17-09-2003 07:20									#1
	Genetically Modified Foods... WTF??!! Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

someone educate me... I hear about all these protestors protesting GM modified foods... WHY?

What is good about them? What is bad?

Why does it already have it's own cult following of hippie protestors?

In theory, nothing seems wrong with genetically modifying food. In fact, I think it would be a good idea. Imagine if we could change the amount of calories, carbs, or fat in foods. THAT WOULD BE AWSOME


GO HOME HIPPIES!

	17-09-2003 08:18									#2
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"hippies... dirty hippies... they say they wanna save the world, but all they do is smoke weed and smell funny... hiiipppiiesss..."
-Eric Cartman having a nightmare

	17-09-2003 08:26									#3
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Mostly it's just uninformed nonsense from the fringe luddite groups. They seem to think GM foods will produce a Frankenstein's monster which will sneak into their houses and eat them while they sleep.

	17-09-2003 09:00									#4
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Someone should tell these protestors that the 1960's are over . . .

	17-09-2003 09:03									#5
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Hell, they ought to tell them that the 1860's are over.

	17-09-2003 09:06									#6
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Of course you asked this when most of Europe is asleep. I'm quite sure that when they awaken, they'll be glad to fill you in, Sava.

In short they're evil because they're

1. "Untested." Regardless of how much it has been tested, "more studies need to be done."
2. "Unnatural." You know, like broccoli.
3. "Puts agriculture in the hands of GREEDY EVIL corporations, which, of course, is an evil to be avoided at all costs."

Plus, won't anybody think of the children?

	17-09-2003 09:07									#7
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quote: Originally posted by JohnT Hell, they ought to tell them that the 1860's are over.

1860's -- there were no hippies alive back then anyway, cause the ancestors of the like of Slowwy lynched them.

	17-09-2003 09:11									#8
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The sad thing is that farmers have been crossbreeding plants since the beginning of time.

GM foods are awesome because in many cases, they can be grown in really harsh environments.

	17-09-2003 09:16									#9
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Another point is that GM foods are fine.

It's the processing that happens AFTER the crops are harvested that can really f things up.

	17-09-2003 10:41									#10
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quote: Mostly it's just uninformed nonsense from the fringe luddite groups.

Don't forget about the French.

	17-09-2003 10:44									#11
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In Soviet Russia, vegetables eat YOU!

	17-09-2003 10:54									#12
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It must be the radiation.

	17-09-2003 16:20									#13
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GM foods are enviromentaly damaging.

	17-09-2003 17:19									#14
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The genes in GM foods could be transferred into other plants and accelerate the 'evolutionary arms race'. The effects could be disastrous.

	17-09-2003 17:22									#15
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Do you both really believe that?

	17-09-2003 17:23									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Ted Striker The sad thing is that farmers have been crossbreeding plants since the beginning of time.

Yes, but they used methods that are more in-bounds with nature. Not that I completely agree with it, but atleast they wouldn't have much luck mating a pig with a tomato.

	17-09-2003 17:31									#17
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i think one of the main issues is with labling over here, which i think is fair enough. whatever the merits or otherwise of GM foods, people want to know what they're eating.

	17-09-2003 17:37									#18
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They want to genetically engineer a non-eye-stinging onion by removing the enzymes that cause the offending gases.

I've got no problem with that.

	17-09-2003 19:06									#19
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i'm all for gm-modified foods.

most of these fears are quite unfounded. sure, it could cause an evolutionary arms race.

then again, so do antibiotics. do we roll over and die because we refuse to take antibiotics, because it'll make bacteria resistant to it? hell no.

if these genes are transferred, nature will find a way, and so will we.

	17-09-2003 19:09									#20
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Lefty: GM foods are environmentally damaging.

Food corp: OK, we'll make it so our seeds can't pollinate or spread

Lefty: You evil bastard! Make those crops so third-world farmers can get seeds from them and grow more rather than needing to keep buying from giant evil big bad food corporation.

Food corp: OK, we'll let their seeds spread.

Lefty: GM foods are environmentally damaging.

Blah blah...

	17-09-2003 19:10									#21
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Park!

	17-09-2003 19:10									#22
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Cockney
"i think one of the main issues is with labling over here, which i think is fair enough. whatever the merits or otherwise of GM foods, people want to know what they're eating."

That still adds some costs and is therefore a trade barrier, even if it might seem a small one (I don't know if it small or not).

	17-09-2003 19:16									#23
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GM foods can be very good. It's only the same as farmers have been doing for centuries, breeding plants with other plants to get the best performing plants.

Creating disease resistant high yield crops can be very beneficial, especially for third world countries. There are other benefits as well. Disease resistance could reduce the use of chemical treatments on food etc. etc.

The concerns are about what happens to other species when you introduce the GM ones. Look what happens if you introduce rabbits to Australia, it's not as obvious what happens with plants but there can be effects. Mainly the concerns here would be in implanting genes from different sources into the same plant, might increase yields but could have other unforseen effects.

So all in all they are potentially very benificial, but like anything they need to keep up testing and regulation.

	17-09-2003 19:37									#24
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quote: Originally posted by Park Avenue Lefty: GM foods are environmentally damaging. Food corp: OK, we'll make it so our seeds can't pollinate or spread Lefty: You evil bastard! Make those crops so third-world farmers can get seeds from them and grow more rather than needing to keep buying from giant evil big bad food corporation. Food corp: OK, we'll let their seeds spread. Lefty: GM foods are environmentally damaging. Blah blah...

I'm a lefty, and I don't see any major problem with GM foods.

	17-09-2003 19:46									#25
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quote: Originally posted by MikeH GM foods can be very good. It's only the same as farmers have been doing for centuries, breeding plants with other plants to get the best performing plants.

It's not the same. They make combinations that where previously impossible, and it is not limited to plants (not that it was before, either). The spider-goats, or growth hormones in cattle being a good example.

	17-09-2003 20:02									#26
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quote: Originally posted by Park Avenue That still adds some costs and is therefore a trade barrier, even if it might seem a small one (I don't know if it small or not).

it's done already for products which contain or may contain nuts, for people with allergies, i fail to see any major cost involved with doing something similar for GM foods.

	17-09-2003 20:04									#27
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But there are no health risks for GM foods, whereas there are for some people with foods containing nuts.

	17-09-2003 20:07									#28
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that's hardly the point though is it. it's something that people want to know, why is there a problem with giving consumers the information they want?

	17-09-2003 20:08									#29
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Increases costs.

	17-09-2003 20:10									#30
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by the sum total of **** all in the scheme of things.