State Department official pledges to confront global bio-tech critics naysayers
The U.S. State Department will aggressively confront critics of agricultural biotechnology as the United States seeks to mitigate the effects of climate change, Jose Fernandez, assistant secretary for the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, told several hundred attendees from around the world at the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s annual convention last week in Chicago…Agra-net.com
By The Irish Gadfly
Molecular biologists have discovered many enzymes which change the structure of DNA in living organisms. Some of these enzymes can cut and join strands of DNA. Using such enzymes, scientists learned to cut specific genes from DNA and to build customized DNA using these genes. They also learned about vectors, strands of DNA such as viruses, which can infect a cell and insert themselves into its DNA. Yum, lost your appetite yet?
It’s no secret the human population is growing exponentially, and considering there is already a significant famine problem, the nagging question persists; how are we going to feed the masses? Enter the Genetically Modifieds. GM organisms and crops are not new. They were first released on the public sometime back in the mid 80’s.
GM crops do have a number of POTENTIAL benefits for the planet. But one must also beware of the POTENTIAL risks. What are they? Let’s first understand what a GM crop is, and where they are today. Then we will look at the controversy surrounding them.
Wikipedia has a pretty darn good definition of what they are: Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change.
Wow, that’s a mouthful, eh? What it boils down to is science, science, science; which is fine. On the surface, it makes sense as to why to start doing this; build a stronger seed. One that is resistant to outside forces, enabling the world farmers to grow larger and more sustainable crops. For example, “Roundup Ready” soybean crops have been genetically engineered to carry a gene from a bacteria that is resistant to Roundup, a weed killer. When Roundup is sprayed on these crops, every plant in the vicinity dies except the soybeans. Hey that sounds AWESOME! Maybe we can get a genetically modified Kentucky bluegrass so I could have a semi respectable lawn? Ok, I digress.
GM crops are in play now; Soybean, Corn, Cotton, and Rice to name four. So what’s the big deal? Why the heck is anybody griping about these magical little seeds and even more concerning why is the State Department ready to stomp out any and all naysayers?? Well, you need to ask yourself, “Why does the Government do anything?” The answer is well known – Control, Money, Greed, World Domination…we could go on, but I think the point is made.
A good example is a widely publicised study conducted in the United States that suggested pollen from Bt maize harms the iconic Ladybug, and more specifically, Bees.
Organics. Chances are if you wear hemp necklaces, participate in drum circles, or wear Jesus slippers you’ve been using them for decades. Nowadays all you have to do is your own grocery shopping to have gotten on the Organic Bandwagon. Hey, man, Think Globally, act locally, right? Cool. What’s my point? The Organic and Raw communities have fundamental concerns for genetic modification. To say they are concerned with GM seed would be an understatement. I’m not saying they are right or wrong, and I won’t go into all of their points, but look here for starters.
Collectively called recombinant DNA technology, this practice changes the core genetic make-up of organisms. This genetic manipulation gives scientists the ability to create any trait that they wish, or suppress natural traits they don't want. There are several reasons this unnatural genetic manipulation may affect you.
But they’re not the only ones beginning to raise concern. Scientists do too, and as a good American, you should be aware. After all, knowledge is strength and strength is power. It begins to be very clear why the Government doesn’t want to give up the power.
Remember at the beginning of the article I spoke of the POTENTIAL benefits of GMs? Well, that was intentional, as very few, if any benefits have been substantiated. And what about the risks? There are quite a few, but don’t ask the Corporations’ like Monsanto, as that’s a conflict of substantial interest. After all it’s a business, where profits are bottomline.
Health risks:
- Possible allergens and the transfer of antibiotic resistance markers (You think you got a snotty nose and the sneezes now!)
Environmental and biological risks/concerns:
- Unintended transfers through cross-pollination, unknown effects on other organisms, and possible loss of flora and fauna biodiversity (Uh, ok, not sure what’s gonna happen when I split this atom, but where’s your sense of adventure??)
- Violation of natural organisms’ intrinsic values (Somebody’s gotta stand up for that poor amoeba!)
- Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species (Come on, everyone wants to play god at some point, don’t they?)
Truth in advertising:
- Labeling isn’t mandatory in some countries like the United States (Don’t know about you but I want to know what I am eating!)
- Potential to consuming animal genes in plants and vice versa (Hard to be a vegan when your sprouts have pig genes!)
- Mixing GM with non-GM crops (Hey, you put your chocolate in my peanut butter!)
Now, these are all relevant points, from a personal and community perspective, but certainly nothing that would invest the time and interest of the Government and Corporations. These points might.
However, this next point will begin to show clearly why the party is at Monsanto’s house, the Government is the bouncer, and you are not invited.
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.
Huh? Wait, hold on. How did I just make the jump from farming crops to trademark infringement? Well, Mother Earth didn’t make GM crops, Monsanto did. And be damned if you think they’re gonna hand them out for free! Now we are getting somewhere!
If you’re reading this, you’re likely aware of Globalization and talks of a One World Government – come on, you had to figure by now I was going to mention the NWO sometime, right? So how does this all play into global power and control? Well, if you could figure out a way to build a seed (Insert Monsanto), get someone to beat up anybody looking to use another source for their seed (Insert the US State Dept), and trademark the rights to your seed thus eliminating any and all competition (Insert IPR), well..uh……YOU WIN!
So what really are the concerns with placing an IPR on nature and not allowing the scientific and farming communities to operate freely? Well, aside from the God complex, there are these little issues:
- Ability to control research and public knowledge
- Limit new advances in the field to the interests of the owner
- Increase dependence on Industrialized nations by developing countries
- Foreign exploitation of natural resources
And more worrisome, considering how the dominoes are beginning to stack up:
- World domination of food production by he who holds the key
So it certainly sounds like the potential for an Orwellian nightmare, but come on, this is just theory, right? Maybe, maybe not. When you start looking at a company like Monsanto, the intimate relationship they have with our Government, and the ability the New World Order would have in controlling the populations food source, you can see why Big Bro could have more of an interest in what’s in your garden shed than just a couple bags of fertilizer? Just sayin……..
Related posts:
- Monsanto Begins Global Propaganda Tour
- Mexico says No GMO’s Por Favor to Monsanto’s Frankencorn
- US AG Department Paves the Way for Wide-Spread Use of GMO’s
- Irony Amid Wikileaks | US State Department to Host ‘World Press Freedom Day’
- Holy War | Is the US State Department Throwing Christians to the Lions?
