On June 24, Brian Tokar wrote this interesting post for the Green Mountain Daily about the expanding practice of planting "Roundup Ready" (i.e., genetically engineered) corn along the Winooski River between Plainfield and East Montpelier. Brian noted a recent study showing that the chemicals in the Monsanto herbicide Roundup are lethal to amphibians at low doses. Monsanto, it seems, is not a fan of the GEICO gecko.

But, as Environmental Health News also reported last week, a so-called "inert" chemical in Monsanto's chemical weed whacker has been shown to kill human cells, too, especially embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells. You know, like the ones that are so promising in stem cell research? Like the ones keeping my 7-and-a-half-month-old unborn child alive? Yeah, those cells. As EHN's Crystal Gammon reports, nearly 4000 such inert chemicals are approved for use by the EPA. One researcher called the toxicity findings "astonishing." "Pretty fucked up" is more like it.

I know the P in "EPA" stands for Protection, but who exactly are they