Posted By Mike Miller
I see that despite the ground swell of opposition this government is ignoring good scientific evidence and going ahead with production of new GM crops.

Also America and Europe are exploring new possabilities on new planets. why don't they spend as much money on production of renewable energy, medicine and sustainable development? Is it not better that we complete the studies of this planet before we move on to destroy another?

Another thought for the day

Mike

Posted By Shane Johnston
Rather a one sided opinion. Have a look at both sides of the coin before making up your mind, rather than finding "evidence" to support your view. Ensure your "evidence" is independent, rather than funded by the GM company itself or a Green Activist group.

I'm on the fence over the GM issue, but feel that many are are jumping down onto the anti-GM side of the fence through fear of the unknown. Remember that electricity was feared to begin with, and there was outrage over the first human organ transplants. "Evidence" was used to support those fears.

Shane.

Posted By Steve Wood
this is probably full of holes, 'cos it's time to go home, but.....

if the evidence from the Greens and the GM companies is not independent (and while ACRE is "independent", a number of the individuals on it have registered interests to one side or the other) then us non-scientists have to make up our own minds. So, while i see the point about electricity and organ transplants.................

surely for everything we once feared, that in the end turned out "good", we can name something that someone thought would be "good" that came back and slapped us right in the face. Ahh, those cigarettes, so relaxing, so good for the throat. blocked nose? use menthols! Thalidomide, cures your morning sickness, fast. Cattle feed too expensive? give 'em dead cows, it's so cheap! Different examples, with multiple causal factors and different ratios of "blame" to "misfortune". Similarities? all difficult to avoid until the true dangers were in the public domain, and for some it was too late.

I NOW know to avoid cigarettes, for instance, and can do so fairly easily (notwithstanding forum threads passim!) - but it feels like it will be a lot more difficult for me to avoid GM foods, or foods with GM ingredients, maybe until it's too late.

Even if I accept, for a moment, that GM foods will not harm me directly, can we be absolutely sure that there will be no detrimental effects on the food-chain (remember that cattle feed!), and that we can put it right if we need to? It's also hard not to be suspicious when we have a society where the biggest purse so often gets the loudest shout.

So, excuse me if i decide to fall (sorry, descend the properly secured ladder) on to the cautious (if not wholly cynical) side of the fence for now. More cast-iron guarantees needed.

I might have to do a bit more reading to see if the economical/political aspects can be separated from the safety aspects - isn't it because people aren't sure about the possible safety and economical effects that it's become a political issue?

and....just as i slip, trip and fall off my soapbox (no proper risk assessment!)........er, how did i wander on to the GM crops forum?!

Posted By Jason Gould
Some scary a possibly realistic comments on this subject.

I personally dont have a stance on the subject (havnt got the time to ponder on it).

I dont like the Idea about genetically modified frost surviving crops. This may alter the more simple celled creatures that usually only thrive in summer times etc.

If that could possibly happen then we may end up with disease spreading flys in winter.

Then in JASONS WORLD we go on to the scenario about the lady who swallowed a fly then ate a spider to kill the fly etc.

And finnally Hundreds of years down the road when were close to extiction by the triffids we may say that was a bad idea!.

Thank God we don't live in jays world or do we. "Dodododo dodododo doong doong do" (twilight zone theme tune)

P.s. Jobs on Mars may be right up my street LOL

Jason