Monsanto?!

[Opeboy]

What are all your thoughts on Monsanto being a major sponsor of FIRST?

[TheKeeg]

Anytime we can reach out to businesses and the community to share what FIRST has brought to all of us, we should. Have they showed interest?

[Taylor]

Is their cash any less green than any other business?
I thought their display was well-thought-out and well done. It highlighted the scientific and technological aspects of agrarian careers - something that is often wrongfully forgotten. It was interactive, interesting, and worked for many age groups.
Many people don't realize that many of the biggest historical advances in many technologies - for instance dial-up modems and instant global weather reports - were pioneered by the American Farmer.
Good for them for reminding us that agriculture truly is a cutting-edge sector, and the people who work in it are out standing in their field (ha!).

[Jessica Boucher]

They also gave tons of volunteers to Championship.

[Tungrus]

We are hoping Monsanto to sponsor us and give us that miracle fertilizer to grow our team and genetically modify our mentor to be super duper mentors!

[Lil' Lavery]

They're hardly the only FIRST sponsor with business practices I find distasteful. That doesn't mean that everything they do is wrong, or that they're less valuable as a sponsor to the program. So long as champs is in St Louis, it makes sense to have them onboard.

[Andrew Schreiber]

So, it's ok for a company that profits off of finding a more efficient way to kill people (Boeing, Lockheed, and their ilk) to sponsor FIRST but not these guys?*

I guess I just don't understand all the hate for these folks. Their money is just as green, their volunteers just as helpful, and their goals are probably just as noble.




*I don't have a problem with these companies either.

[Oblarg]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

They're hardly the only FIRST sponsor with business practices I find distasteful. That doesn't mean that everything they do is wrong, or that they're less valuable as a sponsor to the program.

This.

Moreover, business practices aside, GM crops are hugely important to modern society and we need people going into agricultural sciences.

[who716]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

They're hardly the only FIRST sponsor with business practices I find distasteful. That doesn't mean that everything they do is wrong, or that they're less valuable as a sponsor to the program. So long as champs is in St Louis, it makes sense to have them onboard.

I agree with you totally all though there practice is distasteful you learn from experince that you never turn down a sponsor ship oppertunity money is money.

[Tungrus]

I my humble opinion money is not money, when its tainted! I am NOT talking specific to Monsanto there is a huge discussion about and its impact. Depending on which side you are, the resources can be considered as good or tainted. I will not be the judge, jury or executioner. I will leave it to smart people at FIRST to evaluate the ethical part of it and trust they will do a good job. When I seek sponsor I stay from certain businesses who I don't approve off, but this doesnot mean that I am expert in other businesses and know that their money is not tainted. Its my judgement call. As far as Monsanto is concerned I would not mind their presence as long as FIRST has made that decision.

[Lil' Lavery]

Speaking hypothetically, why turn down a good deed from a bad person/organization? If, say, the mafia were to donate money and supplies to hurricane relief efforts, should that be denied?


disclaimer: I am not comparing Monsanto to the mafia, nor do I oppose GMOs.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Speaking hypothetically, why turn down a good deed from a bad person/organization? If, say, the mafia were to donate money and supplies to hurricane relief efforts, should that be denied?

Wait, seriously? Mafia presumably is an organization that primarily works in illegal industries.

Monsanto is a perfectly legal company whether you agree with their business practices or not.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Wait, seriously? Mafia presumably is an organization that primarily works in illegal industries.

Monsanto is a perfectly legal company whether you agree with their business practices or not.

The statement was intentionally hyperbolic to provoke thought and discussion of the issue here. It was in response to the post above it, regarding "tainted money," and contained a direct analogy to real world events. I prefaced it with "speaking hypothetically" for a reason.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Wait, seriously? Mafia presumably is an organization that primarily works in illegal industries.

Monsanto is a perfectly legal company whether you agree with their business practices or not.

That's not the issue here. We're discussing ethics, not legality. If the only judgement of a company's ethical practice is strict adherence to the law, then pretty much any business is ethical. I don't think most would agree with this assessment. Sean's point was to pick an *obviously* unethical organization giving money to an *obviously* ethical cause to stimulate discussion.

Something that makes this situation different than other ethical decisions involving individuals and corporations is that sponsorship of an FRC team is rarely a large net benefit to the sponsoring organization (at least short term). The extra press and attention the brand gets is not particularly notable, certainly not for the cost. It's a lot harder to argue that agreeing to be sponsored by an organization is a form of supporting that organization. Choosing not to be sponsored by a company you have deemed unethical for whatever reason doesn't hurt the company or prevent it from growing at all.

Buying company product, working with the company, working for the company, these are when ethical decisions obviously come to play. I don't necessarily see how they do here.

[who716]

[quote=Andrew Schreiber;1382836]Wait, seriously? Mafia presumably is an organization that primarily works in illegal industries.

Monsanto is a perfectly legal company whether you agree with their business practices or not.[/QUOTE/]

I just did a project on them and im fine with there gmo's what im not fine with is the way they spread there gmo's to other farms suing land owners for accidently growing there patented corn, when the seeds float in through the wind.