when something is "GMO" it doesn't mean that it has some sort of a chemical that can harm us. They just turn on or off certain genes or introduce a gene. I took genetics and this is what I've heard. Nature itself can cause gene modifications within a cultivar. The only difference between something that is natural and something that is "GMO" is if the gene or genes were activated on it's own in nature or in a science lab.
No one ever said there is a chemical in it. However, the process by which they are changed is NOT at all natural, by definition. The M in GMO tells you that is true - it is MODIFIED by a lab, not naturally occurring. And that happens for a reason. If it were naturally occurring, they would not feel the need to change nature to fit human needs - which are often very, very short-sighted, tested only for for short-term rather than long-term effects, and profit-motivated. GM plants DO cause harm - they are the cause of the rise of superweeds, and their pollen spreads everywhere, disturbing the natural purity of the rare plants so many of us work hard to grow. There is no long-term testing as yet to know for certain what harm, if any GM plants might cause to human health. Even if a 20 or 30-year study were done, it might not be conclusive, because we have many many serious chronic illnesses for which we do not have sufficient medical explanation and testing, which means we only partially understand how the body works in the first place, to be able to say definitively what does and does NOT harm it. We are fortunately making strides in this all the time, but we are a long way from understanding even half of how the body actually works, at its most significant microscopic levels. Clearly, we are wrong a lot of the time in what we think is acceptable for societal health, otherwise we wouldn't have chronic illness of all kinds on such mass scales, and immune disease increasing exponentially.
So in the meantime, this is left up to the individual. I personally have very good medical reason to avoid GM food, and I care about the environment and maintaining rare/heirloom varieties, so I don't knowingly plant any GM seeds in my yard. I also see no strong reason to grow GM plants, when the plants that already exist on Earth have sustained us for thousands of years, and in and of themselves have such miraculous medical qualities without any help from people whatsoever. Pests are controllable using organic remedies, when grown in reasonable circumstances for their requirements. It's true that plants mutate on their own, but I let them make that decision, I don't make it for them. And if a natural mutation were to be profound enough to stand out, I might not eat it either. Abnormal cells are not usually a good thing. I accept that there is more we DON'T know about the world and about science, than we do know. I don't see any strong evidence FOR GM crops other than human convenience, and profit motive. I also know that these same profits influence our laws and medical studies directly over, and over again, unfortunately.
It's not like there has been clear indication that a GM crop cured cancer or HIV, while its non-GM counterpart did not. It simply saves people money, and makes Monsanto a ton of cash, while continuing to encourage people to use Roundup, and already KNOWN hormone disruptor and antibiotic resistance agent. There is no compelling reason outside of money to use GM crops at this time. That, coupled with the lack of long-term independent studies, is reason enough to avoid them in my opinion. Scientists are welcome to continue modifying in the lab until they come up with something that helps the average POOR person for once, rather than simply helps the profit motive of major corporations. Like a papaya that cures Alzheimers, rather than ringspot.
GM can potentially pose very real and serious threats.
Much of the NON-GM papaya in Hawaii was tested, and a percentage did contain it
So some organic growers, can not sell their fruit as truly organic.
We also dont know the long-term effects...
Most of the research done, is done by the companies that stand to make millions
so, of course they will say its safe.
I am not against science, i am against companies that put the $ before the safety of our food
I think there could be use of GM in the right way.
studies were done on an algae that eats oil.
This could have been very useful in the Gulf oil spill in Louisiana.
But, that kind of thing needs to be WELL researched for safety first.
and not just by the company selling it.
Also, companies like Monsanto now "OWN" DNA
The TRIPS Agreement of the WTO, allows patents on life and seeds
They have control of the farmers making them buy seeds from them every year
This is a huge problem in India
The Seeds Of Suicide: How Monsanto Destroys Farming
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-seeds-of-suicide-how-monsanto-destroys-farming/5329947MONSANTO VS INDIAN FARMERS
http://vandanashiva.com/?p=402The thing is we dont NEED GMO
with permaculture practices, we can grow a lot more food in the same area
reduce fertilizers, reduce pesticide use and rejuvenate the soil
if we stop using mono-cultures
GMO has only come about because the weeds are more resistant.
Now there are weeds resistant to glyphosate, so they use more and more of the stuff
and glyphosate is the real danger.
If we dont change our practices in growing food, we are doomed to worse things than GMO.
We need to feed a growing population, and our soils are being washed away
DUST BOWL REVISITED
http://permaculturenews.org/2012/11/20/dust-bowl-revisited/This lady has led a 1 person war not just against Monsanto
but, FOR healthy food. All of her videos are enlightening...
Vandana Shiva
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Vandana+Shiva+World Health Organization: GM-Crop Herbicide a Probable Carcinogen
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-technology/faq-genetically-modified-food/en/
