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I'm sure scientists and researchers are eager to discover the benefits of genetically modified crops. Unfortunately, the corporations sponsoring their research aren't so altruistic. Companies like Monsanto are much more interested in OWNING the crop, and snuffing out competition.
Who do YOU trust? Joe farmer, or DuPont (after all, they made millions off of "safe" Agent orange).
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quote:
Originally posted by Jon
the ban is also a good way to help keep prices and profits up.
Jon,
It might make your posts interesting if you bothered to learn something about the topic.
As it happens, the price received by Hawaii, especially Kona, coffee producers is indeed kept high because it can be sold as a specialty crop -- no government push, no false promises, just real-world markets. To contaminate it with GMO would certainly destroy that premium and leave Hawaii coffee to be sold as ordinary stuff at bottom-level prices, with no benefit to Hawaii coffee growers. That is why Hawaii coffee growers wanted the ban.
As was repeatedly stated at the Council meeting, should a specific necessity arise, the ban can be reviewed and amended to change whatever needs to be changed. When -- not if -- GMO coffee contaminates other coffee, that cannot be reversed.
In Texas it might be considered macho and right-on to shoot from the hip (or lip as it were), like you have done above. Just in case you haven't noticed, you're not in Texas anymore.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
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quote:
My take on the UH Manoa researchers, state Farm Bureau, and Chamber was that they came across very arrogant and condescending, with the paternalistic attitude
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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Am I missing something or is GMO taro supposed to cure AIDS? The idea that human malnutrition is due to anything but politics and distribution of resources is simply incorrect. GMO crops, even if free won't stop starvation. From what I understand this is a very timid bill which bans GMOs for two important crops. I'd like to see it strengthened to ban all GMO crops with the exception of grandfathering in existing ones like papaya. GMO advocates never seem to address the problem of cross contamination, which has actually resulted in companies going after farmers who without even knowing end up growing GMO crops they didn't even want to. There is simply no way to prevent this and the companies pushing GMO know this and are literally banking on the fact that it happens. It's ultimately about getting corporate control over all crops and patenting them so they can hold the world hostage and charge whatever they want and sue into bankruptcy those unintentionally violating their patents. Most of the rest of the developed world is onto this and they're saying no to GMO.
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it's a malthusian belief that hunger is caused because there isn't enough crops...we had the 'dot-corn' bubble going on...remember the rice price spike? speculation just like with housing , oil...etc..
what's the saying..."ask a rich guy why there's hunger he'll say there's not enough food...ask a poor guy he'll say there's hunger cause he ain't got enough money..."
..hawaiians fed upwards of a million people with neolithic technology before Cook...can't modern people ?
..GMO is all about money and control of your food...i understand researchers liking it because it funds research for them...but as with UH developing Agent Orange i don't think the money's worth it...
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So now there were a million people here when Cook arrived. The number keeps going up!
GMO is a modern way of applying an ancient technique. There's always someone afraid of the new, there was a lot of fear of electricity too.
Bug-resistant, drought-resistant, cold-resistant crops would be a boon to the world. The irrational fears will pass.
Of course these companies want to protect their investments, that's what companies do. Nobody is forced to grow their crops, they can grow whatever they want. Farmers won't get sued if a small percentage of their crop is GMO.
Rob does have a valid point about markets being lost if GMO is done here. But there were plenty of coffee growers in support of the veto too, I'm sure they know their business better than anyone.
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quote:
Originally posted by rbakker
GMO is a modern way of applying an ancient technique.
Please elaborate with credible information and references.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
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Nobody seems to be worried about GMO pakalolo... From what I've been told today's GMO pakalolo is much more potent than the non-GMO pakalolo of the 60's. It seems that there is a lot of ignorance and arrogance on both sides of this GMO debate.
Daniel R Diamond
Daniel R Diamond
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rbakker might want to look up the case of the Canadian wheat farmer who was bankrupted after being forced to plow under his grain crop which had become contaminated by wind pollination from a GMO. He was taken to court by monsanto for theft because he saved seed from each year's crop to plant the next. They claimed he had "stolen" their genetic material and should not be allowed to save seed since he couldn't guarantee his crop was free from "their" genetic material. He tried to claim trespass from their pollen but lost. This is about our future food security and the possibility of a few corporations controlling ALL our food supplies on a global basis.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
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quote:
Originally posted by Daniel
N... GMO pakalolo...
...does not exist.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
