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News :: Miscellaneous
Reach for the Golden Rice... Current rating: 0
16 May 2001
The spin-masters from Monsanto use the struggles of the poor to promote their products without merit. Genetic engineering begets reality manipulation.
Golden Rice

Golden rice is the industry name for rice that was genetically engineered to contain more vitamin A. Because vitamin A deficiencies contribute to blindness in impoverished children, Monsanto and boosters of the biotech world cite this product as the reason to lower all our shields and allow the march of GE crops to continue unabated. Monsantoˇ¦s public relations strategies were engineered to exploit this fact. The rice, which contained more vitamin A than natural varieties, was seized upon by Monsanto as a way to pressure the American public, and indeed the globe, into believing that by rejecting genetically engineered foods at home, they were condemning poor children to blindness abroad. But this guilt is quickly dissipated by the critical mind that considers these factsˇK

„X A child would need to eat 15 pounds of this rice to meet his vitamin A needs. -1
„X 78 grams of sweet potato leaves could meet the needs of vitamin A for children as well as addressing other nutritional concerns -2
„X Americans rejecting GE foods at home has nothing to do with growing super crops in Asia. (common sense)
„X People in Asia suffer from a lack of vitamin M (money) and if Monsanto was so concerned with their well fair, it could act to change that through natural foods for less money today. -2

One of the co-engineers who developed ˇ§Golden Riceˇ¨, a Swiss scientist named Ingo Potykus, was very clear about what the miracle of Golden Rice is intended to accomplish. He states ˇ§The main agenda for golden rice is not addressing malnutrition but garnering greater support and acceptance for GE amongst the public, the scientific community, and funding agencies.ˇ¨ -2

Because Americans donˇ¦t want genetically engineered foods, companies like Monsanto are using guilt to tug on the heart strings of the more prosperous west. Indeed images of malnourished people in Africa, Asia, and India are effective tools, until of course the strategy of misinformation and manipulation is understood by the consumer. Its then that Monsanto and its engineered moral superiority are laid naked as deceptive and wrong and the true burden of guilt is clearly placed where it belongs.

-1 The Great Yellow Hype, New York Times Magazine, March 4, 2001, Michael Pollan
-2 Grains of Delusion: Golden rice seen from the ground up, February 2001, MASIPAG

____________________________________________________________

WHAT: Anti Genetic Engineering Rally
Pro Safe Food Rally
WHERE: The Wyndham Hotel, Chicago - Erie and St. Claire (633 N. St. Clair)
WHEN: Tuesday May 22nd, 12:00 sharp
WHY: American\'s are eating GE and don\'t even know!
CONTACT: www.genewise.org, Art & Revolution

If the about story of deceit and exploitation of the poor disturbs you, take the opportunity to get active and join the growing number of people resisting genetic engineering and all itˇ¦s trappings.
Please join us on Tuesday May22nd and take part in a rally against business as usual in the biotech industry. Scientists from around the Midwest will be present, as well as the local and national press. Bring banners or any materials youˇ¦d like. We will have speakers, as well as a giant puppet show. Come out, show your support and join in the fun!

We are meeting at 12:00 sharp on the corners of Erie and St. Claire, one block East of Michigan Ave. The Wyndham hotel is there and will be hosting the probiotech conference we\'re countering.

Guess what the name of the probiotech conference is...

High Anxiety and biotechnology:
Who\'s Buying, Who\'s Not, and Why.

Are you \"buying\"? Unfortunately, almost all of us are. See this BioWaste is NOT labeled and it\'s in every thing from Coke to Corn Flakes and it\'s not been tested long term and it\'s not being left up to us to choose! Come out and we\'ll tell all the smart people from the Universities that THE CITY OF BROAD SHOULDERS WILL NOT BE BEARING THE BURDEN OF THEIR PROFIT MOTIVATED GENETICALLY ENGINEERED WORLD.

See you at the rally!

gefreeforme (at) yahoo.com www.genewise.org Art & Revolution
See also:
www.genewise.org
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