FROM ANTI-GMO TO AGVOCATE

[HuckleB]

http://www.askthefarmers.com/anti-gmo-agvocate/

"I have a confession to make: I used to be against factory farms and GMOs. I used to think we should all eat local, organic and all natural. Big business doesn’t care, and subsequently the really big farms are in it just for the money. I can understand as a society why some of us believe this. We are isolated and disconnected from each other. Every day we get messages that we are alone in this big mass of humanity. Politicians are obviously out for power and money, and banks helped create this economic mess we are all struggling through. Even rush hour traffic gives us another example of how everyone cares for themselves and won’t even let you merge. We feel we have to defend ourselves from this uncaring world. As parents, food quickly becomes our priority. We are trying to do the best for our families. So when information about antibiotics in our meat and pesticides on our produce is the hot topic, we become fearful and protective. We feel we have to protect our family and our children because no one else will.

So how did my opinion change? How did I become an agvocate?

It was actually because of a anti-milk meme I saw on Facebook. It was one that claims that there is pus is in milk we buy at the store. How shocking and disgusting! Then I had a thought: is that really true? So I did a search and came across a Facebook dairy page that disputed that claim clearly, concisely and most importantly: with evidence. I was impressed. I started to follow that page and several other farming pages. When some ridiculous meme crossed my page, I decided to research it’s validity rather than have the knee-jerk reaction of instant belief and shock.

..."

------------------------------------------------


Short. Sweet. And to the point.

It's time to start understanding science instead of congratulating anti-science fear mongering.

[handmade34]

1. that "sweet story"

does not convince me to like GMOs... as a former farmer, I know that farmers aren't bad people... but good people can still unknowingly do many things that can harm our environment and health...

...as a result of GMOs, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced...GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs, which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons...

[HuckleB]

3. Hmm. Interestingly, superweeds have no increased since the advent of GMOs.

And if one considers actual toxicity, herbicide toxicity has decreased dramatically since the advent of GMOs.

[handmade34]

7. I really like science

although...

I hate words like "Superweeds" but that is what people create... improper use and overdependence of herbicides (and pesticides) causes resistance in plants and animals, that is evolution, and I believe in evolution... GMOs have the propensity to encourage specific chemical use... years ago I was farming land on which Michigan State University conducted studies of insect and plant resistance to applied chemicals (or in reverse, no chemicals)... again, I truly believe that well meaning, good people, can do bad things...

The infestation of superweeds has more than doubled since 2009, according to Dow Chemical, which also states that an estimated 70 million acres of U.S. farmland are infested with pesticide-tolerant weeds that cost roughly $1 billion in damages to crops so far.

"Biological Resistance"
http://www.truthinscience.org.uk/tis2/index.php/evidence-for-evolution-mainmenu-65/175-development-of-biological-resistance.html


"The Rise of Superweeds"
http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/legacy/assets/documents/food_and_agriculture/rise-of-superweeds.pdf


'Superweeds' Sprout Farmland Controversy Over GMOs
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/superweeds-sprout-farmland-controversy-over-gmos-n214996


Farmers Fight Explosion of "Superweeds"
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/farmers-fight-explosion-of-superweeds/


Super weeds no easy fix for US agriculture-experts
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/10/us-agriculture-weeds-idUSBRE8491JZ20120510


"Superweed Myths"

“Resistance to pesticides is not new or unique to weeds,” says Brad Hanson, Ph.D., a member of WSSA and Cooperative Extension weed specialist at the University of California at Davis. “Overuse of any compound class, whether antibiotic, antimicrobial, insecticide, fungicide or herbicide, has the potential to lead to reduced effectiveness. Although weeds resistant to herbicides were first reported more than a half century ago, integrated weed management strategies that included more tillage, more hand weeding and multiple herbicides kept them in check to a large degree. Today, however, it has become common in some cropping systems for farmers to repeatedly use a single class of herbicides to the exclusion of other weed control methods, and this has led to the growing problem with herbicide-resistant weeds.”

http://wssa.net/2014/10/weed-scientists-uproot-common-superweed-myths/

[HuckleB]

9. Your top two sources are from advocacy orgs.

The rest are just pop science hype.

The bottom line is that GMOs are not the problem. Superweeds are a problem for agriculture period. It's time for people to stop demonizing a seed development technology for reasons that make no sense, because the same concerns are being found in all types of farming.

[roseBudd]

2. Us hippies and urban hipsters often let Naturalistic Fallacy thinking cloud...

our judgement.

The well fed owe it to the billions of people who don't have that luxury to put science first.

[HuckleB]

4. I can't recommend your post enough!

Please keep spreading the word!

[blondie58]

5. I am sorry but I don't agree

These GMO's were passed through without delay.
I personally don't want to have round-up in my gut for the rest of my years- and my grandchildren don't need it. It poisons the land and the water.
And many scientists blame the declining bee population on it.
Europe doesn't allow them. Neither should we.

[HuckleB]

10. Glyphosate is not related to the bee population, which is actually not doing that badly.

Science may be scary, but there are plenty of things used by organic companies that are more toxic than glyphosate.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

6. some stupid words from a farmer -

Guess I will love them GMO's

[HuckleB]

12. The anti-GMO crowd thinks it's so much smarter than farmers and scientists.

That is ugly and boring.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

14. wow - you have problems understanding english

it is no wonder that you do not understand this issue

be well

[HuckleB]

17. I understand English perfectly well.

And I know the things you and your anti-GMO fellows have posted on this topic.\

Perhaps a little bit of honesty would be something you could offer up, for once.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

19. How do they help?

?

[HuckleB]

21. Well, they have reduced pesticide use and increased production.

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111629

If it weren't for anti-GMO activists, they might have saved lives via Golden Rice.

GMOs are a result of a tool, and it is ridiculous to demonize that tool.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

22. find something worthy of your time

be well

[HuckleB]

23. So, your anti-GMO BS goes down the drain, and that's all you can offer.

An apology would be nice.

I'll be waiting.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

24. your irrational and over zealous defense of something of so little worth...

shows starkly that you do not think clearly about this subject.


What are three problems caused by the current use of GM crops?

A truly objective observer can clearly describe all sides of an issue. Can you?

[HuckleB]

25. Your irrational and over zealous demonization of science is noted.

Your baseless attacks show that you don't understand the topic, but will go to every low possible to promote the ugly propaganda you push.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

26. You have FAILED in a spectacular way do demonstrate any level of objectivity

You Fail science.

[HuckleB]

27. I have not failed.

You have failed to care about basic objectivity, and thus you promote fiction-based fear.

Your desire to do so has nothing to do with me.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

28. You show no objectivity

You FAIL science.

Your words carry no meaning.

[HuckleB]

32. You don't know what objectivity means.

You are a classic case of someone who falls for confirmation bias every step of the way.

http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/29/public-and-scientists-views-on-science-and-society/

[SoLeftIAmRight]

33. Answer the question or you FAIL

???

[HuckleB]

34. Why would I answer pointless questions from you?

You have repeatedly ignored all evidence on the matter. You ALWAYS fail to acknowledge when your claims are proven wrong.

Now you want to have a discussion in a vacuum. That's not how discussion works.

You have no credibility, and there is no point in my wasting time on someone who has shown only that he/she will ignore all the science while repeatedly promoting bad, fiction-based propaganda.

You fail. You can pretend otherwise, all you want. You are failing the planet and your fellow humans.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

35. Answer the question or you FAIL

???

[HuckleB]

36. Derp.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

37. Answer the question or you fail.

???

[HuckleB]

38. Derp.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

39. It has now turned meta

Ever studied Godel Escher Bach?

[HuckleB]

40. Derp.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

41. I see you do not understand this concept.

What do you understand?

[HuckleB]

45. Derp.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

46. Again

you offer nothing

[HuckleB]

47. Derp.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

48. How many Superfund sites are Monsanto's responcibility?

I will make it easy. See if you can get an answer within 30 of the correct value.

What do you think of Monsanto as as company?

[HuckleB]

49. Superderp!

[SoLeftIAmRight]

50. Meta

think

[HuckleB]

53. Supermetaderp.

[4dsc]

8. Then lets put labels on GMOs foodstuffs

I notice that pro GMO corporations are against putting labels on their foodstuffs. If there is nothing wrong with them then what's the harm of labeling them? What are they afraid of?

[HuckleB]

11. Why don't organic companies label foods that come from mutagenesis?

If they want GMOs labeled so badly, maybe they should take the first step.

[Trajan]

51. That is a natural process ...

Not tinkered in a laboratory ...

Give us our fucking labels, and give them to us now ...

End of fucking story ... You wanna label all other foods as 'mutogenetic'? .... no problem ... fucking do it, and be done with it ...

[HuckleB]

52. You clearly don't know what mutagenesis is.

It's time to stop buying the bad propaganda, and learn reality.

http://www.science20.com/kevin_folta/atomic_gardening_ultimate_frankenfoods-91836

[NuclearDem]

13. Because organic producers and advocacy groups have thoroughly turned GMO into a toxic term.

And push labeling as a marketing tactic.

http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/GLP-right-to-know-infographic.pdf

http://geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/10/31/genetic-literacy-project-infographic-is-labeling-really-about-our-right-to-know/

[Fumesucker]

15. I was really hoping real life wasn't going to wind up like Bladerunner or Logan''s Run

Or Soylent Green or Mother of Storms or any number of apocalyptic/dystopian scenarios.

One thing for sure, we are living in interesting times.

[HuckleB]

16. Well, we are living in times where fear-based propaganda is spread fast and cheap.

Oddly, we're generally heading in the right direction environmentally, if we can make the climate change issue a priority.

For some reason, many people who understand that climate change is real are also fighting things that can keep us fed and making progress in this era.

Well, ok. Fine. The world is strange. I think it always has been, however.

[Fumesucker]

20. ISIS is gonna get you!!!

Saddam has Weapons of Mass Destruction!

Yeah, I know just what you mean...

I think it's too late for climate change at this point, the momentum toward it is massive and now things like methane releases from melting permafrost and undersea clathrates are going to dominate even if we manage to cut back on carbon dioxide emissions.

But really I wasn't even talking about that so much as the overwhelming influence of corporate money and propaganda, in the end it will be human greed that does us in. Most people are reasonable and just want to make it through life but there are those for whom winning isn't everything it's the only thing and they are the ones who drive the tippytop level in our society as they climb over a mountain of bodies on their way to the top of the heap.

[HuckleB]

18. This is Why it is Okay to Feed Your Family GMO’s

http://www.mnfarmliving.com/2014/01/okay-feed-family-gmos-2.html

[immoderate]

29. So... questioning makes one "anti-science."

If you fall into line, then you are "scientific." Got it.

--imm

[GoneFishin]

30. I heard they can convert the gays back to real people now also, too.

[HuckleB]

31. So, you're tossing more psuedoscience on top of your anti-GMO pseudoscience.

Oh, goodness.

[GoneFishin]

43. On the contrary, there is 100% consensus among those with financial ties to the

conversion program that it is highly successful. Well paid spokespeople for the program also strongly agree. That conclusion is also supported by carefully selected data available from paid researchers hired to study how excellently effective the program is.

These very same practices are employed by some of the biggest and most successful corporations in the world. So obviously they are unquestionably sound.

[HuckleB]

44. And oddly scientists also see GMOs as safe, despite all the fear mongering.

Poll: Scientists overwhelmingly think GMOs are safe to eat. The public doesn't.
http://www.vox.com/2015/1/29/7947695/gmos-safety-poll

Even EU funded scientists find GMOs to be safe.
http://ec.europa.eu/research/biosociety/pdf/a_decade_of_eu-funded_gmo_research.pdf

In other words, your spin is not supported by the real world. It's time to come visit some time.

[HuckleB]

42. 2012 California Pesticide Use By EPA Acute Toxicity Category