Can't believe: No genetic corn thread?

[Az]

That entire "built in drug" stuff, I don't like it, though. It only launches an "arms race" against the pests. You can feed a bunch of cool animals instead, like owls, lizards, and stuff.

[gunkulator]

We have always been in competition with insects for food and when they get the upper hand the result is famine. We humans don't have the breeding proclivity of insects so we can only counter with the one advantage we do have: brain power.

[Thorgal]

At first, this son of a bush tells Europeans that by hindering the import of genetic corn they aggravate the malnutrition in Africa

The son of a bush forgets that evil Europeans provide SEVEN times more aid to Africa and underdeveloped countries than the United States.

[Q Classic]

these gm foods are merely an accelerated version of what we've been doing for thousands of years.

i like them. they're something i find to be a good progress.

free them from the corporations, and they'll be even better.

[Wernazuma III]

Originally posted by Azazel
If the poor people in Africa want to use them, let them use them.

Oh, and please step down from your moral Olympus, and allow those poor African farmers you're obviously so worried of, to fairly compete against your own farmers by stopping to subsidize them.

Lamentably, just when posting the thread I was called off and have little time. So, for now, just a few words:
They have no chance but to use them, because it's what they get in US "aid". Most governments in Africa are not pleased about this (as Simbabwe, who openly rejected the aid IIRC), the average African simply has no idea what that's all about and just sees the corn itself. THEY don't care and weigh the possible future effects.

Point B: Yes, I actually think that our subsidiary system in agriculture stinks up to the heaven. And this is not specifically an anti-america thread. Our Euro arseholes are the same corporate *****es, maybe even more, if that's possible.

[GePap]

We could have fed all of Africa prior to the introduction of these crops anyway.

I do think some African countries not accepting modified corn as a form of food aid is going too far, gievn that no negative health effects have been found. The issue of importing the seed type for growth inside the countries is a bit different though becuase of the corporate issues raised.

[Ecthy]

negative effects are irrelevant. it's a principle matter, we cannot afford. just like America and climate protection.

the world starves and is clouded in smog to the better of 600 million. seems rather fair, especially since I'm one of the latter

[Ben Kenobi]

as Simbabwe, who openly rejected the aid IIRC

Yes, Zimbabwe acts in the interests of their citizens.

[Az]

Originally posted by Wernazuma III
Lamentably, just when posting the thread I was called off and have little time. So, for now, just a few words:
They have no chance but to use them, because it's what they get in US "aid". Most governments in Africa are not pleased about this (as Simbabwe, who openly rejected the aid IIRC), the average African simply has no idea what that's all about and just sees the corn itself. THEY don't care and weigh the possible future effects.

If Zimbabwe can do this, so can everyone else. As the Russian proverb goes "One should look at the cleanliness of the teath of a horse that is a gift"

Point B: Yes, I actually think that our subsidiary system in agriculture stinks up to the heaven. And this is not specifically an anti-america thread. Our Euro arseholes are the same corporate *****es, maybe even more, if that's possible.

So please, cut the "how dare he" ****.

Ecthelion: Actually, there are more of us. There are about 1 billion people that live on the level of the west. There are about 3-3.5 billion that live so so ( very poor in our standards ), and there about 1.5-2 Billion that live DIRT POOR.

[Ecthy]

1 billion? must be all them japanese, canadians and crook people elsewhere counted in.

Since our claims towards the US are older, I suggest they sign some climate protection and THEN we can begin to debate whether or not we should open our markets to African agriculture... remember, our peasants (and especialyl the French peasants) will NEVER accept a drawback in living standard. NOONE in the west ever would unless he's a jobless, those have no lobby, unfortunately... or the poorly-jobbed.

[Japher]

"One should look at the cleanliness of the teath of a horse that is a gift"

Man, us Americans have really tortured that saying to "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth"... We are so lazy.

I agree Azazel.

Food is food, it won't kill them, if it can help to raise the standards of living for billions of people should we not do our best to put that corn on to peoples plates regardless if the president who is offering it is being a *****, or if a coorporation will benefit from it? Would you rather see a coorporation go broke and people starve?

[Az]

NA: 310 Million.
Western, and central Europe: ~400 Million.
Japan: 130 Million.
That already brings us to around 850 people. Now take the upper classes of other countries, and there you go.

[Ecthy]

some plants produce toxic substances, and are therefore not recommanded to eat. maybe genetically engineered tomatoes can produce similarly toxic substances, too. just maybe, I'm no friggin microbiologist, which you'd have to be. Azazel, you're a chemistry freak, but you know so am I, and we both know our knowledge is not sufficient to tell.

They genetically engineered tomatoes, before. we eat them nowadays. what did they do? they made them mroe stable elst they're mud when we get home. the price we paid? they taste like water now. that's Dutch tomato. if you're rich, you get Italian tomatoes, tastier and only slightly more prone to become mud.

If taste can disappear, new taste can appear, toxic acids can appear, everything can happen. And we just don'T know how well-tested those products are.

[DaShi]

It's not as simple as that.

[Ecthy]

thanks