Additional Link: How GMO foods alter organ function and makes you less human and less natural
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Actually I think gene therapy as described above for use in resolving abnormal medical conditions is somewhat different from gene therapy used to alter the genetic makeup of the seeds of our main food crops.
Suppose I have gene therapy such as described above in SGD’s post from June 1st 2:09pm regarding genetic modification of body organs, Now after having this gene therapy on my heart suppose I go outside while a strong breeze is blowing, is there any possibility at all that my altered genes are going to be blown by the wind and alight on any innocent passers by to be absorbed into their bodies and taken into their heart muscle in a similar fashion. Of course not, Suppose 5 or 10 years down the road after having my gene therapy, just for the sake of argument, it is discovered that this gene therapy causes cancer and many people who have undergone this procedure have come down with cancer as a result. Fortunately the only people (as I see it, I am not a medical expert) who would be affected are the people who actually intentionally and voluntarily underwent the therapy. I would not be able to spread the artificially altered genes in my heart cells to all and sundry simply by walking around and interacting with the people with whom I share the environment.
Unfortunately you can’t say the same about genetically modified crops as the issue of wind driven pollen or seeds contaminating other non-GM farmers crops with some GM seed pushing company’s proprietary genes is always a possibility Bear in mind too that birds could easily pick up some GM seeds From a farm growing GM corps and then drop them miles away in a non-GM field, and in doing so contaminate the crops of a farmer who has no wish to use these patented genes in his own crops.
Monsanto has a reputation for having hired thugs on the payroll to snoop in farmers’ fields looking for just such instances of crop contamination. Once they find a farmer with any plants in his fields exhibiting characteristics of Monsanto’s GM plants, Monsanto then sues the farmer for violating the Monsanto patent even though the farmer might have had no desire to grow GM crops and was unaware that his crops had been contaminated. Most farmers fold and voluntarily pay the license fees demanded rather than risk financial ruin paying for lawyers to take on a legal battle with a giant corporation like Monsanto. This also acts as further incentive for the holdout farmer to avoid future trouble, by just switching to Monsanto’s patented seeds and dropping the idea of maintaining a non GM farm. A win-win for Monsanto all the way around.
When organic farmers (whose crops must be guaranteed to be GM free) raised objections to the widespread release of GM seeds because their crops now stood a good chance of becoming polluted with GM pollen or seeds from those neighboring, non-organic farms who might be growing GM crops, they were advised that it was their responsibility to bear the cost of taking some of their own land out of production to make a buffer zone around their fields which would hopefully (but could not be guaranteed to) provide some measure of protection for the non GM, organic crops from unwanted contamination.
The GM industry used to claim that GM contamination of non-GM crops could not occur. After it became clear that this was false, it shifted the argument to lobbying for “co-existence” of GM, non-GM, and organic crops. The industry now argues that farmers should be able to choose to plant GM crops if they wish and says that no serious problems are caused for non-GM and organic farmers.
But experience has shown that the arrival of GM crops in a country removes choice. “Coexistence” rapidly results in widespread contamination of non-GM crops, resulting in lost markets. Contamination occurs through cross-pollination, spread of GM seed by farm machinery, and inadvertent mixing during storage. Farmers are gradually forced to grow GM crops or have their non-GM crops contaminated.
Scientific studies confirm that GM contamination is unavoidable once GM crops are grown in a region. For example, GM herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape (canola) seed can persist and remain viable in soil for years. GM herbicide-resistant “volunteers” – plants that were not deliberately planted but are the result of germination of residual GM seeds from crops previously grown in the field – were found growing ten years after the GM oilseed rape crop had been planted.138 GM herbicide-resistant oilseed rape was found to be thriving in the wild in North Dakota, often far from areas of agricultural production. GM genes were present in 80% of the wild canola plants found.139,140
http://www.snopes.com/politics/conspiracy/monsanto.asp
David I thought better of you ability to post something meaningful
Just more lies from the Anti science brigade.
Thanks for filtering. We try to check but some will slip by.
I am currently about to film a short documentary on food safety & security as it pertains to Barbados, focusing on genetic engineering in seeds, animal feed and manufactured products imported in the island. If anybody reading this can speak on the subject I would love to get as much info as i can
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