The Pope must think the U.S. is nuts.

[techs]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051112/ap_on_sc/vatican_us

The new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See urged the Vatican on Saturday to promote the potential of biotech crops, saying there was a "moral imperative" to investigate the possible benefits of agricultural technology to feed the world's hungry.

Rooney, a Florida businessman and major Republican fund-raiser, was tapped by President Bush in July to be ambassador, replacing Jim Nicholson.



Is it just me or would biotech crops be far down the list of things our Ambassador should be talking to the Pope about? Especially when it is Europe that seems to have a problem with biotech crops, not the hungry third world? Not to mention the U.S. has so much corn it doesn't know what to do with it. See this photo about one suggestion:

PIcture
I think its time we stopped choosing Ambassadors by how much money they contribute to a political party.


Edit: I changed the picture

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: techs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051112/ap_on_sc/vatican_us

The new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See urged the Vatican on Saturday to promote the potential of biotech crops, saying there was a "moral imperative" to investigate the possible benefits of agricultural technology to feed the world's hungry.

Rooney, a Florida businessman and major Republican fund-raiser, was tapped by President Bush in July to be ambassador, replacing Jim Nicholson.


Is it just me or would biotech crops be far down the list of things our Ambassador should be talking to the Pope about?

Especially when it is Europe that seems to have a problem with biotech crops, not the hungry third world?

Not to mention the U.S. has so much corn it doesn't know what to do with it. See this photo about one suggestion:
http://www.chicagoboyz.net/blogfiles/Ski-Iowa-small.jpg

I think its time we stopped choosing Ambassadors by how much money they contribute to a political party.

Good points.

Don't forget BIO-genetic engineered crops messes with Intelligent Design.

The Pope should point out the hypocracy but he is in bed with the Republican Regime as well.

 

[ntdz]

Europe is stupid for not accepting and promoting genetically engineered food. It's better for you, cheaper, produces better harvests, etc...

 

[NJDevil]

Originally posted by: ntdz
Europe is stupid for not accepting and promoting genetically engineered food. It's better for you, cheaper, produces better harvests, etc...

How about cautious? I don't have a problem w/ genetically engineered food, but if the people elect representatives who aren't sure about the safety of these foods, we surely can't call their policies "stupid."

Edit: How would you feel if Europeans called us stupid for even thinking of teaching Intelligent Design in science classrooms?

 

[maddogchen]

I think its time we stopped choosing Ambassadors by how much money they contribute to a political party.

This I agree. As for the other stuff ehhh...

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: NJDevil

Originally posted by: ntdz
Europe is stupid for not accepting and promoting genetically engineered food. It's better for you, cheaper, produces better harvests, etc...

How about cautious? I don't have a problem w/ genetically engineered food, but if the people elect representatives who aren't sure about the safety of these foods, we surely can't call their policies "stupid."

Edit: How would you feel if Europeans called us stupid for even thinking of teaching Intelligent Design in science classrooms?

Genetically engineered food is safe, and has been proven safe, so yes, I believe it is "stupid" to not accept it.

And them calling us stupid for teaching intelligent design is probably pretty accurate. Our schools are supposed to be teaching science, not unproven religious ideas.

 

[RabidMongoose]

This is actually good for the world if the Catholic Church supports GM food and can pressure European countries into accepting it and no longer contributing to millions of people to starve to death.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
This is actually good for the world if the Catholic Church supports GM food and can pressure European countries into accepting it and no longer contributing to millions of people to starve to death.

Last I looked not many people were starving to death in Europe. And we in America are sitting on mountains of surplus grain (literal mountains see the pic in my post).
Most of Africa and other starving countries have no problem with GM food. Which is why it is so bizarre that with all the problems in the world and the enormous power of the Catholic Church our Ambassador should choose to discuss GM foods during his first visit with the new Holy Father.

 

[aka1nas]

Actually techs, most developing countried won't accept our GM modified food becaue they are net exporters of agricultural products and are afraid Europe won't trade with them if their crops cross-pollinate with GM crops.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
This is actually good for the world if the Catholic Church supports GM food and can pressure European countries into accepting it and no longer contributing to millions of people to starve to death.

Last I looked not many people were starving to death in Europe. And we in America are sitting on mountains of surplus grain (literal mountains see the pic in my post).
Most of Africa and other starving countries have no problem with GM food. Which is why it is so bizarre that with all the problems in the world and the enormous power of the Catholic Church our Ambassador should choose to discuss GM foods during his first visit with the new Holy Father.

As mentioned in the above post, you need to read up more on this subject. Crackpot 'science' in Europe (similar to ID/Creationism in the US) is leading to the death of millions of people in Africa.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: ntdz
Genetically engineered food is safe, and has been proven safe, so yes, I believe it is "stupid" to not accept it.

And them calling us stupid for teaching intelligent design is probably pretty accurate. Our schools are supposed to be teaching science, not unproven religious ideas.

Oh come on, it's your heroes pushing all the Religion, you have to be thrilled.

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: ntdz

Originally posted by: NJDevil

Originally posted by: ntdz
Europe is stupid for not accepting and promoting genetically engineered food. It's better for you, cheaper, produces better harvests, etc...

How about cautious? I don't have a problem w/ genetically engineered food, but if the people elect representatives who aren't sure about the safety of these foods, we surely can't call their policies "stupid."

Edit: How would you feel if Europeans called us stupid for even thinking of teaching Intelligent Design in science classrooms?

Genetically engineered food is safe, and has been proven safe, so yes, I believe it is "stupid" to not accept it.

And them calling us stupid for teaching intelligent design is probably pretty accurate. Our schools are supposed to be teaching science, not unproven religious ideas.

Not Genefood is far from safe. The reason for the danger is not (necessarily) the food itself, but the rather the greed of the producer (in the case Monsanto anyway - which has the highest marketshare in this fiel I believe). Round up ready corn is not some magic 3rd world hunger abolisher but rather a magic herbicide-use exponentiater. RoundupReady crops allow for using Round upon the whole field.

Moreover GM food will rape 3rd world farmer more than ever, where do u think these farmers take the money from to buy new seeds each year, whereas before they were producing their own.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Originally posted by: NJDevil
Edit: How would you feel if Europeans called us stupid for even thinking of teaching Intelligent Design in science classrooms?

They do. And they're right.

 

[imported_Tango]

Originally posted by: ntdz

Originally posted by: NJDevil

Originally posted by: ntdz
Europe is stupid for not accepting and promoting genetically engineered food. It's better for you, cheaper, produces better harvests, etc...

How about cautious? I don't have a problem w/ genetically engineered food, but if the people elect representatives who aren't sure about the safety of these foods, we surely can't call their policies "stupid."

Edit: How would you feel if Europeans called us stupid for even thinking of teaching Intelligent Design in science classrooms?

Genetically engineered food is safe, and has been proven safe, so yes, I believe it is "stupid" to not accept it.

And them calling us stupid for teaching intelligent design is probably pretty accurate. Our schools are supposed to be teaching science, not unproven religious ideas.

It's not about safety, it's about biodiversity. Genetically engeneered crops are more resistant than other natural crops, and would eventually make many species disappear. Some think it's not worth it, since they are actually trying to defend regional and local varieties instead of omologating everything to the same, average taste.

I am very willing to pay more for better tasting food instead of cheap stuff created to be resistant and cheap. Some italian and french varieties of wine requires a specific type of grape that only grows in a tiny region, and it's very delicate and hard to grow. But without it you won't be able to make that distinctive wine. It's well worth it. Expecially considering that price it's not an issue considering how expensive the final product is. Same with pasta. You just cannot make pasta like the italian one using cheap genetically modified crops. That's why people around the world is still paying 3 times as much to get the real thing.

I am willing to consider genetically modified food where it can help solve hunger problems. But this is not the case in Europe. However, even in the so-called third world you would still face the bio-diversity issue. It's much a more complex problem that you think. Some animal species now face extinction danger because other species were introduced, and proved more succesful surviving. Same happens with plants and crops. We should be very careful before wiping some species into extinction. You know, we have not yet the power to correct this kind of mistakes.

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: Tango

Originally posted by: ntdz

Originally posted by: NJDevil

Originally posted by: ntdz
Europe is stupid for not accepting and promoting genetically engineered food. It's better for you, cheaper, produces better harvests, etc...

How about cautious? I don't have a problem w/ genetically engineered food, but if the people elect representatives who aren't sure about the safety of these foods, we surely can't call their policies "stupid."

Edit: How would you feel if Europeans called us stupid for even thinking of teaching Intelligent Design in science classrooms?

Genetically engineered food is safe, and has been proven safe, so yes, I believe it is "stupid" to not accept it.

And them calling us stupid for teaching intelligent design is probably pretty accurate. Our schools are supposed to be teaching science, not unproven religious ideas.

It's not about safety, it's about biodiversity. Genetically engeneered crops are more resistant than other natural crops, and would eventually make many species disappear. Some think it's not worth it, since they are actually trying to defend regional and local varieties instead of omologating everything to the same, average taste.

I am very willing to pay more for better tasting food instead of cheap stuff created to be resistant and cheap. Some italian and french varieties of wine requires a specific type of grape that only grows in a tiny region, and it's very delicate and hard to grow. But without it you won't be able to make that distinctive wine. It's well worth it. Expecially considering that price it's not an issue considering how expensive the final product is. Same with pasta. You just cannot make pasta like the italian one using cheap genetically modified crops. That's why people around the world is still paying 3 times as much to get the real thing.

I am willing to consider genetically modified food where it can help solve hunger problems. But this is not the case in Europe. However, even in the so-called third world you would still face the bio-diversity issue. It's much a more complex problem that you think. Some animal species now face extinction danger because other species were introduced, and proved more succesful surviving. Same happens with plants and crops. We should be very careful before wiping some species into extinction. You know, we have not yet the power to correct this kind of mistakes.

I agree with you about the specific crops and the taste and such, but those wineries can continue to use those special grapes and other crop producers can use what they want. It's not that the GE crops are being forced on them, I just believe it should be an option.

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: ntdz
Genetically engineered food is safe, and has been proven safe, so yes, I believe it is "stupid" to not accept it.

And them calling us stupid for teaching intelligent design is probably pretty accurate. Our schools are supposed to be teaching science, not unproven religious ideas.

Oh come on, it's your heroes pushing all the Religion, you have to be thrilled.

Politicians are the last thing from being my heroes. Oh, and I don't believe things not based in fact should be taught in science classes, simple as that.

 

[Agnostos Insania]

Scientists should develop some crops that cause humans to be sterile when it is eaten. Mix it up with the rest of the food and maybe Africa wouldn't have as much of an overpopulation issue.

 

[RabidMongoose]

The points about biodiversity still do not explain why some European countries and many European people still oppose the import of GM food or food ingredients. It does not explain the starvation and waste of resources in Africa due to unfounded European fears. The fear of GM food is crackpot 'science' similar to Intelligent Design. The biodiversity angle may be fine for one angle, but it doesn't sufficiently explain the full actions of the Europeans.

 

[Sixtyfour]

Originally posted by: techs

hungry third world?

Hungry third world.

 

[BBond]

A small problem with bio-engineered crops that people seem to ignore; those companies that "engineer" those crops have the silly notion that they can patent them. Patent food. Patent corn. Patent beans. Patent any food crop they "engineer".

One other small problem. Crops cross-pollinate in the field. What happens when those companies demand royalties from farmers when their crops exhibit the same properties as their bio-engineered versions?

Do you really want to pay ADM and the rest of those thieves their asking price for FOOD???

Maybe ADM should be paying Mother Nature royalties for using her bio-engineering as a base. Maybe they should pay God for intelligently designing crops.


:roll:

:laugh:

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: ntdz

Genetically engineered food is safe, and has been proven safe, so yes, I believe it is "stupid" to not accept it.

Who needs monarchs, anyway?

 

[piasabird]

Everyone knows the Europeans are just anti-american and they just use the genetic factor as an excuse to hide their hatred of americans.

I dont know what the pope is suppose to have to do with all of this. Most people in Europe dont even go to church.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Don't forget BIO-genetic engineered crops messes with Intelligent Design.

Interesting point. I wonder what the religious nuts think about manipulating the genetic material in plants and animals so we get e.g., bigger crops, drug resistant crops, disease resistant animals, whatever. Do they think that is interfering with God's intelligent design of those animals and plants?

Just for the record, I'm opposed to the use of genetically modified crops or animals pending a sh1t-load of further research to make sure we don't fvck up this poor planet of ours even further.

 

[BBond]

Where is all of the long term testing that these hypocrites demand when the subject is unengineered Cannabis?

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: ntdz

Genetically engineered food is safe, and has been proven safe, so yes, I believe it is "stupid" to not accept it.

Who needs monarchs, anyway?

The Cornell researchers stressed that consumption of Bt corn poses no threat to humans, nor is there any evidence that Bt corn causes harm to bees, ladybugs or other beneficial insects.

I still believe GE crops are a good thing.