The Power to Splice: Corporations Hiding Growing
Control,
Philosophy Sources Call on Corrupt Directions
[Intentions?]:
A Commentary on “The Role of Genetically Modified Foods,” by David Kern
By Lori Lepelletier, The
Where does philosophy come into this argument? Human
beings are crossing “evolutionary boundaries” of different phyla and even
different kingdoms. These are organisms that have genetically been on
“separate, distinct evolutionary paths for thousands or millions of years.”
Attributes of humans are being placed into mice, scorpions into corn.
Philosophers are needed when a new spectrum of society is making money off of
changing the “traits or functions” of natural organisms.
Genetically Modified (GM) foods affect more than only the
consumer. Pollen from some types of genetically modified corn can kill Monarch
butterfly larvae. Bees that were fed concentrated solutions of proteins from a
genetically modified rapeseed “had trouble learning to distinguish between the
smells of flowers” and died sooner than unexposed bees.
Bt spray is one of the few and most
effective natural pesticides organic farmers are allowed to use. Now that it
has been genetically engineered into millions of acres of crops insects will become
resistant. And conventional farmers who have relied on Bt
sprays will use pesticides that are more toxic.
When talking about genetically modified food Joseph
Panetta, the chief executive of the San Diego biotech trade organization BioCom
said that, “if there are discussions to be had in regards to safety and risk,
those discussion have to be based on science, not on philosophy or emotion.” If
BioCom states that its decisions should not be made based on philosophy
(responsible thought) and emotions (natural human judgment) this implies that
BioCom, when manufacturing its products, will not use these abstract, yet
important concepts, but will instead look to flat data. The author of this
paper spoke of the company Monsanto [a major producer of genetically modified
seeds]. 200 Farmers in southern
I’d like to specifically direct a question to the author’s
suggestion that the starvation and hunger are the result of there being too
little food in the world. There is enough food available to provide 4.3 pounds
for every person every day— 2.5 lbs of grain, beans and nuts, and about a pound
of meat, milk and eggs and another of fruit and vegetables. The real causes of
hunger are poverty, inequality and lack of access
to food and land. Producing more food will not solve the problem of world
hunger.
The corporations producing GM foods say that small farmers will benefit, but this does not require simply spending “a little more money” as the author stated. Seed and chemicals will often be packaged together when sold. And if your uncorrupted government does outsource to small farmers and their crop yield increases, they will need new and better equipment. Small farmers, especially in third-world countries have never been able to keep up with the production rates of large corporations because of the Baker Plan and the policies of the World Bank. The patents for GM seeds are also owned by major corporations that rarely give breaks to smaller customers.◦
©Lori Lepelletier,
2006
References
Allen,
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Crabtree,
Penni. “Genetic Engineering Stirring Concern From
Scientists, Ethicists, The Public.” San
Diego Union-Tribune
Consumer’s
Choice Council. An Activist’s Handbook on
Genetically Modified Organisms and the WTO. 2nd ed.
Hill,
Marquita K. Understanding Environmental
Pollution. 2nd ed.
Horton,
Richard. “Genetically Modified Food: Consternation, Confusion, and Crack-up.” The Medical Journal of
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Ronnie D. Global Environmental Politics:
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