tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post6665023748041101639..comments2024-03-15T23:30:38.471+11:00Comments on Lindsay's Lobes: Would you eat genetically modified foodLindsay Byrneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11030132436987752741noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-39500924999707819552009-02-06T20:24:00.000+11:002009-02-06T20:24:00.000+11:00Re plastic bottles - I did some research on this w...Re plastic bottles - I did some research on this when a small mentioned turned up in time magazine. At the time I was using polycarbonate (bad) bottles to feed my baby. This involves putting boiling water in which is the worst thing that can be done as it accelerates the leaching. There are numbers (in australia) which indicate the safe plastics. There have been over 100 studies done on this issue and usurprisingly all of the independent studies found a problem and all the plastic industry funded studies found no problem. The bad stuff is usually very hard clear plastic which is what 95% of the baby bottles are made out ofUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10701558422670662341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-47394190679762339392009-02-06T20:15:00.000+11:002009-02-06T20:15:00.000+11:00I agree we need labellingI agree we need labellingUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10701558422670662341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-74778296490706479292009-02-03T21:56:00.000+11:002009-02-03T21:56:00.000+11:00Hi Sarah, Rachael, Sera, Susan & ZeeThanks for...Hi Sarah, Rachael, Sera, Susan & Zee<BR/>Thanks for all of your insightful comments & birthday greetings. <BR/>Sera & Susan <BR/>It’s critical to maintain our diversified seed bank and bio diversity in the field. Many farmers share your concern Susan. <BR/>Zee - I agree you make valid points in relation to monopolization of the food chain and its effect on farming. Who owns the air ? no one! <BR/>Best wisheslindsaylobehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774918551798647046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-72041115774787069882009-01-31T03:52:00.000+11:002009-01-31T03:52:00.000+11:00Happy birthday Lindsay!!!Have a genetically modifi...Happy birthday Lindsay!!!<BR/>Have a genetically modified beer on me:)<BR/>Your summary/article was excellent.<BR/>Yes indeed, crops where always "manufactured" by genetics since the time of old. It is debatable who was first to succeed, Persia or South America...but that is not the issue at hand today.<BR/>I tend to agree with Cart somewhat, he pointed out issues I would have mentioned myself.<BR/>My biggest concern with GM foods is the loss of diversity on one hand, and the monopoly of seed distributors (Monsato) on the other, who then tricked farmers into using seeds who will create plants who are not able to produce fertile seeds themselves. Hence a company like Monsato will have unrestricted control of who plants what and when.<BR/>The poor farmers will have to buy new seeds every year (and the policies of Monsato are such, that you can't keep excess seeds for the next season, they "own" the seeds and you would have to return them.)<BR/>That is just one aspect. The other is, that many GM crops are modified in such a way, that you MUST USE a particular pesticide (again delivered by Monsato exclusively) for them being able to survive.<BR/>So you can sense my reservation about GM foods, because it is a greedy attempt by private cooperation's to dominate the world marked. Nothing more, nothing less. <BR/>Mexico used to have about 60 different species of corn and maize, but as we speak it is dwindling in rapid pace. The farmers there used to be self-sufficient and proud of their different varieties, being also able to regain their own seeds for the next season.<BR/>Now, when these big companies come in with their GM seeds, it destroys the whole infrastructure of these peoples and makes them slaves to cooperate greed of people who don't even reside in that country.<BR/><BR/>If new genetically modified crops and food products can make any sense, it can only be done in a way that EVERYBODY profits from it, which means that the research can't be done and held by companies-for-profit, either by patent ("a patented apple a day keeps the doctor away, NO WAY) or by any other means of claiming "rights" on nature.<BR/>As the criminal pursuit against humanity continues unhindered by companies as Monsato, depriving resources to indigenous and local people all around the globe, the question is really not IF someone modifies crop - but WHO, and for what purpose!!!!<BR/>There is, as you know, a parallel battle going on globally, and it is all about water-rights. Water being the commodity of the future. In the US alone, vast resources for fresh water are being bought up by Coka Cola Corp. Wise move for the company, but where will it end? It wouldn't surprise me if some joker comes along and buys up air and then sells it again.<BR/>To end this long rant: Nature does not belong to companies, may it be crops, soil air, water etc... she belongs to every human being that still breathes on this earth.<BR/>Regards, Lukas.Zeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02046472160770720576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-28965403758559404552009-01-29T16:19:00.000+11:002009-01-29T16:19:00.000+11:00A major problem I've read about is that of the uni...A major problem I've read about is that of the unintended consequences that frequently follow genetic modification of particular crops particularly in regard to drift to other plants. The slow ways allowed the environment to acclimatize to new varieties of plants which genetic engineering does not take into account. The world is not a sterile lab but a dynamic interrelated system. <BR/><BR/>Cart and Sera both made excellent points. Happy birthday, Lindsay, and thanks for a very well thought out post.susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747450215034568033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-23437561711868980892009-01-28T15:50:00.000+11:002009-01-28T15:50:00.000+11:00logically, the idea of modified foods makes sense,...logically, the idea of modified foods makes sense, in that drought- and disease-resistant crops are needed to feed mankind. <BR/>but after witnessing the messes we get into with unsafe drugs and financial instruments, i'm convinced if we do modify the food supply, we need to have some heavy and consistent regulation/protection built into the system. <BR/>but i'm sure even then, time will erode the constraints and a food disaster is going to happen. one way or another.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-36234284972748230762009-01-26T20:42:00.000+11:002009-01-26T20:42:00.000+11:00Thank you Rachel for your kind words, and Happy bi...Thank you Rachel for your kind words, and Happy birthday Lindsay. In a world now used to radical conservatives it is good to know there is room for conservative progressives. You do a great job LB!Cartledgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11929350278316125588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-79220637142308289292009-01-26T16:00:00.000+11:002009-01-26T16:00:00.000+11:00Here Here Cart, I agree another top post! Happy Bi...Here Here Cart, I agree another top post! Happy Birthday dad. I hope you are enjoy the local produce I gave you and that those basil and chills will be a gift that keeps on giving!!Rachael Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06792404154723243557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-42177994934567037432009-01-26T05:05:00.000+11:002009-01-26T05:05:00.000+11:00I'm trying to give up sugar. Does that count?I'm trying to give up sugar. Does that count?Sarah J Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05361749409608608472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-78297856042213178852009-01-25T22:15:00.000+11:002009-01-25T22:15:00.000+11:00Hi Cart & Gary Thanks for your insightful comm...Hi Cart & Gary <BR/><BR/>Thanks for your insightful comments. Cart – I agree whoheatedly on the need to maintain diversity and seed banks. <BR/><BR/>Della <BR/><BR/>Thank for pointing out the article.<BR/><BR/>Bisphenal A is in hard plastics, tins and even paper cups; just about everyone will come into contact with it through leaching into the drink or food container. <BR/>The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) in the USA has said it believes there exists an adequate margin of safety for BPA levels of exposure from food contact uses. It maybe premature to blame heath problems to our exposure to chemicals but there is a growing number of studies which point out the risks and many scientists are convinced about the harmful effects of Bisphenal A. Tests on rats seem to indicate much lower levels may be more harmful than what was previously believed. . Here is another reference<BR/><BR/>http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/01/09/to-ban-or-not-to-ban/<BR/><BR/>Under the new Obama administration hopefully the FDA will be asked to have a fresh look into the latest sicietific tests and available data that indicate the greater risks now thought to be associated with BPA. <BR/><BR/>Best wisheslindsaylobehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774918551798647046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-1234056246086398362009-01-25T08:35:00.000+11:002009-01-25T08:35:00.000+11:00"The burning question however is whether or not it..."The burning question however is whether or not it is injurious to long term health and to the environment."<BR/><BR/>Excellent article, thanks Lindsay.. it's a bit scary to think of and hear about the dangers.. but as you point out the application is not new though the technology is getting more sophisticated and the public scrutiny likewise.<BR/><BR/>Off on a tangent, I was shocked but not surprised recently about the discovery made that PLASTIC poses a bigger threat to our health than almost anything we actually eat. <BR/><BR/>LINK: <A HREF="http://www.organicguide.com/blog/news/bisphenol-a-and-the-health-of-your-newborn/" REL="nofollow">www.organicguide.com</A><BR/><BR/>I'd be interested to know your thoughts about this one..<BR/><BR/>regards<BR/>DellaDellaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155594753101319379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-91937991825417429362009-01-23T15:34:00.000+11:002009-01-23T15:34:00.000+11:00Full assessment ande full labelling for all GM pro...Full assessment ande full labelling for all GM products. Amen.<BR/><BR/>Great detail Lindsay.Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15148485566444804108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-81627468011870525722009-01-23T07:36:00.000+11:002009-01-23T07:36:00.000+11:00Lindsay, great post, and another of those importan...Lindsay, great post, and another of those important issues obscured by ‘who cares’. You are right about genetic modification being an old process, from wild grasses to food crops, the ancients seem to have observed and used the process. <BR/>Based on that my objection can hardly be genetic modification per se, purely based on a more scientific approach now. The result is largely the same, except… My objection is when massive corporations seek to dominate, even own whole crop sectors by various methods. I understand these are principally: <BR/>1) Patents or other ‘intellectual property’ claims on seed. <BR/>2) Seed modified to respond only to proprietary chemicals. <BR/>That is the dubious ownership side, the other side is the continual diminishing of diversity. Marketing alone does a great job reducing diversity without pseudo science weighing in. <BR/>I recall those glorious days I spent covering agricultural shows in Tasmania, and those wonderful eccentrics who proudly trotted out their annual diversity banks. One guy actually displayed samples of over 30 potato breeds he grew every year. I only hope someone managed to store the result of his work.<BR/>In fact Tasmania, as part of its permaculture heritage, does have a seed bank, but unfunded and supported only by passion. If GM was merely adding to diversity there would be no problem, but we cannot allow increasing disappearance of diversity.Cartledgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11929350278316125588noreply@blogger.com