US sues the WTC and the EU over genetically modified food ban

[Alistar7]

The EU's unfair and protectionist ban on GM foods means millions in africa and asia starve to death needlessly everyday. Now this is far worse than the bait and switch price gouging rice game they play that also leads to more people starving for their personal profit, Asia and Africa lose 40% of their crops every year to disease and drought, exactly what GM foods are desgined to protect against. Because of the EU's ban, they will not import or grow this superior and safe product, they cannot export it to the EU as they do for much of their $$$$$ currently. Why is the ban in effect? 10 years they have been used in the US, no evidence to show ANY negative impacts on people or the environment. Is this just another game like supporting Saddam for $$$, is that all the EU cares about? Making a buck no matter how mant children starve? Man, I want to be like that, i must move there immediately, wait, I will molest a child first before I move to Paris, then I will not only blend in, I will be safe. See, I was wrong, there are people they are willing to protect at all costs, even with no financial gain like Saddam gave them. Nice to see where they draw the line in needing funds or doing it solely for the "right" reasons, lol.

Ok, my rant is over, enjoy your day all, long live Canada (USA Jr.).....

 

[Piano Man]

What are the affects of the genetically altered food. I'm not sure who is to blame. The US for only sending genetically engineered food knowing full well of the current ban, or the EU for not letting food get to starving people. People are starving, so I would think they should get the food, but maybe the EU has a point on not liking the genetically altered food.

 

[ConclamoLudus]

I eat the stuff all the time, not only do I find it satisfying, but I can see even more with my third eye.

 

[Wag]

There is nothing wrong with GM food- in fact it's the only way we'll be able to feed the world's populous. Conventional and organic methods of farming will only feed 2billion people. If the other 4billion is OK with this, I'm all for organic everything.

I highly recommend you catch Penn and Teller's BS! next time it comes on SHO. They do a whole episode on the subject of food.

 

[Martin]

I know this will fall on deaf ears, but belive it or not its not some evil scheme for world domination, but the simple fact that people in europe are generally weary of GM foods.


but you should probably ignore this post and go back to your French bashing...

 

[Wag]

I never said that it was. The BS! episode was produced before the Iraqi situation. It gets into how the French (and other members of the EU) convinced alot of the 3rd World countries that need GM food desperately (or any food for that matter) to not accept any of it- even freebies! What a bunch of morons! They do this but offer no alternatives, and then get upset by massive immigration from the same countries. Lol.

GM will help feed the world's population. Without people will continue to starve. There's no arguing with the numbers.

 

[Alistar7]

Originally posted by: MartyTheManiak
I know this will fall on deaf ears, but belive it or not its not some evil scheme for world domination, but the simple fact that people in europe are generally weary of GM foods.


but you should probably ignore this post and go back to your French bashing...

or you can ignore the facts and French and other EU members efforts that deserve much more than just bashing, if opnly in the Iraq situation.

I never suggested it was for global domination, it is clearly to protect their domestic markets. Of course their people buy everything their govt tells them without question, did you hear any of them questioning their own govt's ties with Saddam or question why they used every bit of their power to keep in his "for the good of the people of Iraq". What is their legitimate reason for not liking GM foods? Nothing factually based, the US has been eating them for over a decade, no negative effects on people or the environment. Maybe their oppostion is solely due to financial apsects, surely their is a history of that even at the expense of millions who may suffer. (is stating fact the same as bashing) It's a shame the "enlightened and educated" people of the Eu can't take 5 seconds and think for themselves. GM foods are superior in every way and cheaper to boot, they cant handle fair competition and have no problem seeing people die to make a buck.

 

[mastertech01]

?Soylent Green is people! It?s PEOPLE!?

 

[SuperTool]

So let me get this straight. Africa is starving because they can't export food to Europe?
I am sorry, but that made zero sense. If they are starving, they shouldn't be exporting food in the first place.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: MartyTheManiak
I know this will fall on deaf ears, but belive it or not its not some evil scheme for world domination, but the simple fact that people in europe are generally weary of GM foods.


but you should probably ignore this post and go back to your French bashing...

sad that instead of being rational, you somehow find a way to take an anti-american view. You must be canadian.

 

[Dudd]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
So let me get this straight. Africa is starving because they can't export food to Europe?
I am sorry, but that made zero sense. If they are starving, they shouldn't be exporting food in the first place.

It really isn't that difficult. African farmers sell some of their crops to the domestic markets, and then some to Europe at a higher price to make money. If Europe allowed GM foods, they would be able to grow more, thereby getting more food to their own people while still being able to make money off of Europe. Since Europe doesn't allow GM food, they don't produce enough to meet their population's needs while being able to sell enough to Europe to make ends meet.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

What are the affects of the genetically altered food. I'm not sure who is to blame. The US for only sending genetically engineered food knowing full well of the current ban, or the EU for not letting food get to starving people. People are starving, so I would think they should get the food, but maybe the EU has a point on not liking the genetically altered food.

Most of what you've been told about GM is FALSE . . . from both sides. We do NOT know what the long term consequences of GM food may be. But the typical cross-breeding that's been part of agriculture for millenia cannot compare to the potential of GM . . . positive and negative. The EU is trying to protect domestic producers from American crops . . . not Africa. The vast majority of starving Africans has NOTHING to do with GM (as Bush tried to imply last month). The primary reasons people starve: 1) abuse of the land, 2) government corruption, and 3) corporate greed.

Limited staples, poor planning, lack of crop rotation, and natural disasters are all common factors in regions of endemic starvation. GM can make a dent in the problem IF . . . it is properly implemented. It can actually be harmful if you lack local infrastructure.

Government corruption/civil unrest is always an issue. Food warehouses can be filled while people several miles away are starving. In regions of food shortage, control over the resources means control over the people. The US did not go to Somalia (originally) to fight warlords . . . but over time many people realized you cannot provide effective humanitarian aid in regions gripped by strife.

Corporate greed is an issue b/c none of the US GM food/seed producers are creating these products out of the goodness of their hearts. Vit A-fortified rice strains come out of Japan NOT the US b/c Vit A deficiency is extremely rare in America. The most prolific killer of children under 4, diarrheal disease, (particularly cholera in endemic areas) is not a concern of US companies. But several Asian/European labs are working on cholera vaccines for potatoes/plantains. Much like Operation Iraqi Freedom . . . feeding the world is an afterthought compared to the primary goal . . . which is to exploit markets to the maximum benefit of interest holders. While developing world countries would never be expected to pay significant royalities I bet European countries would . . . .

Yeah they are lefties but the information is accurate . . .
However, even without such terminator technology, under patent laws in Canada, U.S. and a number of other industrialized nations, it is illegal for farmers to re-use patented seed, or to grow Monsanto's GM seed without signing a licensing agreement. Hence the underlying motives behind terminator technologies have still been achieved while being stacked against the farmer. In a prominent case, a Canadian farmer was found guilty of growing patented seeds, even though he did not know of it. The pollen from the patented canola seeds from a nearby farm had pollinated with his and thus he had to pay Monsanto for licensing and profit from the seeds. As the previous link's title suggests, corporate liability is reduced, while that of the individual farmer is increased.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: ConclamoLudus
I eat the stuff all the time, not only do I find it satisfying, but I can see even more with my third eye.

and i can do even more with my third.... well you know

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: Alistar7
The EU's unfair and protectionist ban on GM foods means millions in africa and asia starve to death needlessly everyday. Now this is far worse than the bait and switch price gouging rice game they play that also leads to more people starving for their personal profit, Asia and Africa lose 40% of their crops every year to disease and drought, exactly what GM foods are desgined to protect against. Because of the EU's ban, they will not import or grow this superior and safe product, they cannot export it to the EU as they do for much of their $$$$$ currently. Why is the ban in effect? 10 years they have been used in the US, no evidence to show ANY negative impacts on people or the environment. Is this just another game like supporting Saddam for $$$, is that all the EU cares about? Making a buck no matter how mant children starve? Man, I want to be like that, i must move there immediately, wait, I will molest a child first before I move to Paris, then I will not only blend in, I will be safe. See, I was wrong, there are people they are willing to protect at all costs, even with no financial gain like Saddam gave them. Nice to see where they draw the line in needing funds or doing it solely for the "right" reasons, lol.

Ok, my rant is over, enjoy your day all, long live Canada (USA Jr.).....

bahaha I hope u dont believe your own BS The GM food is to make the Africans even more dependent and starving - In case u dont know:

Now an African farmer can grow crops, eat them, take some of it to grow new crops next year...

GM crops: Farmer has to pay for expensive GM crops, grow them, eat them all, he cannot grow new crops from GM crops because the dont reproduce (for Profit reasons), so he has to buy new expensive crops again.

If you dont know, Africans are poor and milked by the west to keep them poor. If u really think those GM food companies are the savior of the world, think again they are there to make a Profit and not to help starving ppl

And now to your EU ban - ppl here dont want this crap, safe or not. GM food companies have not agreed to sign their stuff (everything containing any miniscule amount of GM food) so the customer knows what he is buying, because they feared it would put them in a worse position (read the custumer having control over his purchase decision) - hence to protect the will of our citizen - no GM food here. Tough luck if Companies dont comply to customer demands they have to live with the consequenses this is why we have choice....

and I always thought the FAIR competition was the basis of our Economy that must have changed recently, US Companies dont want to compete anymore but rather stuff their products down the throats of uninformed customers - way to go...


PS. Anand if u have this stupid policy of censoring, then please make it so that the <back> button works and I dont have to rewrite everything because of one fvcking word that I must not use (for whatver reason), Thanks

 

[Moonbeam]

FrankenFood is an American WMD.

 

[Fencer128]

A lot of people in Europe (inc. myself) think GM food requires more testing. That's alright though - as the US is doing this for us. We're the control group.

Carry on please.

Andy

EDIT: It's about fear. The government here would love us all to embrace GM - but people (understandably) still have reservations. Once this stuff gets into the food chain there's no way back. We have to make sure this stuff is A OK before we dedicate ourselves to it full time. As a scientist I believe that not nearly enough research has been done as of yet.

 

[0roo0roo]

irrational europeans.

 

[Lucky]

as the US is doing this for us. We're the control group.

Not really. Large percentages of our own domestic food, including soybeans and corn, are already GM. With soybeans its 75%.

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: Fencer128
A lot of people in Europe (inc. myself) think GM food requires more testing. That's alright though - as the US is doing this for us. We're the control group.

Carry on please.

Andy

EDIT: It's about fear. The government here would love us all to embrace GM - but people (understandably) still have reservations. Once this stuff gets into the food chain there's no way back. We have to make sure this stuff is A OK before we dedicate ourselves to it full time. As a scientist I believe that not nearly enough research has been done as of yet.

Well not just fear, recent developments have shown us how little we know how such things can affect us and the environment.
Who would have thaught a few years ago that a simple Protein, twisted to the wrong side, could kill in a horrible way....

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

This is not why people in africa are starving. There is a LOT of food around. It is politics in Africa. In Zimbabwe, the reason is that they are not ALLOWED to grow enough food. Land has been taken by a few, and modern farming equipment and techniques are not being used. The Zimbabwe goverment does not allow food imports by a de facto ban. They will not allow people to buy food from outside the country because food cannot be offered for sale unless it is at a price point below cost of production. If the cost got lower, then the price requirement would change too. It is the political structure and social environment that starves people. GM foods can be superior in some respect, but despite what Monsanto and others claim are not invulnerable. Give people a tractor and allow them access to water. Let them farm their land with something other than a hoe. Let them have land for that matter. This is what will change things.

 

[UltraQuiet]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
This is not why people in africa are starving. There is a LOT of food around. It is politics in Africa. In Zimbabwe, the reason is that they are not ALLOWED to grow enough food. Land has been taken by a few, and modern farming equipment and techniques are not being used. The Zimbabwe goverment does not allow food imports by a de facto ban. They will not allow people to buy food from outside the country because food cannot be offered for sale unless it is at a price point below cost of production. If the cost got lower, then the price requirement would change too. It is the political structure and social environment that starves people. GM foods can be superior in some respect, but despite what Monsanto and others claim are not invulnerable. Give people a tractor and allow them access to water. Let them farm their land with something other than a hoe. Let them have land for that matter. This is what will change things.

That is my understanding of the situation also. My question is how do we twist it around so we can blame Bush? I mean, it has to be his fault.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Ultra Quiet

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
This is not why people in africa are starving. There is a LOT of food around. It is politics in Africa. In Zimbabwe, the reason is that they are not ALLOWED to grow enough food. Land has been taken by a few, and modern farming equipment and techniques are not being used. The Zimbabwe goverment does not allow food imports by a de facto ban. They will not allow people to buy food from outside the country because food cannot be offered for sale unless it is at a price point below cost of production. If the cost got lower, then the price requirement would change too. It is the political structure and social environment that starves people. GM foods can be superior in some respect, but despite what Monsanto and others claim are not invulnerable. Give people a tractor and allow them access to water. Let them farm their land with something other than a hoe. Let them have land for that matter. This is what will change things.

That is my understanding of the situation also. My question is how do we twist it around so we can blame Bush? I mean, it has to be his fault.

Troublemaker

 

[lozina]

I just recently heard about a simple experiment done on genetically engineered foodswith mice or something. In first experiment he had a group of mice with two piles of food. Both piles were the same type of food but one pile was genetically engineered. The mice overwhelmingly chose food from the un-modified pile. In the next experiment they had one group eating normal food and the other had only genetically modified food to eat. They noticed the group eating GM food was lazier and underweight. I think it was on a Gary Null radio program but I'll try to find a web link to it.

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: lozina
I just recently heard about a simple experiment done on genetically engineered foodswith mice or something. In first experiment he had a group of mice with two piles of food. Both piles were the same type of food but one pile was genetically engineered. The mice overwhelmingly chose food from the un-modified pile. In the next experiment they had one group eating normal food and the other had only genetically modified food to eat. They noticed the group eating GM food was lazier and underweight. I think it was on a Gary Null radio program but I'll try to find a web link to it.

heard this also

 

[Nitemare]

Guess they would rather starve to death then eat GM food. I say let them.