Opening
Your Eyes
Opening
Your Eyes
The goal of this website is to open the eyes of the public to the issue of genetically modified organisms with a stress upon the potential negative impacts that may result from their use. I am aware of the bias that is obvious throughout this website and its presence is not an accident. The fact of the matter is that the majority of the public know very little about genetically modified organisms in general and when it comes to the negatives attached with their use almost nothing is known. This website is designed to open the reader’s eyes to these negatives because these issues and ideas are not likely to be presented on your local news channel or discussed in your courses on agriculture. It seems that someone is trying to hide these potential negatives from becoming common knowledge because they are aware of the effects it would have upon the development and advancement of genetically modified organisms. I would like to take this opportunity to open the reader’s eyes even wider to the caution that should be taken when it comes to genetically modified organisms by providing some quotes and statistics from influential organizations and people throughout the world.
“We are confronted with what is undoubtedly the single most potent technology the world has ever known – more powerful even than atomic energy. Yet it is being released throughout our environment and deployed with superficial or no risk assessments – as if no one needs to worry an iota about its unparalleled powers to harm life as we know it - and for all future generations.” – Nathan B. Batalion
“A better understanding of the impact and interaction of food with the immune system is required to decipher how and whether conventional and GM foods cause specific health and safety problems” – World Health Organization
"Our way of life is likely to be more fundamentally transformed in the next several decades than in the previous one thousand years…Tens of thousands of novel transgenic bacteria, viruses, plants and animals could be released into the Earth's ecosystems…Some of those releases, however, could wreak havoc with the planet's biospheres." –Jeremy Rifkin, Biotech Century.
Over two hundred scientists have signed a statement outlining the dangers of GM foods and The Union of Concerned Scientists (a 1000 plus member organization with many Nobel Laureates) has expressed similar reservations.
The prestigious medical journal, Lancet, issued a warning that GM foods should never have been allowed into the food chain.
Britain's Medical Association (the equivalent of the AMA) with 100,000 physicians and Germany's with 325,000 issued similar statements.
In a gathering of political representatives from over 130 nations, approximately 95% insisted on new precautionary approaches concerning genetically modified organisms.
The National Academy of Science released a report that GM products introduce new allergens, toxins, disruptive chemicals, soil-polluting ingredients, mutated species and unknown protein combinations into our bodies and into the whole environment.
It is obvious that major organizations are aware of the potential harm which genetically modified organisms could cause but very little affirmative action is being taken to stop their use. Some steps are being taken such as increased safeguards and restrictions in the European Union concerning GMO’s but the most influential and powerful nation in the world the United States of America is taking no precautionary steps. This is what should have the world scared since it is America who produces the most GMO’s, and yet they seem too blinded by the technological progress and economic advancement to see the catastrophic potential of their actions. They need to increase their foresight to see further into the future then the next presidential elections, and instead the leaders of America need to start thinking about the future generations. If humanity is not cautious the beauty of nature could be destroyed a lot faster than we ever thought possible; keeping future generations from experiencing the joy, inspiration, and beauty of the natural world and all its creatures. Yes, genetically modified organisms alone will not be the cause of this catastrophic occurrence but it is a stepping stone on the path of destruction. If forthcoming technological advancements are dealt with in the same way that GMO’s have been up to this point then certain trouble lies ahead. Humanity is developing a trend that did not begin with GMO’s and will not end with them. This is a trend of rendering technological advancement more important then environmental and biodiversity conservation. Humanity is taking control over nature and all its aspects in many cases forgetting about the sensitivity of this great web of life.
Each and every individual needs to take a step back and deeply contemplate whether humanity truly is advancing. Are we progressing closer to this ideal by our dominance over nature as a result of technological advancement. Does the use of genetically modified organisms bring us closer to maximum happiness or rather are we making a wrong turn. I am afraid humanity thinks they may have found a shortcut to the obtainment of the ideal through the use of technological advancement which manipulates the ways of nature, when in fact this path is going to lead to a dead end leaving humanity further from their goal.
This site was created as part of the honors course: The Idea at Monmouth College in Fall 2005