Modern medicine is an interesting juxtaposition of
brilliant scientific research vicariously mixed with big
pharma/chemistry for profit. The very nature of natural medicine is
that the ingredients cannot be patented, commandeered to be exclusive
ingredient horses.
It is
very frightening that multinational companies, such as Monsanto, DuPont,
and Syngenta, are constantly pushing the boundaries on their relentless
efforts to patent the DNA of food – in other words, the DNA of life!
Their exclusive rights to Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs,
literally reverse engineer their original purpose, which was to improve
yield and simplify production. Instead, they break the very cycle of
life by creating seeds that germinate one time only, so the farmer must
continually purchase seed and cannot do his own seed saving. In
addition, the companies that hold the patents prevent or restrict
independent researchers from testing the seeds and examining their
long-term effects, with devastating consequences. BT (bacterio-toxic)
corn, which was created to be poisonous to insect pests, is linked the
Colony Collapse Disorder that has been wiping out honeybees all across
the nation.
Regulatory
boards like the FDA and USDA are in place to protect us, the
consumers. However, the Bush administration installed leaders who had
ties to Monsanto and other such corporations. President Obama has been
systematically replacing the leaders of the regulatory boards with
science-based leaders. Since the midterm elections, the regulatory
boards have been much more lax: planting of genetically-modified alfalfa
has been approved, and it looks like GM salmon will be next. To my
disappointment, it seems Washington has given up promoting our food
rights for its centrist efforts.
How
then can we change this fundamental driving force for medicine and
pure, unaltered food? Is it not that food rights are so basic to life
that they should be protected from profits? What are your thoughts?
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There are two great documentary films that cover genetically modified food and the American food industry as a whole: Food Inc and The Future of Food. Both are available on DVD.
Other references include:
Eastabrook, Barry. “Feds on GMO Labeling: Don’t Tell, Don’t Ask.” The Atlantic, April 26, 2010
Gurian-Sherman, Doug. “No Seeds, No Independent Research.” The Los Angeles Times, February 13, 2011
Judis, John B. “Obama’s Quiet Revolution.” The Utne Reader, July-August 2010
Lean, Geoffrey, Volker Angres and Louise Jury. “GM Genes Can Spread to People and Animals.” The Independent (UK), May 28, 2000
Pollack, Andrew. “Genetically Modified Salmon Gets Closer to Table.” The New York Times, June 25, 2010
Pollack, Andrew. “U.S. Approves Genetically Modified Alfalfa.” The New York Times, January 27, 2011
Smith, Jeffrey M. Seeds of Deception. Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, VT,2003
