Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
GM crops cause 'breakdown' in Indian farming systems
GM crops cause 'breakdown' in Indian farming systems
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Published: 25 March 2007
Genetically modified crops have helped cause a "complete breakdown" in farming systems in India, an authoritative new study suggests.
The study threatens to deal a fatal blow to probably the most powerful argument left in the biotech industry's armoury, that it can help to bring prosperity to the Third World.
Professor Glenn Davis Stone, professor of anthropology and environmental studies at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, has spent more than 40 weeks on the ground in the biotech industry's prime Developing World showcase, the Warangal district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The industry claims that local farmers have adopted GM cotton faster than any other agriculture technology in history. It argued at the prestigious Biovision conference in Lyon this month that the rapid spread proves that the technology is working for farmers.
Professor Stone's study, published in the February issue of the journal Current Anthropology, demolishes this argument. Extensive interviews with the farmers proved that they are plumping for the GM seeds because they are new, hyped and locally fashionable, without having time to see if they produce better crops.
"There is a rapidity of change that farmers just can't keep up with," he says. "They aren't able to digest new technologies as they come along."
He adds that the rapid uptake "reflects the complete breakdown in the cotton cultivation system".
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Published: 25 March 2007
Genetically modified crops have helped cause a "complete breakdown" in farming systems in India, an authoritative new study suggests.
The study threatens to deal a fatal blow to probably the most powerful argument left in the biotech industry's armoury, that it can help to bring prosperity to the Third World.
Professor Glenn Davis Stone, professor of anthropology and environmental studies at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, has spent more than 40 weeks on the ground in the biotech industry's prime Developing World showcase, the Warangal district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The industry claims that local farmers have adopted GM cotton faster than any other agriculture technology in history. It argued at the prestigious Biovision conference in Lyon this month that the rapid spread proves that the technology is working for farmers.
Professor Stone's study, published in the February issue of the journal Current Anthropology, demolishes this argument. Extensive interviews with the farmers proved that they are plumping for the GM seeds because they are new, hyped and locally fashionable, without having time to see if they produce better crops.
"There is a rapidity of change that farmers just can't keep up with," he says. "They aren't able to digest new technologies as they come along."
He adds that the rapid uptake "reflects the complete breakdown in the cotton cultivation system".
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Genetically Engineered Foods
Click on the above title to link to listing of foods that are free of GE products and those that are not.
GE foods are simply a bad idea at this point. Yes, there is some potential there if there were ways that we could ensure their safety. The problem is, it turns the food supply into a giant experiment and that experiment includes its effects upon you and I, and the rest of the biosphere. Why does mankind always seem to ignore the risks for short term profit potential?
Click here to learn more about genetically engineered foods.
GE foods are simply a bad idea at this point. Yes, there is some potential there if there were ways that we could ensure their safety. The problem is, it turns the food supply into a giant experiment and that experiment includes its effects upon you and I, and the rest of the biosphere. Why does mankind always seem to ignore the risks for short term profit potential?
Click here to learn more about genetically engineered foods.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Albert Einstein's stance on war
He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, science for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable an ignorable war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder." (Albert Einstein)
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Thinking about our food
Listen to Kim Hill interview Michael Holland, author of "The Omnivore's Dilemma" click here
Holland is former editor of Harper's Magazine. His book and this interview help us to begin thinking about our food, and where it comes from.
Holland is former editor of Harper's Magazine. His book and this interview help us to begin thinking about our food, and where it comes from.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)