Viewpoint: Verdict in glyphosate trial suggests environmental activists are fair-weather fans of science

[A]re scientists supposed to be the folk heroes of environmental activists or not? When the subject is climate change they certainly fulfill this role …. But when the subject is the herbicide glyphosate? The great majority of scientists whose work has found it safe are dismissed as nothing more than dupes of agribusiness firm Monsanto.

…. Monsanto lost a court case [recently] against California [man] who claims his non-Hodgkins lymphona was caused by glyphosate  …. With due respect to the jury, its decision sits at odds with the bulk of scientific evidence.

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[I]n 2015 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ …. But other bodies …. have come to a different conclusion – including a joint declaration by the World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisation.

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[T]he evidence which …. claimed to link glyphosate with non-Hodgkins lymphona was too limited to make a positive association. Nevertheless, in the minds of environmental activists …. scientists can’t possibly be …. coming to a reasoned conclusion – they must have been either bought or brainwashed by Monsanto.

For example, writing in the Guardian, US activist Carey Gillam, writes of Monsanto: “The company has employed a range of tactics …. to suppress and manipulate scientific literature, harass journalists and scientists who did not parrot the company’s propaganda …. ”

Read full, original article: The Roundup case exposes the hypocrisy of the green lobby (behind paywall)