risks and concerns of transgenic crop use

8/14/2019 Risks and Concerns of Transgenic Crop Use

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Risks and Concerns of TransgenicCrop Use

Core 218 Spring

2007


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The GMO Argument

Origin

Why Scientists Cant Win Tactics


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Origins of ControversyOrigins of ControversySlow Reaction of the Government to the

appearance of the Mad Cow Disease

Scientists were surprised at the public reaction

Demands of the public Safe to eat

Cheap to buy

Available at all times
http://www.tao.ca/~ban/gecalendar.htm


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The GMO debate surfaced around

1996 and became a heated issue in

1997 - 1998
http://www.tao.ca/~ban/gecalendar.htm


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By 1999, the debate had become one of thehottest issue in the news.


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TheControversyHasContinued

Run by professionalsPersonal health and safety

concernsAttractive to the media


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The First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an

establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free

exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of

speech, or of the press; or the right of the people

peaceably to assemble, and to petition the

government for a redress of grievances.
http://www.purefood.org/Starbucks/starbucks.htmlhttp://www.purefood.org/Starbucks/starbucks.htmlhttp://www.greenpeaceusa.org/media/publications/fdareportnolabelstext.htm


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Luddites - scientifically ill-informed,

irrational, emotionally overwrought,or even subversive


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Tactics

Enlist public sympathy

Use the media, speak in commonterms

Children

Symbolism

Use your creativity


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Enlist public

sympathy


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Effectively use the media


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http://www.oneworld.net/penguin/genetics/home.html

Genetic engineering is about

scientists altering the 'recipes' for

making life - the genes which you

find in all living things. Doing thisis very clever and could be very

useful. But it's all happening

much too fast and nobody knows

what the effects of making andeating such living things will be.

Many kinds of life could be

damaged. And suppose people

eat 'genetic' food for many years?

Will they be harmed by it? Nobodyknows for sure. So why the rush?

Scroll down to find out more


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Have Involved Children

EDGE Ending

Destructive Genetic

Engineering

Genetic Engineering: A

Guide for Kids - Guidefeatures Tiki the Penguin's

explanations of the

potential dangers involved

with GMOs andinformation on how kids

can protest. (

http://tiki.oneworld.net/genetics/ho

)
http://tiki.oneworld.net/genetics/home.htmlhttp://tiki.oneworld.net/genetics/home.html


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Why Scientist Can Never Win a

GMO Argument

Why was there concern over GMO foods

but not other products like insulin,cheese, vinegar.

You cant recall an accidental spread of a

GMO.All scientists dont agree that GMOs are

100% safe.


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Why Scientist Can Never Win a

GMO Argument

Rule of Caution: Assume not safe

until proven otherwise.Freedom of choice.

Are there alternatives?

The GMO argument is a personal

argument, it is what we and our

children are eating.


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Discussion Questions

1. Are GMO crops safe to eat?2. Will GMO crops hurt small

farmers?

3. Will GMO crops hurt the

environment?


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Discussion Questions

4. Are GMO crops going against

nature?5. Are big businesses investing GMO

crops solely for the profit?

6. Is there sufficient oversight and

regulation of GMO crops?

risks and concerns of transgenic crop use

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