Hatrack River Forum: Genetically modified foods (with linky)

This is topic Genetically modified foods (with linky) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by jexx (Member # 3450) on :

Warning: this post contains a link to a video clip with foul language spoken. It is undoubtedly NOT work safe, and only for the adult viewer.

My husband was watching a show on cable called "Penn & Teller: Bull$hit!" I was amused by the entertainer's debunking of feng shui and psychics (John Edward, Van Praagh), and found several things to think about. I did a google on the show, and found a link to Genetically Modified foods, with a video clip from the show that was pretty interesting. It brought up questions about organic foods and the ethics of supporting organic food purchase. That wasn't the main thrust of the piece, but that's part of what I got out of it.

Anyway, here is the link. Remember: strong language. Penn Gillette is an indelicate speaker. Heh.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

A summary, please, for those of us who don't have broadband? (Do you know how long it takes to download a 15-minute clip on dialup? Neither do I -- I've never tried anything longer than 5 minutes!)

Posted by jexx (Member # 3450) on :

Woops! Hehe. Sorry, rivka. This is clearly your wake-up call to get cable modem [Wink]

I have to go to bed *whiiiiiiiiiiine* but I'll google it and see what I come up with. Be right back with an edit of this post.
edited to add:
Okay, here is another link about genetically modified foods that is all text. It basically profiles a scientist (Mr. Borlaug) who modified grains to feed the hungry in places like Africa, India and China. He was an advisor in the Penn and Teller piece. I'll post a summary of the PandT piece tomorrow after work, but the text article will be interesting reading for you lowbanders [Wink]

I didn't finish reading the article, so I will do that tomorrow after work, as well.

Goodnight, night owls and earlier time zones!

[ December 22, 2003, 11:30 PM: Message edited by: jexx ]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

I don't need a wake-up call. I have been craving cable or DSL (and compared the pros and cons of the two) for quite some time.

What I need is a job paying actual money. [Razz]

Meanwhile, I'll live with dialup, and be glad I have that. [Smile]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Thanks for the link. [Smile]

I'm familiar with GM foods -- and generally in favor of them. Then again, I'm in favor of using nuclear power, too.

In both cases, I think the fear of the risks is extremely disproportionate to the actual risks.

I'm curious what the inimitable Penn had to say on the subject, though. [Big Grin]

Posted by MoonRabbit (Member # 3652) on :

First, let me say that my degree is in Botany, I used to work at a biotech company producing transgenic crops, and now I work at a government lab testing for GMO in food, so I'm pretty knowledgeable about the whole debate.

Basically, the piece is about GE foods and the people opposing them. Greenpeace is the main target, along with a group of raw food cultists (I say cultists because the whole raw foods thing has been around for decades, even though some people think they just recently invented it).

It reminded me of "Blood in the Face" in that the camera just rolls and the people keep talking until you realize just how ignorant (and loony) they are. The gist of the piece is "You have a right to hate the government, but don't disguise your political agenda as being science or concern for people's health". It shows how some of the anti-GMO groups scare tactics and arguments break down under scrutiny.

I'm no fan of some GMO crops or company practices(i.e. Monsanto charging Indian farmers premiums for GMO varieties that actually have reduced yields), but in general I guess I'm pro-GMO, especially in the case of crops that can benefit sustenance farmers in third-world countries.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Thanks for the summary, MoonRabbit. [Smile]

Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :

I'm with MoonRabbit on this one. GMO foods have huge potential for good although I have few good things to say about many of the companies. (Kinda like big pharma in that regard.) Mind you, I do have my beefs with it. I don't think the required testing is stringent enough and I really think they ought to be labeled. The consumer *should* be given the choice if they want it.

Anyway, none of the links seem to be working for me but explorer is being moody on my computer.

Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :

^^^^^

What BtL said.

Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :

Thanks for the link.

Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :

What a swell clip. Thanks. I love Penn and Teller. If you ever run across a copy of the books Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends or How To Play With Your Food, get them. They're brilliant.