corporations enter the market, concern has grown about enforcement of organic standards, and some see the movement drifting away from its founding principles of sustainability and local farming. They are alarmed by organic tomatoes grown in far-off, Mexican deserts that require constant irrigation, organic cows living on industrial-sized feedlots, and chickens laying organic eggs while confined in high-capacity barns. But others say that big farms bring organic food to the masses."

Dow Agrosciences has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve corn that is genetically engineered to survive massive spraying of the herbicide 2,4-D. This would increase 2,4-D use 50-fold, threatening farmers (even those who don't grow GMOs), farm workers, rural communities, and food consumers. On February 23, the Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit to force the EPA to act on their 2008 petition to ban the use of this known neurotoxin and Agent Orange ingredient within 45 days of the court's decision.

On March 1st, hacktivists Anonymous and LulzSec jacked the Monsanto database in retaliation for its motion to dismiss a farmer lawsuit challenging the company's use of its patents against farmers whose crops have been contaminated with Monsanto's engineered DNA. The attack was part of their AntiSec campaign targeting the world's banks, governments and corporations. Monsanto made the list for providing the US government with the herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.