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ISIS Lecture 26/11/09
Why GMOs Are Bad
Science of the Organism & Sustainable Systems
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho
Invited lecture, The Alternative View,
13-15 November, Grand Thistle Hotel, Bristol, UK
Abstract
Monsanto has surreptitiously withdrawn
its high lysine GM maize LY038 for safety reasons under a shroud of secrecy.
There are serious health hazards inherent to the technology, which apply to
every GMO. In addition each GMO carries unique hazards. None of these has been
addressed adequately so far, and there is now a stack of evidence indicating
that GM food and feed are unsafe.
GM crops have had adverse
impacts on farmers especially those in developing countries. The high costs of
GM seeds and poor harvests led to spiralling debts and deaths. Between 1997 and
2007, the Indian government recorded nearly 200 000 farmer
suicides, more than half due to Bt cotton introduced since 2002. GMOs are bad
for health and the environment; they will severely compromise global food
security and exacerbate global warming. Those foisting GM crops on farmers in
developing countries are committing a crime against humanity.
Genetic engineering is the epitome of
mechanistic biology, part and parcel of the dominant model of the world as
machine that was becoming obsolete since the turn of the last century when the
new science of the organism emerged with quantum theory.
The dominant neo-liberal economy of infinite
unsustainable growth has brought the earth to the brink of irreversible climate
catastrophe. It is driven by competition, profligate dissipation and waste. In
contrast, nature’s circular economy (thermodynamics) of balanced sustainable
growth is based on reciprocity and cooperation, which enables energy and
material resources to be recycles while minimizing waste and dissipation. Nature’s
economy applies most clearly to the highly productive agro-ecology systems
innovated by farmers, or perfected over millennia.
We have all the appropriate science and
technologies, abundant human creativity, and local initiatives that will enable
us to exit the multiple crises of food, fuel and finance. The major stumbling
block is our political leaders’ overwhelming adherence to the obsolete
mechanistic model.
The complete text of this lecture with
references and richly illustrated power point presentation are available for
download.
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There are 3 comments on this article so far. Add your comment
| Rory Short Comment left 26th November 2009 17:05:52
For me the paragraph in the abstract which reads "The dominant neo-liberal........" says it all. | John Parfitt Comment left 27th November 2009 00:12:51
In the UK our politicians almost without exception are people with no scientific education or understanding and with a bias towards short-term thinking. Such people can be persuaded into action without understanding even such consequences as are known to be possible, or on the other hand persuaded that inaction is safe. The hounding of Drs Pusztai, Bardocz and other researchers who dared to publicly voice their doubts about GM technology is a standing reproach to ignorant politicans and their "conventional" scientific advisers. | Nathalie Haymann Comment left 6th January 2010 13:01:12
Monsanto's immoral and criminal activities must be halted. They are out of control cowboys, breaking international laws put in place by mankind, as well as the ancient laws of nature. |
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