While scientific progress on molecular biology has a great potential to increase our understanding of nature and provide new medical tools,it should not be used as justification to turn the enviroment into a giant genetic experiment by commercial interests.The biodiversity and enviromental intergrity of the world's food supply is too important to our survival to be put at risk.
Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants,animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally.These genetically modified organisms(GMO) can spread through nature and interbreed with natural organisms,thereby contaminating non genetically engineered environments and future generations in an unforeseeable and uncontrollable way.There release is 'genetic pollution' and is a major threat because GMOs cannot be recalled once released into the environment.Because of commercial interests,the public is being denied the right to know about genetically engineered ingredients in the chain,and therefore losing the right to avoid them.
Biological diversity must be protected and respected as the global heritage of humankind,and one of our world's fundamental keys to survival.Governments are attempting to address the threat of genetic engineering with international regulations such as the Biosafety Protocol.This will simply not work. GMOs should simply not be released into the environment as there is not adequate scientific understanding of there impact on the environment and human health.Immediate interim measures such as labeling of GE ingredients,and the segregation of genetically engineered crops and seeds from conventional ones should be instituted. Patents on plants,animals and humans,as well as patent on their genes should not be provided.Life is not an industrial commodity.When we force life forms and our world's food supply to conform to human economic models rather than their natural ones,we do so at our own risk.
Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants,animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally.These genetically modified organisms(GMO) can spread through nature and interbreed with natural organisms,thereby contaminating non genetically engineered environments and future generations in an unforeseeable and uncontrollable way.There release is 'genetic pollution' and is a major threat because GMOs cannot be recalled once released into the environment.Because of commercial interests,the public is being denied the right to know about genetically engineered ingredients in the chain,and therefore losing the right to avoid them.
Biological diversity must be protected and respected as the global heritage of humankind,and one of our world's fundamental keys to survival.Governments are attempting to address the threat of genetic engineering with international regulations such as the Biosafety Protocol.This will simply not work. GMOs should simply not be released into the environment as there is not adequate scientific understanding of there impact on the environment and human health.Immediate interim measures such as labeling of GE ingredients,and the segregation of genetically engineered crops and seeds from conventional ones should be instituted. Patents on plants,animals and humans,as well as patent on their genes should not be provided.Life is not an industrial commodity.When we force life forms and our world's food supply to conform to human economic models rather than their natural ones,we do so at our own risk.
