Genetically Modified Organisms

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Not all Americans embrace the use of genetically modified organisms however. An article from the New York Times written by Amy Harmon, sets out upon a quest to turn up some truth regarding genetically modified foods. These crops have been linked to many outcomes such as cancer in rats and a rise in childhood allergies. Due to this, there had been a movement to create a “GMO-free Oasis” on the island of Hawaii. Hawaii, similar to Germany, wants to prevent Monsanto from establishing themselves in their area. Margaret Willie, who proposed this bill in the state of Hawaii, stated, “If you control the seed, you control the food. If you control the food, you control the people.” Willie does not want to see Monsanto establish power in Hawaii, as control over the food would also give them control over the citizens. Many have caught wind of Willie’s ideas and now many are beginning to question the quality of these products. Many celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz now openly warn against consuming genetically modified foods and their possible dangers. This article also argues that with the ever-advancing technology, these foods are now much safer than they once were. However, these claims have yet to be proven to be true.

The way one can avoid consuming genetically modified organisms is by consuming organic products. Although these products are generally more expensive than their counterparts, they are considered to be the healthier alternative. As Europe continues to attempt to oust GMOs, their regulations for what is considered organic are getting stricter. These regulations will greatly affect customers and producers in different ways. Consumers now have a better idea of what they are consuming with more transparency, but farmers will lose profit, as they must follow these stricter regulations. The American market, while having moderately strict regulations concerning genetically modified organisms, does not take it to the extent of the European market, which may be a result of the drastic increase in sales of organic goods throughout recent years (EU to Impose Stricter Rules on Organic Products).

Should these genetically modified organisms be deemed safe for consumption with very little risk, there needs to be strict protocol for these products. Transparency is key for the production. A customer should be able to know exactly what they are purchasing and not have to worry about what it really is. The current protocol is known as the Cartagena Protocol regime, which has minimal information disclosures (Gupta). If these products are proven to be effective over time, the current protocol must be changed to assure the safety of the consumer.

Every country has a different objective and will use the media to go about this. The media holds an enormous power over the people, as this is how they receive most of their information. An organization may not publish certain works to protect them or to hide something from their followers. Different media outlets may exaggerate certain claims that appear to progress their cause, while omitting potentially harmful information. This current event is very similar to many events throughout history, such as Yellow Journalism, where media sources were not telling the entire truth, but the readers believed anyway. The media has the power to control the minds of the masses and with control of the media, comes great power.

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Works Cited

Catsoulis, Jeannette. "Young Hands Steering the Family Tractor." The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 May 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.

"EU to Impose Stricter Rules on Organic Products | Environment | DW.DE | 25.03.2014." DW.DE. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.

Gupta, Aarita. "Project MUSE - Transparency as Contested Political Terrain: Who Knows What about the Global GMO Trade and Why Does It Matter?" Project MUSE - Transparency as Contested Political Terrain: Who Knows What about the Global GMO Trade and Why Does It Matter? N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.

Harmon, Amy. "A Lonely Quest for Facts on Genetically Modified Crops." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Jan. 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.

Lusk, Jayson, and Henry I. Miller. "We Need G.M.O. Wheat." The New York Times. The New York Times, 02 Feb. 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.

"Report: 'US Government in GM Industry's Pocket'" Deutsche Welle, n.d. Web.

"Saying 'No' to Genetically Modified Food | Europe | DW.DE | 28.05.2013." DW.DE. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.

Tromans, Stephen. "Promise, Peril, Precaution: The Environmental Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms." JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.