The patenting of genetically engineered foods and widespread biotech food production threatens to eliminate farming as it has been practiced for 12,000 years. Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods and Crops:
Why We Need A Global Moratorium Ronnie Cummins
Little Marais, Minnesota Increased Cancer Risks Food Allergies Antibiotic Resistance ... Ethical Hazards Introductory overview The technology of genetic engineering (GE), wielded by transnational "life science" corporations such as Monsanto and Novartis, is the practice of altering or disrupting the genetic blueprints of living organisms plants, animals, humans, microorganisms patenting them, and then selling the resulting gene-foods, seeds, or other products for profit. Life science corporations proclaim, with great fanfare, that their new products will make agriculture sustainable, eliminate world hunger, cure disease, and vastly improve public health. In reality, through their business practices and political lobbying, the gene engineers have made it clear that they intend to use GE to dominate and monopolize the global market for seeds, foods, fiber, and medical products. GE is a revolutionary new technology still in its early experimental stages of development. This technology has the power to break down fundamental genetic barriers not only between species but between humans, animals, and plants. By randomly inserting together the genes of non-related species utilizing viruses, antibiotic-resistant genes, and bacteria as vectors, markers, and promoters and permanently altering their genetic codes, gene-altered organisms are created that pass these genetic changes onto their offspring through heredity. Gene engineers all over the world are now snipping, inserting, recombining, rearranging, editing, and programming genetic material. Animal genes and even human genes are randomly inserted into the chromosomes of plants, fish, and animals, creating heretofore unimaginable transgenic life forms. For the first time in history, transnational biotechnology corporations are becoming the architects and "owners" of life. | |
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