No one Can Really Know the Price We Will Pay

Over the last few posts, I have focused on reasons to avoid genetically modified food. The reasons are many and I for one am convinced that the path we are on with GMOs in our food supply and environment is the wrong path. I believe that they are harmful in more ways than we can ever imagine.
I encourage you to continue to inform yourself and to speak out and take action. Check out the website for GM Watch for even more reasons to avoid this stuff and for links to keep informing yourself about GMOs.
No one really knows the price we will pay for messing with Mother Nature but what I have been reading compels me to keep GMOs out of my family's food supply. I will continue to avoid genetic modification whenever I can, I will continue to inform myself, I will grow as much of our food as possible, I will buy local food, I will buy organic food, or I will do without. That is my pledge to this planet and to my family.

Part 3: Reasons to Avoid GM Food

Genetically Modified Crops increase the use of pesticides.

“The promise was that you could use less chemicals and produce a greater yield. But let me tell you none of this is true.” – Bill Christison, President of the US National Family Farm Coalition

From an article in the Cooperative Grocer, I found this information:

About 70% of the genetically engineered crops grown in the U.S. are herbicide resistant and are supposed to lessen pesticide use, even though the majority of these are “Roundup Ready” crops bred to withstand frequent herbicide applications from one of America’s favorite herbicides. Often touted as environmentally friendly, Roundup has been shown to contaminate ground water supplies and is now under review as a carcinogen. But do GMOs lessen pesticide use? Not according to a study entitled “Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use in the United States: The First Eight Years,” which was released in November 2003. This report studied the levels of pesticide use on genetically engineered crops. The study reports that GE corn, soybeans, and cotton have resulted in the application of more pesticides, not less. Herbicide tolerant crops or HT are responsible for nearly 70 million additional pounds of pesticides being applied in U.S. agriculture.

 I also encourage you to check out this interview:

Scientists finding many negative impacts of Roundup Ready GM crops

For me, the more I read about "Round-up Ready" Crops.. the less appetizing corn or soy look to me. We either buy organic corn and soy products,  we grow our own, or we do without.

Part 2:Reasons to Avoid GM Foods

 “At the present time there is a massive disconnect between the sometimes lofty rhetoric from those championing biotechnology as the proven path toward global food security and what is actually happening on farms in the US that have grown dependent on GM seeds and are now dealing with the consequences.” ~The Magnitude and Impacts of the Biotech and Organic Seed Price Premium. Dr Charles Benbrook, The Organic Center, December 2009

The practice of growing GM Foods is touted as an economic helper to farmers. However, the cost of GM seed has dramatically increased each year as well as an increased need for pesticides. These two elements alone increase the financial load on farmers. Couple that will the promise of lower food costs and the need to deliver at lower prices and the farmers exist on the perpetual verge of economic ruin.

Today's link: Check out The Truth about GMOs to continue the process of informing yourself about what they are feeding us. IF the whole idea of even thinking about GM Food is new to you, I encourage you to do some research of your own and become informed...
Remember, unless we are each informed about the choices that we make, "they" can feed us anything they want and get away with it!
Be INFORMED! Take Action.

Reasons to Avoid Genetically Modified Foods (Part 1)

There are so many reasons to make a concerted effort to avoid foods made with genetically modified ingredients. But the average person, has little to no idea of the consequences of extensive use of genetic modifications.. heck, even the scientists, who know that there are consequences, are not even sure what the far reaching long term consequences may be. 

My plan here is to outline some really good reasons for you to avoid GM foods and ultimately why we all need to raise our voices against the widespread use of genetic modification...Part 1.

GM Foods will not solve a food shortage, in fact, they may well cause massive food shortages if the use of GM crops are allowed to continue. One element of the food shortage is said to be the increased production and use of biofuels.. fuels made of food crops.

“The climate crisis was used to boost biofuels, helping to create the food crisis; and now the food crisis is being used to revive the fortunes of the GM industry.” — Daniel Howden, Africa correspondent of The Independent

“The cynic in me thinks that they’re just using the current food crisis and the fuel crisis as a springboard to push GM crops back on to the public agenda. I understand why they’re doing it, but the danger is that if they’re making these claims about GM crops solving the problem of drought or feeding the world, that’s bullshit.” – Prof Denis Murphy, head of biotechnology at the University of Glamorgan in Wales

Did you know that Monsanto has been a major player in lobbying for biofuels?  They also make huge profits in the production of biofuels and in finding "solutions" to the resultant food shortages... it is all good for them... but what about the planet and humankind? 

Check out The Center for Food Safety to learn more about what you can do to take action. IF the whole idea of even thinking about GM Food is new to you, I encourage you to do some research of your own and become informed... unless we are each informed about the choices we make, "they" can feed us anything they want and get away with it! 

Solutions from Within

I stumbled on this quote today and in light of our recent discussions here about the importance of Local Food, I share it with you. It illustrates perfectly that the answer to all Global Issues begins within each and every one of us!  

"If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world." - Chinese Proverb

 Let us look first to solutions from within!