Somebody told me they didnt see what the fuss was about a GMO's

[mischief]

I was tralking to the guy I gave our rooster to yesterday.
He told me about a local famer that had decided to go organic and how they were making commercial sized compost from Aucklands greenwaste,the specific worms they used-tiger worms and how they have not had to fertilise with artificial fert and no longer need to use herbicides etc....how great they were doing and even having surplus compost to sell.

Then he asks me what I think of genetically modified foods,saying that he doesnt see what all the fuss is about.

I was gobsmacked and tried to explain to him why GMO's are a seriously stupid thing to be putting into the environment, but unfortunately I dont think I got through mainly because I was so shocked that he could say on one hand how fantastic it was that a friend had gone organic then how GMO wasnt a bad thing.

I think I'm still in shock.

In need to get a battleplan worked out to educate this person fast.
They have quite abit of clout in the farming community here and the last thing I want to see is for them helping to get GMO's accepted in NZ.

[annette]

Have the same experience Mischief. Some don't even know what GMO is! Or if they do some think it is going to feed the world because pests and weeds aren't a problem! Yes it's true. Never ceases to amaze me how little some people know about it.

[gardenlen]

most people could care less so long as they have food on their plates, anyone note of those chicken and burger joints are losing trade, nup they aren't their share holders will be happy enough.

realistically when you look at it the empty F&V they by from stupid markets for the diet probably no different to eating transgenic gene food. it's all empty apart from chem' residues.

it can only get worse as more and more people struggle under the burdens of this climate change fallacy.

len

[ecodharmamark]

...this climate change fallacy

Bit of light reading for you, Len

CSIRO & BOM (2012) State of the Climate - 2012

Cheerio, Markos

[gardenlen]

all science theory/fiction no fact apart from some observation they have interpreted to their own ends, and each decade more and more forest habitat is removed that is more the impact they allude to.

might be worth listening to them when they talk fact not hypothesis.

no amount of carbon tax is going to fix this heavier than air CO2 that they say has corrupted the atmosphere.

one person told me they have 200 years of records? might be Guinness records? dunno but 200 years is a small ripple to make the poor pay so dearly.

len

[ecodharmamark]

Seems you might have overlooked the 'Fast Facts' section, Len.

No matter, I've copied it (below), just for you ;)

Fast Facts

Climate change is continuing

Warming has been measured around Australia and globally during recent decades
2010 Global temperatures were the warmest on record (slightly higher than 2005 & 2008)

Australia experienced record rainfalls and the coolest temperatures since 2001 due to a very strong La Niña event in 2010 and 2011

Concentrations of long-lived greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a new high in 2011

Australian temperatures are projected to increase in coming decades

Rising CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels has affected global temperature much more than natural climate variability during the past century.

Cheerio, Markos

[ecodharmamark]

Further to the above:

From a scientific perspective, Len, 'fact' and 'theory' are generally not seen as mutually exclusive concepts.

For a very simple example, see: Gould's (1981) Evolution as Fact and Theory.

Cheerio, and happy reading, Markos

[gardenlen]

need some ice cream for the waffle of course the climate is changing stop decimating what little forest habitat we have left easy. fact.

len

[mischief]

um... back to how to I explain to this moron so he doesnt start promoting gmo's?

and yes, our climate has totally changed and appears to continue to do so
and no, carbon tax wont solve this issue, its just another gravy train to suck more money away from those who dont really have any spare anyway
and no people are not the only cause of climate change- we cant for example do anything that would make the Earths core speed up as it apparently has done.....
yes, we are definitely destroying our home with our noxious habits,

now whats an adequate way to explain to somebody why gmo's are not the fairytale ending for world hunger etc...?

[purplepear]

Just to play devils advocate for a bit - I think the problem in the first instance is not with GMO but the ethics of the companies that are pushing them. However the reports coming out about sterility in animals fed gm corn and the contamination from uncontrolled crops is reason enough to put it on hold. The dogged speed that the introduction is taking is a great concern to me, as is the lack of labeling on gm ingredients. Search for reports on failed crops - I have read them but did not keep records. The answer to feeding the world is bogus and productivity is not as it should be or promised by the transnationals and the roundup ready crops are spreading super weeds that can only be controlled by hand weeding - so why not do that in the first place.
The schnapps is making me ramble a little but there is plenty of evidence for a stop to GMO's. You may wish to pm Matto who has a good handle on this stuff I think but he may comment here.
Good luck - this is important. Though we should not throw the baby out with the bath water - there may well be something good for humanity in GM if we apply the correct ethic.
end of rave