Dear Gary Ruskin and Anti-GMOers, Stop Being Puppets for Putin

By Alex Berezow, PhD — May 02, 2017
RT is Russia's propaganda outlet in the U.S. and around the world, which broadcasts "news" that advances the agenda of President Vladimir Putin. Ruskin heads U.S. Right to Know, which insists on GMO labeling as a way of scaring Americans about food safety. And USRTK gets a ton of dough from a group which is known to propagandize for RT.  
Gary Ruskin's agenda pleases the Kremlin. (Image: Twitter)

RT is the Kremlin's propaganda outlet in the United States and around the world. As such, it broadcasts "news" (mostly, the fake variety) that advances the agenda of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

One such agenda is undermining American dominance in science and technology, and RT has played its part by serving as a constant source of misinformation. The report released by the Director of National Intelligence on Russia's interference in the U.S. election concluded that RT is spouting anti-fracking propaganda as a way to undermine the natural gas industry in the United States. Why? Because fracking lowers the prices of fossil fuels, which severely harms Russia's economy.

RT's war on U.S. technology does not end there. RT has never been fond of GMOs, which are largely the result of American innovation. In a 2015 article, RT reported on Russia's decision to ban GMO food production in Russia. Tellingly, one of the protesters shown in the report is holding a sign that reads, "Goodbye America!" The anti-GMO stance is not based on science or health concerns; instead, it's based entirely on hurting U.S. agricultural companies.

Gary Ruskin: A Puppet for Putin

Gary Ruskin heads an organization, called U.S. Right to Know (USRTK), that -- despite opposition from America's best doctors and scientists -- insists on labeling foods containing GMOs as a way of scaring Americans about the safety of their food. The purpose is to get people to buy more organic.

That's why USRTK receives more than $400,000 from the Organic Consumers Association, a group that spreads lies about GMOs. Ronnie Cummins, the International Director of OCA, is known to propagandize for RT.

The reason is obvious: USRTK and RT both share a common agenda: To undermine American science and technology for financial gain. Gary gets more money from organic activists, and Russia worries less about competing against America's multinational agriculture companies. Everybody wins... except, well, Americans.

Cheerleading it all is the discredited journalist Carey Gillam, who once wrote lopsided anti-GMO pieces for Reuters. No longer working at an actual news organization, she has been rewarded for her years of faithful service in opposition to biotechnology with the role of "Research Director" at USRTK.

How Gary Ruskin and USRTK Please the Kremlin

A recent RT article reported on a minor document filed by a sue-and-settle law firm for a lawsuit against Monsanto in the Northern District of California. The only interesting thing about the document was that Gary appears to have gotten the law firm to include the patently false claim that Monsanto is paying off organizations, like the American Council on Science and Health (us), to lie about "chemicals."

Considering that countless such documents are filed every single day in courts across the United States, how on Earth would RT have ever come across it? Most likely, Gary gave it to them. The article even admits, "The court papers are being gathered at the website of food-safety whistleblower organization US Right to Know."

How does Gary feel about assisting the Kremlin's anti-technology propaganda campaign against America? He's quite happy about it. In fact, he promoted it himself on Twitter. (See screenshot.)

Just like anti-fracking protesters, Mr. Ruskin is a "useful idiot," willingly advancing the Kremlin's agenda. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that being anti-GMO is associated with less education. For Gary, then, we can drop the word useful from the moniker.

One thing is for certain: You can't spell USRTK without RT.

Alex Berezow, PhD

Former Vice President of Scientific Communications

Dr. Alex Berezow is a PhD microbiologist, science writer, and public speaker who specializes in the debunking of junk science for the American Council on Science and Health. He is also a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors and a featured speaker for The Insight Bureau. Formerly, he was the founding editor of RealClearScience.

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