contribute to a
master database. I read the report on the flight from San
Francisco.”
“ So
I take it that you are opposed to genetic engineering?”
“ Damn
straight. We don’t know if it is safe. We don’t know
the long-term effects on the environment. We don’t know if the
genes can migrate from one species to another in the wild. There are
a hundred things that we don’t know about the process.”
“ But
if the scientists can make crops that produce more food or require
less fertilizer and pesticide, isn’t that good?”
“ Only
if it is safe. Today, we don’t know that. Europe has banned
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) because we can’t prove
they are safe. Besides, marketing reasons drive the creation of many
of the GMOs. They’ve spliced terminator genes into crops so
their seeds are sterile. This forces the farmer to buy new seeds
every year. They’ve modified tomatoes so that they hold up
better for shipping, but they taste like cardboard.”
Rolling
along, Kara continued, “Remember back in the nineties when they
created BtCorn. The genetic engineers designed it to be resistant to
the European corn borer. Well, it also killed monarch butterflies.”
“ Hold
on,” Gybe interrupted, “that isn’t true. More than
a dozen studies countered that report. It was a flawed study. Don’t
let your emotions overrun the facts.”
“ That’s
what you say. Do YOU know the effect of the BtCorn twenty or fifty
years from now?"
“ No.
Our grandparents didn’t know the effect of automobiles, jet
planes, or electricity either. How many butterflies have they
killed? How much poison do they produce? You’d be waist deep
in horse shit if it weren’t for the automobile. Is the car
better than a horse?” Gybe paused. “I don’t know.
The answers aren’t simple.”
“ OK,
then do you agree we should use the precautionary principle?”
Gybe
was familiar with the principle. It stated something to the effect
that when an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the
environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some
cause and effect relationships can not be established scientifically.
In other words, we should protect the environment and human health
first – even if we have no clear evidence of harm. We should
err on the safe side.
“ You’re
suggesting that if we have no evidence of harm from a genetically
modified organism then we ban it because it MIGHT harm the
environment or people?” Gybe questioned.
“ Better
safe than sorry.”
“ Good
thing that the precautionary rule was invented recently.”
Kara
wrinkled her forehead and then played the part. “Why?”
“ For
starters, you wouldn’t be able to eat cooked food. You’ve
read of the studies that list all the carcinogens created during
frying and how other forms of cooking break molecular bonds. If you
had just invented cooking, could you get it past the precautionary
principle?”
“ That’s
absurd.” Kara appeared to be searching for a deeper answer
before she blurted. “Besides, I’m a vegetarian.”
Gybe
let the knowledge of her mahimahi sandwich for lunch slide by. “OK,
if you don’t like that one, then how about raising corn in
Africa?”
“ What
about it?”
“ Corn
wasn’t invented in Africa. It came from Mexico.”
“ So?”
“ Who
tested corn in the growing conditions of Africa? How did they know
that corn wouldn’t interbreed with endemic plants to create a
new Frankenplant? Suppose there was an organism in the soil of Kenya
that interacted with corn plants to create a toxin that killed
giraffes?”
Clearly
angered, Kara butted in, “You don’t care what the mad
scientists create in their genetic labs?”
“ Didn’t
say that. I’m saying that the issue isn’t as simple as a
bumper sticker. Biotech promises great new positive developments for
the environment, agriculture, medicines, quality of life, etc.”
Holding up his hand to stop her response, he
master database. I read the report on the flight from San
Francisco.”
“ So
I take it that you are opposed to genetic engineering?”
“ Damn
straight. We don’t know if it is safe. We don’t know
the long-term effects on the environment. We don’t know if the
genes can migrate from one species to another in the wild. There are
a hundred things that we don’t know about the process.”
“ But
if the scientists can make crops that produce more food or require
less fertilizer and pesticide, isn’t that good?”
“ Only
if it is safe. Today, we don’t know that. Europe has banned
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) because we can’t prove
they are safe. Besides, marketing reasons drive the creation of many
of the GMOs. They’ve spliced terminator genes into crops so
their seeds are sterile. This forces the farmer to buy new seeds
every year. They’ve modified tomatoes so that they hold up
better for shipping, but they taste like cardboard.”
Rolling
along, Kara continued, “Remember back in the nineties when they
created BtCorn. The genetic engineers designed it to be resistant to
the European corn borer. Well, it also killed monarch butterflies.”
“ Hold
on,” Gybe interrupted, “that isn’t true. More than
a dozen studies countered that report. It was a flawed study. Don’t
let your emotions overrun the facts.”
“ That’s
what you say. Do YOU know the effect of the BtCorn twenty or fifty
years from now?"
“ No.
Our grandparents didn’t know the effect of automobiles, jet
planes, or electricity either. How many butterflies have they
killed? How much poison do they produce? You’d be waist deep
in horse shit if it weren’t for the automobile. Is the car
better than a horse?” Gybe paused. “I don’t know.
The answers aren’t simple.”
“ OK,
then do you agree we should use the precautionary principle?”
Gybe
was familiar with the principle. It stated something to the effect
that when an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the
environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some
cause and effect relationships can not be established scientifically.
In other words, we should protect the environment and human health
first – even if we have no clear evidence of harm. We should
err on the safe side.
“ You’re
suggesting that if we have no evidence of harm from a genetically
modified organism then we ban it because it MIGHT harm the
environment or people?” Gybe questioned.
“ Better
safe than sorry.”
“ Good
thing that the precautionary rule was invented recently.”
Kara
wrinkled her forehead and then played the part. “Why?”
“ For
starters, you wouldn’t be able to eat cooked food. You’ve
read of the studies that list all the carcinogens created during
frying and how other forms of cooking break molecular bonds. If you
had just invented cooking, could you get it past the precautionary
principle?”
“ That’s
absurd.” Kara appeared to be searching for a deeper answer
before she blurted. “Besides, I’m a vegetarian.”
Gybe
let the knowledge of her mahimahi sandwich for lunch slide by. “OK,
if you don’t like that one, then how about raising corn in
Africa?”
“ What
about it?”
“ Corn
wasn’t invented in Africa. It came from Mexico.”
“ So?”
“ Who
tested corn in the growing conditions of Africa? How did they know
that corn wouldn’t interbreed with endemic plants to create a
new Frankenplant? Suppose there was an organism in the soil of Kenya
that interacted with corn plants to create a toxin that killed
giraffes?”
Clearly
angered, Kara butted in, “You don’t care what the mad
scientists create in their genetic labs?”
“ Didn’t
say that. I’m saying that the issue isn’t as simple as a
bumper sticker. Biotech promises great new positive developments for
the environment, agriculture, medicines, quality of life, etc.”
Holding up his hand to stop her response, he
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