Hi Chris,
Regarding the reasonable response from Greg Caton of Lumen Foods you
posted:
(So were they all reasonable men, all of them).
"Many people erroneously thought": Greg Caton of Lumen Foods - who has
been kind enough to correct that error and advise those who made it to
STOP thinking, as of right now. Out of the kindness of his heart, *HE*
will be the one doing the real thinking around here.
My point of view in a soybean shell is that since by definition they
have no precedent (nor place) in nature, the evidence regarding GMOs
is not in, and there are solid grounds for questioning the release of
GMOs to the environment, on the basis of bits and pieces of data and
enlightened interpretations of the meaning of same by those that care
to do this. But this is a tedious process (that never-the-less will
have to be done).
However - the motivation behind creating GMOs is economic and while
plenty can be said in philosophical terms regarding why GMOs
*shouldn't* be placed in the food chain or environment, nothing in
favor of them holds up that isn't founded on either avarice or
stupidity. To me this is a given. It's pat. This list is archived and
may be snooped but I repeat: I don't doubt this and will begin from
that premise.
So - on the basis of that logic, all it takes to reverse the trend is
impede sales. If I write Greg Caton and let him know I refuse to buy
even non GMO products from firms that do trade them, he won't mind
much. Multiply that enough times and he will.
I can review the evidence a hundred thousand times but it will come
out the same: it's a gut level issue that trades the biological
integrity of the planet for numbers in the bank accounts of a few fat
cats (and it turns out that the money isn't even there).
The threat I can take seriously, but there's no way *I'm* going to
"reason" out what I was born knowing.
Get the facts together all right, but the boycott and lobbying are
what will finish the job.
DH
Would you want you sister to marry a GMO? Your daughter? (I'll stop
there, but...).
DH
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
GC> Good Evening...
GC> Those getting this letter are those who sent email concerning our
GC> Biotech section, for which I did not have time to formulate a proper
GC> response. I apologize for this, as I am usually good about answering
GC> all my own email, one-on-one.
Thick, thick hype. Soooo nonchalant, so self assured, so
condescending, so frigging adult, given his limited preconceptions of
what that means. A real moderate moderator, right in the center of
things. Disgusting. (He needs his cage shaken, if only to wake him
up).
GC> Our campaign to raise biotech awareness was met by certain people on
GC> the non-GMO side who (1) questioned whether or not we had been "bought
GC> off" or somehow influenced by large agribusinesses, (2) thought we
GC> weren't aware of the facts, or (3) had lost our minds. None of these
GC> applies...
By Decree! The truth by the tail! Raise biotech awareness or raise
hell? (That's a rhetorical question and nothing more follows).
*********** IDIOCY SEPARATOR ***********
GC> However, one point we ended up feeling had validity was the absense of
GC> a balanced presentation. Over the last 24 hours, we have changed over
GC> 17 pages on the site to reflect a remake of the discussion so that the
GC> best arguments of those who oppose biotech science get a fair hearing
GC> as well.
GC> In addition, we are adding Tuesday night meetings on soybean.com/chat
GC> so that the public can chat with me and other guests I bring online
GC> about biotech -- for and against -- and in a non-hostile environment.
GC> We have also gotten Dennis Avery to agree to debate biotech opponents
GC> on our web site -- and are in discussions with one prominent non=GMO
GC> advocacy group in Fairfield, Iowa, to have one of their best minds
GC> represent non-GMO in the debate. This way consumers can make up their
GC> minds with a full presentation of the facts by people who understand
GC> the issues. All parties on both sides of the issue whom I have spoken
GC> to about this have been very upbeat about this kind of engaging
GC> dialogue.
GC> Again, if you sent me email and I didn't get around to making a
GC> proper, detailed response, I apologize. The fact that you can now go
GC> into soybean.com/bseries.htm and see many of your ideas integrated
GC> into the changes, will, however, let you know in the most concrete
GC> terms, that I do listen to you, even if, at this point in the debate,
GC> I cannot share all of your views.
GC> Greg Caton
GC> Lumen Foods (soybean.com)
GC> Lastly, at the request of some of our health food retailers, we are
GC> will be shipping non-GMO versions of our major lines by March 15th.
GC> Many people erroneously thought that we were "converting" to GMO. The
GC> fact is, we were choosing the best flours right along - whether they
GC> were GMO or not. OUR customers don't buy our product because it's GMO
GC> or not, they purchase our products because they have unique,
GC> functional features not available from anyone else. We realized, in
GC> the end, that they shouldn't end up being hurt, because really, a
GC> decision of principle was made by US, not them. And they shouldn't
GC> have to suffer for our convictions.
How convenient!
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