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First Mama.  Then Writer.  Though, of late, the latter has consumed a great deal of time as I work to get things in order to potentially be ...

Monday, October 20, 2008

Genetically Modified Seed, Fruits, and their Pushers

So, I haven't written much about this issue, but it quietly effects my choices of foods and influences many of my opinions. I won't share all that I know, but I would like to share just a couple of things about the issue of GMOs: Genetically Modified Organisms (foods/seeds).

Monsanto is the "evil empire" who is pushing the distribution of GMO seeds and products. They propose that their products will end world hunger, increase productivity, and generally improve things for the farmer, but, in fact, their products cause soil degradation and increase (drastically) the need for chemicals (which they also sell, by the way) that cause general environmental deterioration. In addition, their products have become so expensive that they are slowly and surely pushing "small" homesteader farmers out of their work.

The only other point I'm going to touch on, briefly, is the disturbing effects that GMO foods can cause in the body of the one seeking nourishment from them. (This means that if you're eating meat that has been fed these things you're also going to be effected via the food chain!) Many of the genetic modifications to the seeds, and thus the plants, involve tolerance to chemicals used on the plants to deter insects or make them stronger than surrounding plants/weeds. While this is, in theory, a good thing for the food product, it's bad for the consumer. The modification of the seed is passed to the plant and the plant passes it to whom/whatever consumes it. For reasons I don't pretent to completely understand, some of these genetic modifications can sort of stick in the body of the conumer (the person/animal that eats it) and cause that person/animal to have code that increases its sensitivity and reaction to those chemicals as well as other microbiotics.

I have not completed my studies on this subject, by any means, and I doubt I'll ever be able to as long as these things are on the market and being hustled by the BIG DOGS of the economy (of which Monsanto DEFINITELY is!). While these are very brief and limited in scope, I hope they will increase your interest in this subject. The information isn't difficult to find. More and more it's even easier to find the "negative" perspective on GMOs than it was when I first started this line of investigation.

It makes me think that this sort of thing is one of the reasons many, many, many of our Prophets have counceled us to have our own gardens! The councel and even direction is given to both Priesthood and Relief Society via lessons for presentation in thier seperate classes! Of course, we need to be just as careful as other farmers in our choice of seeds. Hybrid seeds are not always GMO (in the way I'm referring), but organic heirloom seeds will steer you as far clear of GMO as is possible! AND you can save seeds from your produce (whereas you can't with hybridized plants/produce), which makes them even more valuable because you won't have to purchase organic heirloom seeds year after year, so they end up costing FAR less!

If you'd like to participate in informing Hershey that you don't want GMO sugars in your candy, check out the link by clicking on Hershey. And if you'd like a great newsletter on the subject, check it out!

Happy reading! ^_^

1 comment:

tmcsorley said...

Hi there! Thanks for linking to the Citizenshift blog. We also have in-depth dossiers on Biodiversity and Food Security on our site as well.

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