Mary Jo Fahey
01-10-2002, 10:17 AM
i received this article in a message this morning. it was forwarded to me
from a friend who's on a mystery school list on yahoo. i reversed the order
(the article first then the message-in case you're interested in who's
working on this issue in the u.s).
mary jo
>
food for thought : john robbins warns on gm foods
the vancouver sun | by mia stainsby | january 7, 2002
food for thought: in his latest book, john robbins warns that genetically
modified foods not only don't provide adequate nutrition, but might also
lead to the bankruptcy of poor farmers and irreversible environmental
damage.
a few years ago, a german biotech company genetically modified a common soil
bacterium, klebsiella planticula, to enable it to break down vegetative
waste and produce ethanol.
it seemed like a huge accomplishment -- ethanol could be used as a gasoline
alternative and the rest of the biomass as compost for farming. hopes were
high and it was field-tested at oregon
state university.
but when the genetically modified bacterium was added to living soil, the
seeds planted in the soil (to produce the vegetable matter to be broken
down) sprouted but then died. the genetically
modified klebsiella was a feisty little guy, knocking out a fungus that
plants need to
extract nutrients from the soil. without it, plants can't survive.
more frightening, the genetically modified bacteria persisted in the soil.
had it been released, it could have become virtually impossible to
eradicate, says author john robbins in his newest
book the food revolution (conari press, $28.95).
"it could have ended all plant life on this continent," geneticist david
suzuki says in the book. "the implications of this case are nothing short of
terrifying."
"that's how close we came," robbins says during a phone interview from his
home in santa cruz. to him, genetic engineering in the food industry spells
potential disaster to our health and environment.
his first book, diet for a new america, made us aware of animal cruelty in
farm factories and awakened us to the environmental and health impacts of
eating meat and dairy products.
the food revolution addresses his present concerns about food production. he
writes about the problems of fish farming, declining wild fisheries, and the
political, corporate, health and environmental intrigues of large-scale meat
production in north america.
>>
this was also in the message:
forwarded from the northwest women's elist jan. 8, 2002:
news update from the campaign to label genetically engineered foods
----------------------------------------------------------------------
dear health freedom fighters,
posted below is an excellent article from monday's vancouver sun (canada)
that discusses john robbins concerns over genetically engineered foods.
john robbins' latest book, the food revolution, contains four excellent
chapters about genetically engineered foods. john robbins is a member of the
campaign to label genetically engineered foods' advisory board. the food
revolution is available on the campaign's web
site at: http://www.thecampaign.org/books.htm
the vancouver sun article begins by discussing the potential environmental
disaster that could have developed from the release of a genetically
modified version of a common soil bacterium, klebsiella planticula. john
robbins discusses this in his book. it is very significant information that
points out the giant experiment that is taking place to the global
environment from genetically engineered crops.
the genetically engineered klebsiella planticula bacteria was tested at
oregon state university. the woman who directed that research is dr. eileen
ingham. i had the opportunity to be on a panel discussion about genetically
engineered foods with dr. ingram at the bioneers conference
last october. what could have happened if the genetically engineered
klebsiella planticula bacteria was released into the natural environment is
very disturbing.
the biotech industry has aggressively attacked dr. ingham's research. they
tried to discredit her after a couple errors were made in submissions to the
new zealand royal commission on genetic modification. but dr. ingham stands
firm in her belief that the release of genetically engineered klebsiella
planticula bacteria into the environment could have serious implications for
human life on earth.
posted after the vancouver sun article about john robbins is a letter by dr.
eileen ingham. her letter, written last year, was in response to a number of
attacks on her findings after the submission to the new zealand royal
commission. (a link is included that leads to the abstract for the
scientific journal that discusses the klebsiella planticularesearch, applied
soil ecology 11: 67-78.)
it is great that john robbins' book, the food revolution, and the
information about the potential disaster that could have taken place from
genetically engineered klebsiella planticula bacteria is getting attention
in the press.
researchers like john robbins and dr. eileen ingham need to heard by a much
larger audience.
craig winters
executive director
the campaign to label genetically engineered foods
the campaign
po box 55699
seattle, wa 98155
tel: 425-771-4049
fax: 603-825-5841
e-mail: mailto:label@... (/group/asc2k/post?postid=h1t2jucrdixpixlqlx8lm4a03bk1z-gsirnylgqm3fpwazozbwpzqlr02o9oyfqqvpoj1saunt-ojiw)
web site: http://www.thecampaign.org
mission statement: "to create a national grassroots consumer campaign for
the purpose of lobbying congress and the president to pass legislation that
will require the labeling of genetically engineered foods in the united
states."
from a friend who's on a mystery school list on yahoo. i reversed the order
(the article first then the message-in case you're interested in who's
working on this issue in the u.s).
mary jo
>
food for thought : john robbins warns on gm foods
the vancouver sun | by mia stainsby | january 7, 2002
food for thought: in his latest book, john robbins warns that genetically
modified foods not only don't provide adequate nutrition, but might also
lead to the bankruptcy of poor farmers and irreversible environmental
damage.
a few years ago, a german biotech company genetically modified a common soil
bacterium, klebsiella planticula, to enable it to break down vegetative
waste and produce ethanol.
it seemed like a huge accomplishment -- ethanol could be used as a gasoline
alternative and the rest of the biomass as compost for farming. hopes were
high and it was field-tested at oregon
state university.
but when the genetically modified bacterium was added to living soil, the
seeds planted in the soil (to produce the vegetable matter to be broken
down) sprouted but then died. the genetically
modified klebsiella was a feisty little guy, knocking out a fungus that
plants need to
extract nutrients from the soil. without it, plants can't survive.
more frightening, the genetically modified bacteria persisted in the soil.
had it been released, it could have become virtually impossible to
eradicate, says author john robbins in his newest
book the food revolution (conari press, $28.95).
"it could have ended all plant life on this continent," geneticist david
suzuki says in the book. "the implications of this case are nothing short of
terrifying."
"that's how close we came," robbins says during a phone interview from his
home in santa cruz. to him, genetic engineering in the food industry spells
potential disaster to our health and environment.
his first book, diet for a new america, made us aware of animal cruelty in
farm factories and awakened us to the environmental and health impacts of
eating meat and dairy products.
the food revolution addresses his present concerns about food production. he
writes about the problems of fish farming, declining wild fisheries, and the
political, corporate, health and environmental intrigues of large-scale meat
production in north america.
>>
this was also in the message:
forwarded from the northwest women's elist jan. 8, 2002:
news update from the campaign to label genetically engineered foods
----------------------------------------------------------------------
dear health freedom fighters,
posted below is an excellent article from monday's vancouver sun (canada)
that discusses john robbins concerns over genetically engineered foods.
john robbins' latest book, the food revolution, contains four excellent
chapters about genetically engineered foods. john robbins is a member of the
campaign to label genetically engineered foods' advisory board. the food
revolution is available on the campaign's web
site at: http://www.thecampaign.org/books.htm
the vancouver sun article begins by discussing the potential environmental
disaster that could have developed from the release of a genetically
modified version of a common soil bacterium, klebsiella planticula. john
robbins discusses this in his book. it is very significant information that
points out the giant experiment that is taking place to the global
environment from genetically engineered crops.
the genetically engineered klebsiella planticula bacteria was tested at
oregon state university. the woman who directed that research is dr. eileen
ingham. i had the opportunity to be on a panel discussion about genetically
engineered foods with dr. ingram at the bioneers conference
last october. what could have happened if the genetically engineered
klebsiella planticula bacteria was released into the natural environment is
very disturbing.
the biotech industry has aggressively attacked dr. ingham's research. they
tried to discredit her after a couple errors were made in submissions to the
new zealand royal commission on genetic modification. but dr. ingham stands
firm in her belief that the release of genetically engineered klebsiella
planticula bacteria into the environment could have serious implications for
human life on earth.
posted after the vancouver sun article about john robbins is a letter by dr.
eileen ingham. her letter, written last year, was in response to a number of
attacks on her findings after the submission to the new zealand royal
commission. (a link is included that leads to the abstract for the
scientific journal that discusses the klebsiella planticularesearch, applied
soil ecology 11: 67-78.)
it is great that john robbins' book, the food revolution, and the
information about the potential disaster that could have taken place from
genetically engineered klebsiella planticula bacteria is getting attention
in the press.
researchers like john robbins and dr. eileen ingham need to heard by a much
larger audience.
craig winters
executive director
the campaign to label genetically engineered foods
the campaign
po box 55699
seattle, wa 98155
tel: 425-771-4049
fax: 603-825-5841
e-mail: mailto:label@... (/group/asc2k/post?postid=h1t2jucrdixpixlqlx8lm4a03bk1z-gsirnylgqm3fpwazozbwpzqlr02o9oyfqqvpoj1saunt-ojiw)
web site: http://www.thecampaign.org
mission statement: "to create a national grassroots consumer campaign for
the purpose of lobbying congress and the president to pass legislation that
will require the labeling of genetically engineered foods in the united
states."