GMOs: Meal or Monster
"Man is encroaching on the territory of God, trying to create life as he sees fit. Liberals and conservatives alike have been blinded by government and big business into ignoring the horrors unfolding before their very eyes. Over the last few decades, genetically malformed produce has been introduced into the food supply of the world. Bill Nye and others have already been paid off to support the infernal infection and corrupt all things natural." This is why so many people have a hard time taking this debate seriously. In a world filled with hype and conspiracy, it can be hard to differentiate between fact and fiction. Vaccines, chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy: miracle cures or pseudo-science? Where does evidence end and bandwagon begin? The same problem has been experienced in the subject of GMOs. Groups from both sides swear by their beliefs and generally view their opposition as either uneducated or corrupt. Unfortunately, as shown above, much of the debate over the subject has boiled down to vague generalizations, insults and fear tactics.
To find out more on the common consensus on the topic at CAL, I interviewed a sample of people. Although many, like Mrs. Riley and Mrs. Sitlinger, were wise enough to admit they needed to study the topic a little more, a few individuals felt prepared to give an opinion.
Mr. Krebbs and Mrs. Rayome fall on the anti-GMO side of the field. Mrs. Rayome, who works in the cafeteria at CAL, has had her fair share of experience with GMOs. She says that due to health issues, she has had to be vigilant to not eat any GMOs. She says that GMOs "alter our endocrine system and mess with our hormones." She also mentions that GMOs increase the need for pesticides, and many doctors are linking GMO consumption to joint pains, headaches and abdominal issues. Mr. Krebbs also mentioned Crimm's disease as a possible effect of GMOs.
A few individuals felt indecisive on the issue. Bryce A., a senior here at CAL, commented, "Genetic modification is a powerful tool that should be handled with great care," and then jokingly added, "or else we'll be the next Jurassic park." Ms. Shedd solemnly mentioned, "They're feeding a lot of really hungry people, but what if we discover it is having grave effects down the line? I pray that it's okay." Those who fall on the pro-GMO side of the debate seem to be fewer in number at Cal. Lester R., also a senior, explained, "GMOs allow for cheaper and less resource intensive food production, allowing us to have a more healthy and sustainable future." He believes in regulations, but he still holds that GMOs are for the most part a benefit to society.
To those who claim GMOs cause disease and cancer, he says, "Sources or get out." Well, Mrs. Raymond does indeed have a plethora of sources for her beliefs: gmoawareness.com, nongmoproject.org, and trueactivist.com, just to name a few. Of course, the opposition is just as well supported: geneticliteracyproject.org and gmoanswers.com provide a great deal of information. This is backed up with support from Bill Nye and Anne Glover (former chief scientific advisor for the EU), and Neil deGrasse Tyson, and many others. It is not that these people want to have all foods be GMOs or desire for no regulations to be in place, or even that they support the organizations creating the GMOs. They just do not hold that GMOs are inherently bad or overwhelmingly dangerous.
In the same way, opponents of GMOs are generally not the radical conspiracy theorists that so many make them out to be. Instead of relying on misplaced fear and ad hominem attacks, let's all just focus on the science behind the matter to discover what is best for humankind.
