I'd like to take today's post to point out my concerns about Genetically-Modified Food (GM or GMO). I will preface this by saying I am not completely sold on anything, but I am certainly worried by the prevalence of patented foodstuffs that currently make up a stunning majority of Corn, Soybean, Sugar Beet, etc... grown in America. I'm no alarmist, and conspiracy theories are sometimes exaggerated, yet I'm starting to think that the GM food issue is being underplayed severely.
Scouring the internet, you will be hard pressed to find articles praising the Genetically Modified food that is now dominating the American market. Yet, you will quickly see dozens of articles from highly educated and respected individuals who are shouting out a warning about the detrimental impact these artificially-manipulated crops are having on human health and the environment.
One of the more frightening and compelling articles I've come across is this one, which details the concerns of Dr. Don Huber. He details the deleterious effects of GM foods on plants, humans, soil, and basically everything living. Are these just more eco-freak conspiracy theorist ramblings, designed to push us back to an Amish level of living? Obviously not, but it does point out that the current use of Genetically Modified Food poses some serious risks.
Science is very much a double-edged sword, and there are more than a few mad scientists who are eager to play with fire, and damn the consequences. Worse still are their financial backers, who are blinded by their own portfolios. These wealthy businessmen often pander to the "green" movement, while ignoring genuine environmental threats. They'll promote their new "green initiative" to cut CO2 levels and plant a few trees, while altering the very genome of our sustenance in potentially toxic ways. It's sticking out the right hand to hide what the left one is doing.
This doesn't even go into the true money-grubbing behaviors of some firms like Monsanto, who wantonly attempt to control our ability to grow food. Take the Schmeiser case, for instance. This case sets a most dangerous precedent, and this sort of behavior is a threat to any and all lovers of freedom. When a company can own exclusive rights to the very seeds we need to feed ourselves, they essentially own us!
It's important that people educate themselves about the issues concerning GM foods, or we might sow the seeds of our own destruction.
Monsanto is evil empire, most definitely.
ReplyDeleteInteresting case. I'd never heard of it before. We try to buy from local farms here in the county but there are times when you have to go to the bigger stores for certain things. It's a difficult situation.
ReplyDelete*~ MAJK ~*
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I've not seen much about this issue on the news headlines. I'm off to check out the article you linked to! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm here because you are #75 in the AtoZ list and 75 is my house number. I couldn't agree with you more. I know we are in many ways healthier than 100 or 200 years ago, but I do believe preservatives and whatever else is going on with our food is responsible for obesity and other health issues. I try to avoid processed food as much as possble, but I'm certainly not a purist or strong enough to go it alone.
ReplyDeleteMartin, Great blog! I think this GMO thing has many layers that don't stack up to make good lasagna. The plants aren't just enhanced for the growth potential or so that the DNA profile may be patented, they are also modified to resist specific herbicides and pesticides.In some cases the genetic material is actually embedded with the genes from living herbicides and pesticides,these same herbicides and pesticides are known to be harmful to humans. now they are literally part of the food. Let alone the fact that they can spray the crap out of the plants with the herbicides and it won't kill them... I could go on for days... GMO corn is another topic all together, corn is in everything
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