Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) 101

cs_gmofreeIf you are a die-hard GMO activist the attached article and video is not for you! But it is for the person who is ignorant of the reality of GMO’s … the one you are trying to awaken.

Many of us on websites or social forums such as this one are aware of the problems, issues and dangers associated with GMO foods, herbicides and pesticides. We make it a point to be for the sake and health of our families, loved ones and ourselves.

But our mission as Anti-GMO activists needs to go beyond these concerns to a broadening of our power base or our numbers, because the only realistic weapon we have against these bio-tech giants and a complicit government is … numbers. So it needs to be the mission of each and every one of us to awaken as many of our friends, neighbors and members of our communities to the reality of GMO’s as we possibly can.

To accomplish this task we need good basic information that we can present to them in a fashion so as not to overwhelm them right out of the starting gate, or scare them back under their rock. What follows this preface is a great introduction to the subject of GMO’s.

While it is not as in-depth as the information most of us are used to assimilating, it is a great generic and simple explanation of the topic and is accompanied by a ten minute video that is basically the icing on the cake. Short, sweet and to the point, it provides a great first step in the understanding of just what GMO’s are, their inherent danger and what can be done to avoid them. It also includes a link to a PDF that will answer any question that they may have and take their awareness to the next level.

In order to be effective activists we need good tools to spark the interest and the concerns of those we are trying to enlighten. So please look this article and video over and consider putting it in your toolbox for use with the next person whose eyes you wish to open.

Roger Landry (TLB)

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GMO FACTS …

What are GMOs?

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Despite biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit.

Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.

Are GMOs safe?

Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In 61 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale. Increasingly, Americans are taking matters into their own hands and choosing to opt out of the GMO experiment.

Are GMOs labeled?

Unfortunately, even though polls consistently show that a significant majority of Americans want to know if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs, the powerful biotech lobby has succeeded in keeping this information from the public. In the absence of mandatory labeling, the Non-GMO Project was created to give consumers the informed choice they deserve.

How does GMO Awareness come in?

If people stop buying GMOs, companies will stop using them and farmers will stop growing them. We aim to make more and more people aware until a tipping point of consumer rejection happens and the market for GMOs collapses.

Do Americans want non-GMO foods and supplements?

Polls consistently show that a significant majority of North Americans would like to be able to tell if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs (a 2008 CBS News Poll found that 87% of consumers wanted GMOs labeled). And, according to a recent CBS/New York Times poll, 53% of consumers said they would not buy food that has been genetically modified.

How common are GMOs?

In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food.

What are the impacts of GMOs on the environment?

Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture, and are developed and sold by the world’s biggest chemical companies. The long-term impacts of GMOs are unknown, and once released into the environment these novel organisms cannot be recalled.

How do GMOs affect farmers?

Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict their use. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs, even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighboring fields. GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States.

More GMO Facts

Click here to download “GMO Myths and Truths” – An evidence-based examination of the claims made for the safety and efficacy of genetically modified crops. This 2012 document is prepared by the preeminent researchers and scientists: Michael Antoniou, Claire Robinson, and John Fagan.

10 minute mini-documentary about GMOs: Genetic Roulette.

GMO FACTS was originally published here: http://gmoawareness.org/gmo-facts/

TLB recommends you visit this site for more great/pertinent information concerning GMO’s.

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