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Genetically Modified Organisms
San Diego, CA - The Green Party of San Diego County endorsed and supported Biojustice 2001 efforts
to educate and mobilize the public for the conference in June 22 and
23. Green Party members also organized a contingency that took part in
the main permitted march on Sunday, June 24 from Balboa Park to the
Convention Center.
Many Green Party members work in the biotechnology
industry, and the Green Party of San Diego supports
molecular-biological research aimed at alleviating disease and
suffering, understanding our evolutionary history, investigating crime,
and its many other important applications. However, we see that the
introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMO's) into the food
supply in the United States has been done without adequate consumer and
environmental protections.
For example, contamination by artificially constructed or transplanted
genes could have devestating impacts on indigenous species and natural
ecosystems around farms. "While the health effects of GMO's has
received some consideration in the media and by the industry, the
environmental impacts have been largely ignored" says Glen Brown, PhD
and long time member of the Gren Party.
Any time a gene is artificially constructed, modified,
or transplanted from one species to another, it is impossible for
scientists to predict all the effects the new gene will have on the
plant or animal receiving it. Thus, the potential for adverse affects
on health are numerous, and we cannot afford to trust the biotechnology
industry to regulate itself. The recent case of taco shells made with
Star Link corn reveals how blase the industry has become about feeding
us GMO's.
The GPSD supports labeling of food containing GMO's.
Consumers should have the right to know what is in their food. Indeed,
consumers should also be provided with information about how their food
was grown, e.g. the pesticides and herbicides used. The recent change
in the laws for labeling organic foods was a small step in the right
direction. The GPSD strongly supports the farming and purchasing of
organic foods without GMO's.
The GPSD is against patents on DNA sequences of natural
organisms, especially the patenting of the human genome. Our genetic
heritage belongs to everyone.
We are also suspicious of the multi-million dollar
public relations campaign the biotechnology industry is waging to
convince Americans that the biotechnology industry will solve the
world's hunger problems. There is more food per capita in the world
than ever before, and hunger is largely a crisis of politics, not of
farming methods. Even so, studies show organic farming practices would
increase food production much more than the production of genetically
engineered (GE) foods.
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Articles related to the Biojustice protests and workshops in San Diego:
By Mark Gabrish Conlan; Zenger's Newsmagazine
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