Paul LeMay is an Independent Science Writer from Vancouver. He doesn’t work for the Yes on 522 campaign or the environmental groups. He wasn’t paid to write this. He is completely independent from the food industry as well. His moral qualms about GMOs comes from a faith-based perspective.
As we all know, within the last two decades or so, industrial science has
jumped into the world of genetic engineering with a vengeance, with the
widely touted goal of providing the world with a more abundant – and hence
more secure – food supply; farmers with supposedly more cost efficient
methods of food production; and consumers with cheaper food on their grocery
store shelves. Moreover, we’ve been told that these new altered foods are
entirely safe because mainstream science has told us so.
jumped into the world of genetic engineering with a vengeance, with the
widely touted goal of providing the world with a more abundant – and hence
more secure – food supply; farmers with supposedly more cost efficient
methods of food production; and consumers with cheaper food on their grocery
store shelves. Moreover, we’ve been told that these new altered foods are
entirely safe because mainstream science has told us so.
But just how much of this is true? After all, as a society we’ve been down
this road before with things like DDT, the artificial sweetener saccharin
and numerous designer pharmaceuticals like Vioxx. All were once deemed safe
until they weren’t and then withdrawn from the market. Before that, few
raised questions as well.
this road before with things like DDT, the artificial sweetener saccharin
and numerous designer pharmaceuticals like Vioxx. All were once deemed safe
until they weren’t and then withdrawn from the market. Before that, few
raised questions as well.
For Christians in Washington State, this issue has taken on an added layer
of urgency because you currently find your selves in the midst of trying to
decide whether to vote for the labeling of foods containing genetically
modified ingredients. Though the vote will technically conclude on November
5th, as it’s a mail-in ballot, people are already trying to make up their
minds on what’s the right thing to do. Indeed, many a church congregation
and many a family will be discussing this question around the dinner table
this weekend.
of urgency because you currently find your selves in the midst of trying to
decide whether to vote for the labeling of foods containing genetically
modified ingredients. Though the vote will technically conclude on November
5th, as it’s a mail-in ballot, people are already trying to make up their
minds on what’s the right thing to do. Indeed, many a church congregation
and many a family will be discussing this question around the dinner table
this weekend.
You can and should play a critical guiding role in this process by helping
to infuse Christian considerations and perspectives into this debate,
perspectives largely absent from the mainstream newsmedia coverage of this
rather technical issue.
to infuse Christian considerations and perspectives into this debate,
perspectives largely absent from the mainstream newsmedia coverage of this
rather technical issue.
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