I know that I have harped lately on the failure of many to apply critical thinking skills. One of the things that stands out to me is how many people reject the arguments concerning Global Warming and yet accept the propaganda that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) are bad and natural/organic is good.
I personally believe, based on scientific evidence, that we are seeing a climactic shift. I reject the notion that it is caused by the activities of man. It is a natural cycle fueled by the sun's activities.
I also believe, based on scientific evidence, that GMO's are a positive for feeding mankind. GMO's reduce the need for chemical pesticides and herbicides which means less potential harmful chemicals in the environment. Our digestive tract is designed to extract needed nutrients from the food we ingest and the waste (harmful or useless compounds) is passed from our body. The yields of crops managed by purely mechanical means (which requires either more hand labor or more machine labor) are typically lower because of harmful pests that remain unchecked or because of incomplete eradication of competing plants (weeds). So, we produce more food with fewer chemicals through manipulation of the plant's genes. Note that this manipulation is with naturally occurring genetic material that is duplicable through natural propagation once the initial modification is made. If the gene splicing is harmful to the plant it will not survive and certainly will not propagate.
But, people are gullible. They accept arguments that sound reasonable if they fit their preconceived ideas. The most effective lies are those that are nearest to the truth.
If you want to argue against Global Warming, argue against the causes.
If you want to argue against GMO's, argue against monoculture cropping systems at the expense of species diversification.
With advances in technology come new challenges that must be solved. Focus on solving the issues, not on stopping advances that are good for man.
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