White phosphorus (not to be confused with phosphate-based fertilizers from phosphate rock) is a chemical weapon that ignites upon exposure to oxygen. Burning at up to 1400\u00b0F, it inflicts horrific, burning injuries, contaminates land and water, and renders entire regions uninhabitable for generations. International law bans its use against civilians, but Israel has repeatedly used it in Gaza and Lebanon, scorching fields, homes, and bodies.<\/p>\n
Lebanon has the highest proportion of agricultural land in the Middle East, but now much of it is poisoned. This is a tragedy not only for the Lebanese people, but for the entire region\u2019s food security and heritage. Modern wheat\u2019s earliest ancestors \u2013 einkorn, emmer, and spelt \u2013 still grow wild in Lebanon where farmers preserve the ancient traditions of the Fertile Crescent, the center of origin of the Triticeae family of wild grasses, to which wheat, rye, and barley belong.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s use of white phosphorus weapons is supported by the U.S. Department of War and its monopoly suppliers of white phosphorus, Monsanto (Bayer) and Israel Chemicals Ltd (ICL). St. Louis is currently supporting ICL\u2019s expansion with $200 million in taxpayer funding.<\/p>\n
TAKE ACTION: Ban Bayer & ICL\u2019s White Phosphorus Weapons!<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n WATCH:<\/b><\/p>\n The petition to ban white phosphorus weapons was launched by the Collective for Architecture in Lebanon<\/b> at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale in an artistic rendering of an actual seed library, including bricks of soil embedded with seeds.\u00a0To learn more, watch this fascinating discussion with members of the collective about rare varieties of agricultural and ornamental plants preserved in Lebanon.<\/a><\/p>\n