This is a complex issue.
People have been genetically modifying things since the dawn of time. There is a lot of hysteria surrounding this subject much of which is ill informed.
That said we need to be very careful when we are dealing with genetic changes which would not be possible to arise in nature.
There are numerous examples of biological mistakes made by well meaning people and just through ignorance. What we need is balanced discussion and consideration of the pros and cons of the subjects.
For example GM plants may offer a safer alternative to the use of pesticides - yet we rarely hear this kind of perspective.
I don't for a second trust large companies like Monsanto but just like companies are not universally good I think it is incorrect to assume they are universally bad. Ultimately they sell us products which we want because they fulfil a need - i.e. cheap food.
To be honest I see both sides of this issue. The stakes are high in terms of doing nothing i.e. crops being lost and people going without in developing countries, or greater use of pesticides with all of their associated risks.
On the other hand genetic manipulation also carries high potential risks which once out in the wild could not easily be reversed if at all.
I disagree. This is NOT a complex issue.
It is a deadly game of keep information from the public.
No they haven't!
This is the number one excuse used. What humans have been doing "since the dawn of time" is to cross pollinate plants. In fact, bees have been doing this long before man. It is the reason why plants produce a male part and a female part. If the biodiversity wasn't important, then the plants would just pollinate themselves internally, or some such.
Genetically modifying is some scientists taking a soybean DNA and splicing in some grasshopper DNA.
We haven't had gene sequencers but for the last few decades. That is not "since the dawn of time" by a long shot.
When Monsanto does operations to remove tumors from their mice subjects, that is manipulating test data in the extreme. That they did this is not up for debate. The group in Europe who performed the same tests as Mansanto, but instead of the 3 months, they extended it out, found HUGE increase in cancer.
And, about the pesticides, Monsanto is engineering plants that NEED Monsanto pesticides.
There are people, every day, in India, committing suicide by drinking Monsanto pesticides.
Now, for the "other side" that you say that you see.
Permaculture farmers are growing far more with far less. They are actually repairing the soil. They are seeing increased yields. In fact, from Monsanto/mono-crop farmer, "Unbelievable yields".
Monsanto is not about trying to increase crop yields or actually make things better for insects or people. They are trying to kill people and destroy nations by controlling all the seeds.
There is no upside to what Monsanto is doing.
I disagree with that. We are not going to agree on this issue.
Exactly. I spent several years researching these topics, including the science behind genetic engineering in an attempt to understand the truth. Anyone who is just casually learning stuff about GMO's will not have the depth of knowledge that those of us who spent years have. The sooner Monsanto is wiped off the earth, the better off humanity and its creatures will be. Bovine growth hormone that Monsanto used to manufacture was found to be harmful both to the cows and humans. It is not used anymore. The same needs to occur with Round-up, and seed patenting.
I wouldn't bother debating thecryptofiend, he doesn't seem to do much in the way of critical thinking.
If the establishment says it's so, then it must be, GMOs, vaccines, etc.
Who was it you were accusing of being ill informed?
From your tone it looks like you are after a fight. Try elsewhere.
If you are trying to call informed people ignorant, perhaps it is you who should try elsewhere.
No fights here, unless ignorant people start getting uppity.