OMG - GMO WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

Many people ignore all of the hype around Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Others have fallen into the hype and are spreading "half-truths" and misleading information related to it...thereby harming the real effort!

Few have dug deep enough into the issue to see the real impact that our current state of GMO use and understand act responsibly.

Let's cut through all of the "hype" and conspiracy and look at the simple issues at hand and also at the proper responses to this VERY IMPORTANT issue.


GMO History Lesson

Believe it or not...Genetic Modification is a natural part of nature!  If this were not true...everyone would look exactly the same!  Plants and animals would not have adapted to the environment.

Eons ago people saw that they could by control a natural aspect of nature and  bred wild animals in ways that they ended up with domestic animals that met certain preferred characteristics.

Docile Cows...
Loyal Dogs...

and on and on...

Others saw that the same could be done with plants...

Grass that provided grain...
A plant to produce large ears grain...
Beautiful plants like orchids...

This was Genetic Modification of Organisms through breeding and pollinating and was focused on providing benefits to mankind.

Every offspring....and every generation of plants and animals IS a genetic modification!

GMO Today

Human nature is interesting!  We are inherent efficiency experts!  We are always looking for easier ways to do things...to get what we want!

Genetics was no exception...Scientists learned the "secrets" of DNA and how to modify it!  Rather than taking years of breeding and cross-pollination, changes could be made in "one fell swoop!"

They also learned that some genetic changes could be added to living organisms that would never appear!

This is where that problem arises.

Imagine a plant that produces a sweet fruit that contains every nutrient that a human needs.  Genetic modification can do that!

Imagine producing a disease that is completely resistant to every antibiotic and one hundred percent deadly.  Genetic modification can do that!

Imagine producing a plant that is immune to weed killers and that this plant produces a food that we can eat!  Genetic modification HAS done that!

GMO Recap

Genetic Modification is a natural thing...
Man has learned how to use genetic modification to his/her advantage...
Man made genetic modification more efficient through gene splicing...

GMO - The Good the Bad and the Ugly

GMO's can be a asset and benefit to mankind.  Corn, wheat and many other plants and animals have gone through many modifications to the advantage of mankind.  Corn produces more bushels per acre.  Wheat is resistant to many diseases.  Animals grow faster and larger.

Mankind has been served well through well intentions.

Negative things have resulted from genetic modification.  Dogs have been bred for fighting.  Diseases have been created for biological weapons.  There are many reasons for these modifications, It is hard to rationalize them as good.

These modification have to be questioned as to how they serve mankind.

Over the past decade, genetic modification of plants and animals has become a focus of science and industry.  Sadly when science is funded...it can lose its focus on altruistic service to mankind.  When a "for profit" organization is involved, genetic modification becomes purely self serving.

You are what you eat!

Genetic modification is a relatively "new science."  The downstream impact of eating genetically engineered food is yet to be understood.  We know that we metabolize the foods that we eat at a molecular level...it goes without saying that if a food stuff contains bad things it will become part of us...  Yet the "jury is still out" on this...in terms of scientific fact.  The wise individuals are choosing not to eat genetically modified plants and animals until more is known.  This is probably a good choice.

Most of the focus of current science in genetic engineering is focused on making the production of crops more efficient.  This sounds great...but most of it is "profit oriented."  Case in point is the genetic modification of plants such as corn and soy that is resistant to the weedkiller "Round-up."

"Round-up" resistant corn is appealing to farmers because they can plant their corn, then simply apply "Round-up" directly across their fields and only the weeds will die.  This sounds great, but the weed killer is also absorbed by corn and when we eat it or eat something that eats it...this chemical becomes part of us!

The true issue is not that consuming a GMO is detrimental for one's health and well-being.  That is "hype" until science confirms it.  The true issue is related to what genetic modification is currently allowing!  At this point, We should ask...

Are we comfortable consuming "Round-up"?

Without going into the vicious and boring details, "Round-up" is a known to cause major issues in humans exposed to it.  The list is huge.  At least two countries have banned its use, while others are considering it.

"Round-up" resistant plants produce food that we eat!  These plants have "Round-up" sprayed liberally on and around them.  They absorb "Round-up" and we eat it...little by little.  To make matters worse, grains with an excessive amount (not fit for human consumption) is fed to feed animals (e.g. Beef, hogs and poultry) and the "Round-up" is concentrated in their flesh and fat.  We may eat it directly or indirectly.

Moreover the indiscriminate application of "Round-up" has caused other issues...it has leeched into our ground water and we are drinking it.  It is killing wild flowers and weeds that are important to beneficial insect life such as bees and monarch butterflies.  Did you know that more that 80% of the fruits and vegetables that we eat are pollinated by these insects and the die-off is substantial?

Why?

The corporations that are currently supporting GMO research are not doing it to the benefit of mankind...they have modified plants so that they can sell more herbicide!

AND this herbicide is a known killer of humanity...and a downstream killer of other types of life that we depend upon for our existence!

At this point in time...the issue is "Round-up"...NOT GMO...

DO NOT be distracted by hype or misinformation!

We can change the course of inevitable destruction with our ability to vote...not with ballots...but with our dollars.

If we all immediately stopped purchasing "Round-up" for commercial or residential use...the message would be heard loud and clear.

Purchase only those foods that are not modified to resist "Round-up" or genetically has a pesticide or is herbicide resistant!  Not because they are bad...but because they exist for self serving reasons...and because we do not know if those foods are OK to eat!

Eat Organic!  You can not lose!

Make not worth a corporation's money to invest in engineering sales into nature...but to invest their efforts in making humanity better!        



  





    

Earth Day Reflections

I have a relatively active FaceBook page named "Planet B".  For those interested in viewing it and "LIKING" it... its address is... https://www.facebook.com/OurPlanetB

A while back (nearly 5 years ago) I was moved by a simple comment..."People are acting and living like they have an alternative place to live...they need to realize that there is no Planet B!"

Earth Day took me back to the meager beginnings of "Planet B"  I wish that more people would engage with it...and I refuse to let it go idle...there are so many important messages that those who love our "Mother Earth" can share!

REFLECTIONS

Perhaps we can't change the world...but we may be able to change the parts that matter!

Reflecting on the fact that "...this is our only planet (home)..." I am moved to remind myself that I should be living with that in mind...maintenance and upkeep is critical...we should be watching how others are treating our home...and we should respond appropriately...

If someone came into your home and spit on the floor...would you ignore it and walk away?

If someone dumped toxic chemicals in your bathtub...would you say something?

If someone dumped trash in your kitchen...would you simply walk around it?

I hope not!

Our earth is our home...treat it that way and respond appropriately...

Enough said... 

As I reflected...I asked myself...am I acting like I am a permanent part of nature?

The fact of the matter is...I am not!

I am a "visitor" to the earth!  Better stated...I am a guest!

QUESTION - How should a good guest live and act?

ANSWER - With gratitude and respect!

Being a temporary guest of this earth...I have a choice to act with total disrespect and thanklessness...because when I am gone..."they" can clean up my mess"...

...or...

I can act like a great guest...picking up after myself and leaving it better for having visited...

Our host will appreciate it!  

My final reflection was actually related to the term of endearment that we use..."Mother Earth"... 

I asked myself how would I act if someone hurt my mother?

I would be LIVID!

Yet we stand passively by and ignore daily attacks on our "Mother Earth"

It is embarrassing!

Like a good mother...She continues to care for us...despite our utter disregard for her...she patiently hopes that we will change...

It is time to "kick it up a notch" and begin acting like a good child!

Stop letting others treat our mother like that!

ENOUGH SAID!

I posted just one thought on my timeline on Earth Day...it simply said...

"We should not have a single day called "earth day"...EVERY DAY is "earth day"

DO NOT BE DECEIVED...

How we live and act is a conscious decision...

We live a "Decided Life!"

How we treat our "Mother Earth" and how we defend her...is also a conscious decision...

Let's start acting like good and grateful children...rather than THANKLESS BRATS!

THE DECIDED LIFE - Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

How often have you thought...or said...or heard? "Decisions.Decisions, Decisions!

Many people that I work with initially believe that living "The Decided Life" means that they have fewer decisions to make...let me respond to this...

"NO!"

"It's not true!"

Before we entertain the rationale behind that thought...Let's rant for a while...

The other evening...during a discussion...I heard the word "entitled"...

Everyone who knows me knows the normal response elicited by that word...

Anyone verbalizing that simple word, runs the risk of a lengthy lecture on the only thing that we are entitled to is a breath and a heartbeat...

Our "Founding Fathers" did their best to parallel that philosophical position with the guarantee of "...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..."  beyond that...from my perspective...it is a choice!

Today as I was  driving...I reflected on my position on entitlement...it was then I began noticing the impact that this word has had on our society...

ENTITLED DRIVING!

Although this is not apparent across the US...it is in my corner of America...

..."Entitled driving" has become the way a majority of the people drive...

...Perhaps better stated...the driving behaviors in this area of the country vividly show that a majority of this society's belief system is affecting the way they are driving!

Behaviors are driven by one's beliefs...

Let's look at a particular driving behavior that I consistently see...

People will be driving along and suddenly change lanes...often without warning!

First of all...they totally forget about a standard courtesy device on their steering column called a "directional signal!"

Then if they are not given (what they believe is their right to change lanes anytime they desire) they use an emergency device called a horn!

I am amused how people lacking courtesy can create personal emergencies!

After a little thought it's the use or lack of use of these two devices that seem to point to a deeper problem...

Yes individuals deserve the right (are entitled to) "...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..."  but that right is extend only as far as it does not ''...infringe on the rights of another..."

This is what is lacking from this current culture...

A drivers need to turn at a specific intersection, or into a driveway should be fulfilled...but not at the expense of anyone else behind them...

Regardless of the excuse for needing to change lanes at a specific time...it should be done with minimum infringement on the others on the road!

Perhaps many of these drivers have poor eyesight...and don't see the road signs until they are near...

But then I ask...should they be driving?

Perhaps the driver was talking on the phone or texting...

But then I ask...should they be driving?

Perhaps the driver was intoxicated...

But then I ask...should they be driving?

Perhaps they neglected to anticipate the need to change lanes...

But then I ask...should they be driving?

Perhaps they don't care about the other drivers on the road around them...

But then I ask...should they be driving?

When one's behavior affects or infringes on the rights of others around them...they no longer are entitled to the right they have!  RIGHT?

This may sound extreme...but...if a lane change of one person causes others to slow down...even thought the cost is minimal...it is infringement!

Many miss the fact that there are costs associated with EVERY action...our goal is to think and act in such ways that our self-serving actions (such as a lane change) has minimal impact on the others around us!

This behavior extends beyond "lane changes" and permeates the mindset and actions everywhere!

"I have a right to occupy this space..." is true...but only when the cost associated to others is minimized, permitted by their approval, or negated...

When I think deeper...taking something without permission is theft!

Let's push this to the limits...bad driving is thievery!  A bad driving behavior steals from the others around them...and although petty larceny...it also infringes on others right to "...life, liberty and their pursuit of happiness..." and is a direct breach of the foundation of this wonderful country...

A driver's license is not an entitlement...it is an endorsement of one's ability to drive with the rights of others in mind...

Enough ranting!

But there may be a lesson that can be tied into the original theme...

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Our lives are recipes...composed of the results of our decisions made!

Like a cake...it will not be right if we leave certain ingredients out!

or...

add too much of another...

or...

replace one with the wrong one...

The perfect cake has the perfect combination of ingredients...

As does our lives...

Expecting to make fewer decisions as the result of living a "Decided life" is unrealistic...

Each of us has a set number of decisions to make to become the "perfect cake!"

Our goal is to make each decision...exactly the rights one, at the right time...in the right amount!

Creating the perfect cake!

The question then arises...

How do I make the right decisions?

Let's return to our rant about poor driving!

We need to assume that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..." is a universal law of nature!

Regardless of the cultural, or political, or religious ideology...this law holds true "too everyone" and must bind the "rightness" of our decisions!

Any decision made must consider the consequences to others in the immediate area and in all actuality...downstream...

Consider a "simple" lane change...that slows traffic ever so slightly...

The long term or downstream affect may be a gridlock on that section of the road!

I wonder how many people even consider that thought before they change lanes...

My guess is that it doesn't matter because they got what they wanted and aren't present in the stoppage!

Total disregard!

Believe it or not...our decisions are often made from that narrow and self-serving perspective...

Although often unintentional...we do not look at the known consequences (costs) to others...

We need to get what we want thinking that the costs (whatever they are) are of no matter to others...

This totally breaks this universal law...then one becomes a felon...breaking a universal law!

Changing lanes could infringe on someone driving to a hospital to see a dying friend and the "tiny" delay then causes that individual to miss a chance to say "good bye!"

Ignorance is no excuse!

The "lane changer" may justify their move by asking, "how could I have known?"

The response to that LAME excuse is simple...

Anticipating the change sooner and driving more courteous, using a directional signal and rather than jumping ahead...maintaining speed until the others in the lane had passed and moving at the best opportunity would have helped...

OR...

Perhaps admitting stupidity and driving beyond the intersection and turning around and learning from the mistake...and paying the price for not being a good driver...That one made me smile!!!

Seriously...

We have been taught the wrong decision making criteria...

It is really all about costs...literal and figurative ones!

Great Decisions change the "cost" structure associated with them...

The greatest cost should always be borne by the "decider"...why?...because they are receiving the greatest benefit from it...

The cost to those surrounding the decision should be minimal or eliminated...for most of them have absolutely nothing to gain!

It becomes VERY clear that each decision is made on the associated costs to the decider and the derived benefits!

That puts "deciding" into perspective and makes it very easy!

As I think deeper...making the right decisions is not only a talent...it is an obligation!

We owe it to those surrounding us...whether we know them or not...

For there is no such thing as a decision of value that can be made in a vacuum without any impact on other...

...and they are the ones who pay the price for bad decisions...

The Decided Life!







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