Ireland Allows Iconic Potato to be Genetically Modified
In a monumental move that signifies the truly terminal state of the international food supply, Ireland’s government officials have given the green light to begin genetically modifying the iconic potato. Met with severe resistance from both citizens, watchdog organizations, and political figures, the decision allows for the genetically modified potatoes to be planted within Ireland by the Irish food development authority Teagasc.
Starting off with a trial within the nation’s borders, Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has authorized Teagasc to plant the GMO crops throughout a two hectare land plot. While supports continue to assert that the relatively small size makes the process ‘safe,’ experts from within the Emerald Isle say otherwise. In response to the idea that starting the trial with a ‘small’ land plot is safe, The Organic Trust in Dublin explains that once you unleash genetically modified seeds into the environment, the consequences that may follow do not depend on how many acres of land is modified — only the fact that genetically modified seeds have been planted.
Spokesperson Gavin Lynch stated:
It is only a two hectare trial, but that’s like saying you’re only a little bit pregnant, there are no grey areas with GM…. Organic Trust calls on Teagasc not to act on the approval granted but to adhere to the wishes of the vast majority of Irish citizens not to pollute our precious land. Not one single solitary benefit will accrue to Ireland as a result of this trial. So why it is going ahead?”
The above stated is a valid question to which the answer may hide in previously leaked documents dating as far back as 2007. It was back in 2007 that WikiLeaks cables revealed a surprising threat made to nations who rejected GMO crops and biotechnology overall. As plainly stated by the United States ambassador to France and business partner to George W. Bush, Craig Stapleton, all nations that oppose GMOs will be hit with calibrated ‘target retaliation’ and ‘military-style trade wars’.
Stapleton even goes on to specifically state that many European nations are culprits of such anti-GMO activity and should therefore be hit with such target retaliation. In other words, it is becoming more and more apparent that political incentives and even political threats appear to play a much greater role in the establishment of genetically modified crops and subsequent trials than public opinion. And until the public utilizes serious political activism and peacefully demands change from their representatives on a major scale, such political corruption will continue to ultimately influence decisions that affect your daily life.
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4 comments on "Ireland Allows Iconic Potato to be Genetically Modified"
July 30, 2012 5:22pm
@JOHNLRAY - Let's do, indeed, be clear. Breeding an organism for certain characteristics uses genetic material already found in the species through sexual or asexual reproduction. Genetic engineering creates a synthetic life form.
I hope that Ireland's epidemiological database has been set up to track instances of organ failure, still births, birth defects and other possible unintended consequences of large numbers of people ingesting the potato-like substance. Further, I assume that this substance will be labeled as being genetically modified so that consumers can know what they're buying and eating.
July 30, 2012 3:53pm
@Johnlray
Can you please explain how genetic modification is equal to selective breeding? As you have it now, your argument is missing a premise and is thus invalid:
(1) Selective breeding has been going on for centuries. (true)
(2) Selective breeding of plant organisms is safe. (true)
(2) Therefore genetically modifying potatoes is safe. (?)
Where is the premise showing how genetically modifying an organism is equal to similar enough so that the method is safe, as is selective breeding?
July 30, 2012 3:36pm
John, sorry mate but you're talking genetically modified bullshit! You don't happen to work for an evil company starting with M, do you? DO YOU?
Listen up, John: I live in Scotland, practically next door to Ireland, and we've managed so far to keep GMO's out. There is a vast difference between crossbreeding that's been going on for many centuries, a slow, natural albeit managed process and this unpredictable, irreversible and contagious genetic trickery that is being pushed by corporations who's ONLY objective is to make as much money as they can at ANY cost to environmental and human health! Selling farmers seed that grows infertile plants which are dependent on vast quanties of toxic pesticides and herbicides. Sueing organic and other farmers whose lands have been contaminated with GMO filth. Over patent rights! Farmers have been literally driven to suicide by these corporations! None of the promises of this 'industry' have been delivered but the threats very much have! We're seeing it happening everywhere and we DON'T want it here! In fact, we want it to stop altogether.
I'm not saying I'm against research and science but this GMO agribusiness is so obviously NOTHING to do with that, you simply cannot say it's the same thing as traditional crossbreeding, or a logical sequel to it.
Go tell your boss that, John! And everyone else as well, while you're at it!
July 30, 2012 11:28am
Let's be clear about the dis-ingenuousness of this outrage. "The potato" as we know it is a completely different organism from just a few thousand years ago, before human beings began genetically modifying it. It has become a much larger, nutritious, healthily- and quickly-growing organism because of the role humans have played in selecting each generation of potato since the great Way Back When. It is an historical non sequitur to complain that the potato is "now" being genetically modified.