Why GMO Myths Are So Appealing and Powerful

tekkychick said:
This is a complex issue and unfortunately too many people don't want to read about complexity.

Yes, we absolutely have been genetically modifying our food for thousands of years.

But personally I get the "heebie jeebies" when genes from one species are put into a different species...or when a seed is GMO'd to not reproduce. On the other hand, corn as we know it - even non-GMO corn - can't really reproduce in the wild. And GMO foods can definitely help in drought regions and other places where it's tough to grow food. And on one of my many other hands - when the "artificial" genes spread into a crop where the farmer has pledged NOT to have GMO food, it raises issues of laws and who is "right" .

So very complicated issue. A lot of knee jerk reactions on both sides; but also a lot of people trying to learn the ins and outs...
Click to expand...
Well, you're just scraping the surface here, but it's a good start.

Drought resistant varieties are a great innovation. I don't think you need anything more than standard hybridization for that. But, there are myriad issues with the Roundup ready crap. Roundup is excellent for using alongside roadways, or in deforestation projects. Supposedly, glyphosate breaks down quickly when it hits bacteria in soil. However, late season spraying, to kill emergent weeds in fields leaves Roundup residue on the fruit. When they couple that with BT DNA laced crops, you have a two headed monster.

BT dna is now in the bloodstream of women/children from ingesting milk from cows fed GMO corn.

Now, golden rice is a perfect example of GMO technology that I believe has merit. This, because the side effect from the GMO modification is beneficial, as opposed to the side effects of crops that are mutated in order to make pest control easier. The jury is still out on the effects that the pollen from BT modified crops has on bees. So far, preliminary tests are not good. Makes one wonder why Monsanto purchased a company that does testing on bees.




For some reason....I haven't been able to create paragraphs here for months?????????????????????????????? Edit.....Chrome is Jammin!
 
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Althea, what do you mean you can't create paragraphs here? Are you having trouble editing your contributions to JPP?

I had a similar issue last year, and it was entirely my computer.
 
Rune said:
Althea, what do you mean you can't create paragraphs here? Are you having trouble editing your contributions to JPP?

I had a similar issue last year, and it was entirely my computer.
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I'm trying Google Chrome now....my ENTER key doesn't start a new paragraph here.

Ahhhh....works w/Chrome...not IE
 
Althea said:
I'm trying Google Chrome now....my ENTER key doesn't start a new paragraph here.

Ahhhh....works w/Chrome...not IE
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Internet Explorer is corrupt. If you can, you should remove every trace of it from your computer, but at a minimum, never use it.
 
Rune said:
Internet Explorer is corrupt. If you can, you should remove every trace of it from your computer, but at a minimum, never use it.
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I should add that this board was the only one that I had that issue with....
 
Althea said:
I should add that this board was the only one that I had that issue with....
Click to expand...

My wife just tried to get some insurance company approvals using IE, with no luck, and as soon as she switched to Chrome, they went right through.
 
Althea said:
Well that is common contract law...I don't take issue with that.
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I certainly do, it locks the farmers into buying from the same supplier year after year and is causing immense hardship.

In what has been called the single largest wave of recorded suicides in human history, Indian farmers are now killing themselves in record numbers. It has been extensively reported, even in mainstream news, but nothing has been done about the issue. The cause? Monsanto’s cost-inflated and ineffective seeds have been driving farmers to suicide, and is considered to be one of the largest — if not the largest — cause of the quarter of a million farmer suicides over the past 16 years. According to the most recent figures (provided by the New York University School of Law), 17,638 Indian farmers committed suicide in 2009 — about one death every 30 minutes. In 2008, the Daily Mail labeled the continual and disturbing suicide spree as ‘The GM (genetically modified) Genocide’. Due to failing harvests and inflated prices that bankrupt the poor farmers, struggling Indian farmers began to kill themselves. Oftentimes, they would commit the act by drinking the very same insecticide that Monsanto supplied them with — a gruesome testament to the extent in which Monsanto has wrecked the lives of independent and traditional farmers.
To further add backing to the tragedy, the rate of Indian farmer suicides massively increased since the introduction of Monsanto’s Bt cotton in 2002. It is no wonder that a large percentage of farmers who take their own lives are cotton farmers, the demographic that is thought to be among the most impacted. Dr. Mercola, an osteopathic doctor that has been educating the world about natural health for many years, recently saw the destruction of traditional Indian farmers first hand. Dr. Mercola found out about the notorious ‘suicide belt’ of India, where 4,238 farmer suicides took place in 2007 alone.

http://naturalsociety.com/monsantos-gmo-seeds-farmer-suicides-every-30-minutes/



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1082559/The-GM-genocide-Thousands-Indian-farmers-committing-suicide-using-genetically-modified-crops.html

 
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Aoxomoxoa said:
I certainly do, it locks the farmers into buying from the same supplier year after year and is causing immense hardship.

In what has been called the single largest wave of recorded suicides in human history, Indian farmers are now killing themselves in record numbers. It has been extensively reported, even in mainstream news, but nothing has been done about the issue. The cause? Monsanto’s cost-inflated and ineffective seeds have been driving farmers to suicide, and is considered to be one of the largest — if not the largest — cause of the quarter of a million farmer suicides over the past 16 years. According to the most recent figures (provided by the New York University School of Law), 17,638 Indian farmers committed suicide in 2009 — about one death every 30 minutes. In 2008, the Daily Mail labeled the continual and disturbing suicide spree as ‘The GM (genetically modified) Genocide’. Due to failing harvests and inflated prices that bankrupt the poor farmers, struggling Indian farmers began to kill themselves. Oftentimes, they would commit the act by drinking the very same insecticide that Monsanto supplied them with — a gruesome testament to the extent in which Monsanto has wrecked the lives of independent and traditional farmers.
To further add backing to the tragedy, the rate of Indian farmer suicides massively increased since the introduction of Monsanto’s Bt cotton in 2002. It is no wonder that a large percentage of farmers who take their own lives are cotton farmers, the demographic that is thought to be among the most impacted. Dr. Mercola, an osteopathic doctor that has been educating the world about natural health for many years, recently saw the destruction of traditional Indian farmers first hand. Dr. Mercola found out about the notorious ‘suicide belt’ of India, where 4,238 farmer suicides took place in 2007 alone.

http://naturalsociety.com/monsantos-gmo-seeds-farmer-suicides-every-30-minutes/



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1082559/The-GM-genocide-Thousands-Indian-farmers-committing-suicide-using-genetically-modified-crops.html
Click to expand...


Great article Tom. Thanks.
 
Althea said:
Well, you're just scraping the surface here, but it's a good start.

Drought resistant varieties are a great innovation. I don't think you need anything more than standard hybridization for that. But, there are myriad issues with the Roundup ready crap. Roundup is excellent for using alongside roadways, or in deforestation projects. Supposedly, glyphosate breaks down quickly when it hits bacteria in soil. However, late season spraying, to kill emergent weeds in fields leaves Roundup residue on the fruit. When they couple that with BT DNA laced crops, you have a two headed monster.

BT dna is now in the bloodstream of women/children from ingesting milk from cows fed GMO corn.

Now, golden rice is a perfect example of GMO technology that I believe has merit. This, because the side effect from the GMO modification is beneficial, as opposed to the side effects of crops that are mutated in order to make pest control easier. The jury is still out on the effects that the pollen from BT modified crops has on bees. So far, preliminary tests are not good. Makes one wonder why Monsanto purchased a company that does testing on bees.




For some reason....I haven't been able to create paragraphs here for months?????????????????????????????? Edit.....Chrome is Jammin!
Click to expand...

I googled BT dna and nothing came up, what are you talking about.....
 
Althea said:
The OP addresses the process of debating GMO technology. Clearly, you use one of the excuses in the OP to remain uninformed about the topic. What's wrong? There's too much data for you to peruse? Isn't that the first step in normal debate? Actually KNOWING something about the topic? News flash....MONSANTO IS GMO, contrary to your claims. They've patented their transgenic mutation process, so other biotech companies employing their methods pay a fee. So was there a point you want to make re. GMO, or are you just saying that you refuse to discuss it because you only go on the internet with a smartphone?
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I googled to try and found out what he is talking about. I did not find anything.

It has nothing to do with the safety of genetically modified foods. You are discussing patent law, which is a different issue.

Monsanto is not GMO.
 
Rune said:
1. Monsanto is one of the major producers of GMO seeds, therefore it is related.
2. Did I mention patent laws? Didn't think so.
3. You are on a mission to promote and or defend GMO seeds, yet you have no interest in or knowledge of one of the most direct and devastating cases of the destruction which can be caused by GMO's.
4. I am asking you why you are on a mission to defend GMOs.
Click to expand...

Okay, I found this.

http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail/?lng=en&ord61=alphaNavi&id=108315

Is that what you are talking about. Order 81, not rule 50? It certainly is about patent law.
 
Aoxomoxoa said:
I certainly do, it locks the farmers into buying from the same supplier year after year and is causing immense hardship.

In what has been called the single largest wave of recorded suicides in human history, Indian farmers are now killing themselves in record numbers. It has been extensively reported, even in mainstream news, but nothing has been done about the issue. The cause? Monsanto’s cost-inflated and ineffective seeds have been driving farmers to suicide, and is considered to be one of the largest — if not the largest — cause of the quarter of a million farmer suicides over the past 16 years. According to the most recent figures (provided by the New York University School of Law), 17,638 Indian farmers committed suicide in 2009 — about one death every 30 minutes. In 2008, the Daily Mail labeled the continual and disturbing suicide spree as ‘The GM (genetically modified) Genocide’. Due to failing harvests and inflated prices that bankrupt the poor farmers, struggling Indian farmers began to kill themselves. Oftentimes, they would commit the act by drinking the very same insecticide that Monsanto supplied them with — a gruesome testament to the extent in which Monsanto has wrecked the lives of independent and traditional farmers.
To further add backing to the tragedy, the rate of Indian farmer suicides massively increased since the introduction of Monsanto’s Bt cotton in 2002. It is no wonder that a large percentage of farmers who take their own lives are cotton farmers, the demographic that is thought to be among the most impacted. Dr. Mercola, an osteopathic doctor that has been educating the world about natural health for many years, recently saw the destruction of traditional Indian farmers first hand. Dr. Mercola found out about the notorious ‘suicide belt’ of India, where 4,238 farmer suicides took place in 2007 alone.

http://naturalsociety.com/monsantos-gmo-seeds-farmer-suicides-every-30-minutes/



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1082559/The-GM-genocide-Thousands-Indian-farmers-committing-suicide-using-genetically-modified-crops.html
Click to expand...

I love the one on the front page about how you can overcome cancer with nutrition and the wonders of herbal tinctures. I guess, they don't have any new stories on the anti-vax front.
 
Professor Baxter said:
Okay, I found this.

http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail/?lng=en&ord61=alphaNavi&id=108315

Is that what you are talking about. Order 81, not rule 50? It certainly is about patent law.
Click to expand...

Your google skills surpass mine, and apparently my memory is poor as well.
Thankyou for finding the information about order 81.
Did you read the article?
Do you understand the tragedy forced upon these people?
Patents are not the issue, forcing them to abandon their own seed lines, and the ensuing mass starvation is.

I ask you yet again, why are you defending the GMO industry?
 
Rune said:
Your google skills surpass mine, and apparently my memory is poor as well.
Thankyou for finding the information about order 81.
Did you read the article?
Do you understand the tragedy forced upon these people?
Patents are not the issue, forcing them to abandon their own seed lines, and the ensuing mass starvation is.

I ask you yet again, why are you defending the GMO industry?
Click to expand...

Patents certainly ARE the issue. The order prohibits them from saving seeds of protected varieties. But GM foods has absolutely nothing to do with it. They are not required to buy GM seeds.

Do you have some source to corroborate this mass starvation? If it is due to Order 81 then why hasn't the new government repealed the law?

I am defending science against fear mongering nonsense and conspiracy theories.
 
Professor Baxter said:
I love the one on the front page about how you can overcome cancer with nutrition and the wonders of herbal tinctures. I guess, they don't have any new stories on the anti-vax front.
Click to expand...


I haven't a clue what you are going on about, are you attempting to say that Indian farmers are not committing suicide in large numbers?

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Monsanto_in_India

Top 10 Facts YOU Should Know About Monsanto



  1. No GMO Labeling Laws in the USA!
  2. Lack of Adequate FDA / USDA Safety Testing
  3. Monsanto Puts Small Farmers out of Business
    Farmer Suicides After GMO Crop Failures
  4. Monsanto Products Pollute the Developing World
    500,000 Agent Orange Babies
  5. Monsanto Blocking Government Regulations
  6. Monsanto Guilty of False Advertising & Scientific FRAUD
  7. Consumers Reject Bovine Growth Hormone rBGH in Milk
  8. GMO Crops Do NOT Increase Yields
  9. Monsanto Controls U.S. Soy Market
  10. Monsanto's GMO Foods Cause NEW Food Allergies
 
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Aoxomoxoa said:
I haven't a clue what you are going on about, are you attempting to say that Indian farmers are not committing suicide in large numbers?
Click to expand...

I am saying your source, the naturalsociety.com, are bunch of crackpots and conspiratards that are causing the death of babies with their anti vaxer lies. This is just another red herring and an example of really bad logic.

There is no proof that there is any connection to gm crops. Suicide among farmers has not increased significantly more than the increase of suicides in the general population or over the increase in population. Suicide is usually a complex issue and the simple minded attempts to connect it to gm crops is an example of quite despicable propaganda.

http://www.macroscan.org/anl/mar08/pdf/Farmers_Suicides.pdf
 
Professor Baxter said:
I am saying your source, the naturalsociety.com, are bunch of crackpots and conspiratards that are causing the death of babies with their anti vaxer lies. This is just another red herring and an example of really bad logic.

There is no proof that there is any connection to gm crops. Suicide among farmers has not increased significantly more than the increase of suicides in the general population or over the increase in population. Suicide is usually a complex issue and the simple minded attempts to connect it to gm crops is an example of quite despicable propaganda.

http://www.macroscan.org/anl/mar08/pdf/Farmers_Suicides.pdf
Click to expand...

Oh ok, let's play link wars!!

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Monsanto_in_India
 
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