The earth’s precarious position
• 2005 UN report by
1300 scientists, in
95 countries says
that 60 % of
earth’s capacity for
life: water, soil,
biodiversity, is
seriously degraded
by human activity
Challenges:
Rising population
Extreme weather events
Rampant development
Species extinction
Soil and water loss
How will we feed ourselves?
GMOs:
Artificial organisms made by
agrochemical corporations,
crossing species boundaries
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Process is unstable and questionable
Used for weed and pest control
Not segregated by industrial agriculture
65 studies show potential health impacts
Serious environmental impacts
Coming Up Next:
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Animals
Birds
Fish
Trees
Insects
All recombined
with each other
and viruses,
bacteria or drugs
and industrial
compounds in
every possible
combination.
Industry Role in Contamination
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6.
Does not take preventive measures.
Disseminates GMOs inappropriately.
Falsely reassures public and regulators.
Benefits from contamination and subsidized clean-up.
Often opposes the scientific testing of the mechanisms of
contamination and it’s impacts on the natural
environment and human health – and takes advantage of
the lack of data.
Regulations do not prevent contamination.
“It’s a hell of a thing to say that the way we win is
don’t give the consumer a choice, but that might be it.”
Dale Adolphe – Canadian GMO Seed Industry Spokesperson
GMO Facts
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Higher costs
Lower yield
Limited markets
Chemically dependent
Restrictions on use and risk of
farmer lawsuits
“The 22% jump in glyphosate pounds applied per acre from
2001 to 2002 was caused by the major price reductions
offered to farmers, the need to control more difficult sets of
weeds, and the emergence of resistance… in many weed
species that were once fully controlled by one glyphosate
application.”
Pesticide use on GE Crops
2002
2000
1998
1996
-5
0
5
10
% Change in Pesticide Applied
15
GMO crops can not feed the world
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Lower yields
Require chemicals
Seeds are patented
Contaminate nearby crops
Increase farmer debt and dependency
Industrial methods not suitable for traditional
farmers who save seed and feed villages
GMO risks to our health
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Allergies
Immune suppression
Inflammation and toxicity
Untested viruses and bacteria used
Reproductive and fertility problems
Antibiotic resistance
Nutritional deficit
• Monsanto, Dupont,
BASF, Bayer &
Syngenta
• 532 patents on
“climate ready” genes
• Posing as our saviors
when drought and
other problems
threaten a food crisis.
www.etcgroup.org
Abu Ghraib
“Problems cannot be
solved at the same
level of awareness that
created them.”
- Albert Einstein
Patti – KOMO Weather Center
www.clairehopecummings.com
For more information:
Organic Consumers Assn
Center for Food Safety
Pesticide Action Network