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[[File:Monsanto's Lasso herbicide (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Monsanto product with which François was poisoned is known commercially as ''Lasso'']] |
[[File:Monsanto's Lasso herbicide (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Monsanto product with which François was poisoned is known commercially as ''Lasso'']] |
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Paul François is a French agricultor and author,<ref name="fc">{{Cite web|url=https://www.franceculture.fr/personne/paul-francois|title=Paul François : biographie, actualités et émissions France Culture|website=France Culture|language=fr-FR|access-date=2018-03-21}}</ref> who has been decorated with the [[Legion of Honour]].<ref name=fde/> He is notable chiefly because he demonstrated to a court of law that he was poisoned by a [[Monsanto]] product. |
'''Paul François''' is a French agricultor and author,<ref name="fc">{{Cite web|url=https://www.franceculture.fr/personne/paul-francois|title=Paul François : biographie, actualités et émissions France Culture|website=France Culture|language=fr-FR|access-date=2018-03-21}}</ref> who has been decorated with the [[Legion of Honour]].<ref name=fde/> He is notable chiefly because he demonstrated to a court of law that he was poisoned by a [[Monsanto]] product. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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François is a native of |
François is a native of [[Bernac, Charente]]. |
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He chose to specialise in [[cereal]] agriculture from an early age.<ref name="lib">{{Cite news|url=http://www.liberation.fr/france/2017/11/06/paul-francois-un-cerealier-a-la-vie-empoisonnee-par-monsanto_1608301|title=Paul François, un |
He chose to specialise in [[cereal]] agriculture from an early age.<ref name="lib">{{Cite news|url=http://www.liberation.fr/france/2017/11/06/paul-francois-un-cerealier-a-la-vie-empoisonnee-par-monsanto_1608301|title=Paul François, un céréalier à la vie "empoisonnée" par Monsanto|work=Libération.fr|access-date=2018-03-21|language=fr}}</ref> |
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François considers himself to have been "a pure product of the chemical agriculture industry", up until his rupture with it because of his poisoning.<ref name="fra">{{Cite news|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/salon-de-l-agriculture/paul-francois-l-agriculteur-qui-defie-monsanto-j-etais-un-pur-produit-du-tout-chimique_828111.html|title=Paul François, l'agriculteur qui défie Monsanto : "J'étais un pur produit du tout-chimique"|date=2015-02-23|work=Franceinfo|access-date=2018-03-21|language=fr-FR}}</ref> |
François considers himself to have been "a pure product of the chemical agriculture industry", up until his rupture with it because of his poisoning.<ref name="fra">{{Cite news|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/salon-de-l-agriculture/paul-francois-l-agriculteur-qui-defie-monsanto-j-etais-un-pur-produit-du-tout-chimique_828111.html|title=Paul François, l'agriculteur qui défie Monsanto : "J'étais un pur produit du tout-chimique"|date=2015-02-23|work=Franceinfo|access-date=2018-03-21|language=fr-FR}}</ref> |
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==Toxic incident== |
==Toxic incident== |
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[[Image:Hazard T.svg|thumb|125px|right|EU standard toxic symbol, as defined by [[Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC)|Directive 67/548/EEC]]]] |
[[Image:Hazard T.svg|thumb|125px|right|EU standard toxic symbol, as defined by [[Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC)|Directive 67/548/EEC]]]] |
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François inhaled the poison on 27 April 2004. He was ill enough to spit blood when interned in hospital. As late as November that year, the long-term effects of the poison caused him to faint, and in May 2005 it was determined that [[monochlorobenzene]] |
François inhaled the poison on 27 April 2004. He was ill enough to spit blood when interned in hospital. As late as November that year, the long-term effects of the poison caused him to faint, and in May 2005 it was determined that [[monochlorobenzene]]—a solvent used in ''Lasso'' to dilute the Alachlor—was present in his bloodstream.<ref name=fde/> |
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Betimes, Alachlor was prohibited by the French government in November 2007.<ref name=fde/> |
Betimes, Alachlor was prohibited by the French government in November 2007.<ref name=fde/> |
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==François v Monsanto== |
==François v Monsanto== |
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===Trial |
===Trial court=== |
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The Monsanto product with which François was poisoned is known commercially as ''[[Alachlor|Lasso]]''.<ref name=fde>[http://fortune.fdesouche.com/390729-le-combat-dun-homme-contre-monsanto fdesouche.com: "Le combat d’un homme contre Monsanto"], 15 septembre 2015</ref> |
The Monsanto product with which François was poisoned is known commercially as ''[[Alachlor|Lasso]]''.<ref name=fde>[http://fortune.fdesouche.com/390729-le-combat-dun-homme-contre-monsanto fdesouche.com: "Le combat d’un homme contre Monsanto"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175516/http://fortune.fdesouche.com/390729-le-combat-dun-homme-contre-monsanto |date=2018-08-29 }}{{better source needed|date=July 2020}}, 15 septembre 2015</ref> |
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In December 2011, final arguments to the court were heard.<ref name=lav>[http://www.lavie.fr/actualite/france/paul-francois-malade-des-pesticides-demande-reparation-a-monsanto-06-12-2011-22354_4.php lavie.fr: "Paul François, malade des pesticides, demande réparation à Monsanto"], 06/12/2011</ref> |
In December 2011, final arguments to the court were heard.<ref name=lav>[http://www.lavie.fr/actualite/france/paul-francois-malade-des-pesticides-demande-reparation-a-monsanto-06-12-2011-22354_4.php lavie.fr: "Paul François, malade des pesticides, demande réparation à Monsanto"], 06/12/2011</ref> |
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13-02-2012</ref> |
13-02-2012</ref> |
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===Appeal |
===Appeal court=== |
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In 2015 at the appeal court, Monsanto lawyers repeatedly refused to concede that their product was toxic and that the damages owed were |
In 2015 at the appeal court, Monsanto lawyers repeatedly refused to concede that their product was toxic and that the damages owed were fictitious.<ref name=fde/> |
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Monsanto is fighting a nasty rear-guard action, and as of 2017, refused quantum.<ref name=lun>[http://lunion-cantal.reussir.fr/actualites/paul-francois-je-ne-suis-pas-tout-a-fait-au-bout-de-mon-combat:9F72H2I1.html reussir.fr: "Paul François : « Je ne suis pas tout à fait au bout de mon combat »"], 26 octobre 2017</ref> |
Monsanto is fighting a nasty rear-guard action, and as of 2017, refused quantum{{clarify|date=December 2022}}.<ref name=lun>[http://lunion-cantal.reussir.fr/actualites/paul-francois-je-ne-suis-pas-tout-a-fait-au-bout-de-mon-combat:9F72H2I1.html reussir.fr: "Paul François : « Je ne suis pas tout à fait au bout de mon combat »"], 26 octobre 2017</ref> |
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In second appeal on 11 April 2019, the court found Monsanto guilty of the damage endured by Paul François, finding that the firm, being aware of Lasso’s dangers, should have clearly indicated on Lasso’s labelling and instructions for use “a notice on the specific dangers of using the product in vats and reservoirs”.<ref name="2nd">{{Cite news |date=2019-04-11 |title=French court finds Monsanto guilty of poisoning farmer |language=en |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/11/french-court-finds-monsanto-guilty-of-poisoning-farmer}}</ref> |
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===Court of cassation=== |
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The case was finally set against Monsanto on 21 October 2020 by the [[Court of Cassation (France)|Court of Cassation]] (French highest appeal court), which rejected Monsanto’s bid to overturn the 2019 sentence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-10-21 |title=Monsanto loses final appeal over French farmer's weedkiller accident |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-monsanto-farmer-idINKBN2762NU |access-date=2022-04-26}}</ref> |
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In a ruling handed down on 7 November 2022, the Lyon judicial court sentenced the German agrochemical giant Bayer (which bought Monsanto in 2018) to pay Paul François the sum of €11,135.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-08 |title=Bayer ordered to pay minimal compensation to farmer poisoned by Monsanto herbicide |language=en |work=Le Monde |url= |
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https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2022/12/08/bayer-ordered-to-pay-minimal-compensation-to-farmer-poisoned-by-monsanto-herbicide_6007024_114.html}}</ref> |
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François wrote, with Anne-Laure Barret, ''Un paysan contre Monsanto'' to document his battle against Monsanto. This book, which was released to market in October 2017, was published by Fayard press.<ref name=lep>[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/paul-francois-ce-paysan-qui-defie-monsanto-22-10-2017-7347471.php leparisien.fr: "Paul François : ce paysan qui défie Monsanto"], 22 octobre 2017</ref> |
François wrote, with Anne-Laure Barret, ''Un paysan contre Monsanto'' to document his battle against Monsanto. This book, which was released to market in October 2017, was published by Fayard press.<ref name=lep>[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/paul-francois-ce-paysan-qui-defie-monsanto-22-10-2017-7347471.php leparisien.fr: "Paul François : ce paysan qui défie Monsanto"], 22 octobre 2017</ref> |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:François, Paul}} |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:French activists]] |
[[Category:French activists]] |
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[[Category:Monsanto]] |
[[Category:Monsanto]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Honour]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:08, 4 March 2024
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Paul François is a French agricultor and author,[1] who has been decorated with the Legion of Honour.[2] He is notable chiefly because he demonstrated to a court of law that he was poisoned by a Monsanto product.
Early life
[edit]François is a native of Bernac, Charente.
He chose to specialise in cereal agriculture from an early age.[3]
François considers himself to have been "a pure product of the chemical agriculture industry", up until his rupture with it because of his poisoning.[4]
Toxic incident
[edit]
François inhaled the poison on 27 April 2004. He was ill enough to spit blood when interned in hospital. As late as November that year, the long-term effects of the poison caused him to faint, and in May 2005 it was determined that monochlorobenzene—a solvent used in Lasso to dilute the Alachlor—was present in his bloodstream.[2]
Betimes, Alachlor was prohibited by the French government in November 2007.[2]
Formal recognition of hazard
[edit]An employment tribunal formally recognised in 2010 that François in fact had been poisoned.[2]
François v Monsanto
[edit]Trial court
[edit]The Monsanto product with which François was poisoned is known commercially as Lasso.[2]
In December 2011, final arguments to the court were heard.[5]
In February 2012, the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Lyon condemned Monsanto to pay damages to François.[6]
Appeal court
[edit]In 2015 at the appeal court, Monsanto lawyers repeatedly refused to concede that their product was toxic and that the damages owed were fictitious.[2]
Monsanto is fighting a nasty rear-guard action, and as of 2017, refused quantum[clarification needed].[7]
In second appeal on 11 April 2019, the court found Monsanto guilty of the damage endured by Paul François, finding that the firm, being aware of Lasso’s dangers, should have clearly indicated on Lasso’s labelling and instructions for use “a notice on the specific dangers of using the product in vats and reservoirs”.[8]
Court of cassation
[edit]The case was finally set against Monsanto on 21 October 2020 by the Court of Cassation (French highest appeal court), which rejected Monsanto’s bid to overturn the 2019 sentence.[9]
In a ruling handed down on 7 November 2022, the Lyon judicial court sentenced the German agrochemical giant Bayer (which bought Monsanto in 2018) to pay Paul François the sum of €11,135.[10]
Author
[edit]François wrote, with Anne-Laure Barret, Un paysan contre Monsanto to document his battle against Monsanto. This book, which was released to market in October 2017, was published by Fayard press.[11]
With the benefit of hindsight, François has considered how his perspective has changed:[2]
We were never worried about the toxicity of herbicides. For us, they served as the medication for plants.
References
[edit]- ^ "Paul François : biographie, actualités et émissions France Culture". France Culture (in French). Retrieved 2018-03-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g fdesouche.com: "Le combat d’un homme contre Monsanto" Archived 2018-08-29 at the Wayback Machine[better source needed], 15 septembre 2015
- ^ "Paul François, un céréalier à la vie "empoisonnée" par Monsanto". Libération.fr (in French). Retrieved 2018-03-21.
- ^ "Paul François, l'agriculteur qui défie Monsanto : "J'étais un pur produit du tout-chimique"". Franceinfo (in French). 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
- ^ lavie.fr: "Paul François, malade des pesticides, demande réparation à Monsanto", 06/12/2011
- ^ lyonmag.com: 'Le “Lasso” de Monsanto condamné à Lyon', 13-02-2012
- ^ reussir.fr: "Paul François : « Je ne suis pas tout à fait au bout de mon combat »", 26 octobre 2017
- ^ "French court finds Monsanto guilty of poisoning farmer". The Guardian. 2019-04-11.
- ^ "Monsanto loses final appeal over French farmer's weedkiller accident". Reuters. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^ "Bayer ordered to pay minimal compensation to farmer poisoned by Monsanto herbicide". Le Monde. 2022-12-08.
- ^ leparisien.fr: "Paul François : ce paysan qui défie Monsanto", 22 octobre 2017