11/02/00 - A group of about forty people sat transfixed as Jan Cole, from Salmonberry Naturals, discussed the dangers inherent in the genetic engineering of our food supply at the Siuslaw Public Library on Wednesday evening.  She was joined by Terrie Miranda of Northwest Resistance to Genetic Engineering, who has worked in a biotech lab and is now active in the campaign to ban genetically modified (GM) foods.  The discussion centered on genetic unpredictability and its irreversible mutations.

 “They create these foods by splicing genes with bacteria, viruses, or the genes of other genus and
species.  The fish gene used to engineer tomatoes is an example.  And the cauliflower mosaic virus,
which is in every biotech product, has the capability of reviving dormant viruses and creating new
ones in the environment.  This is unheard of in nature.  How will nature, our bodies, our food plants,
and our soils respond to something that is not naturally in its program?  The science, so far, is very
imprecise.”  Starlink corn, which contains an unnatural protein similar to those which cause severe
immune reactions in humans, points up the necessity of labeling biotech foods, says Jan Cole.

Another major concern to consumers, she says, should be dairy products.  The government is
allowing shocking levels of rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone), and antibiotics to
counteract its ill effects, to be injected into our cows.”  Formerly, these high levels were not allowed
by the FDA.  But that has changed and we are the direct recipients of those hormones and antibiotics. We are seeing a marked increase in antibiotic resistance and unexplained health problems in the ten years that these hormones have been approved for use.  So far, the government has refused to allow labeling of dairy products containing rBGH.

Setting these organisms loose in the environment has great potential for damaging plant diversity and
the soil’s ability to produce food, Miranda said.  The industry’s full speed ahead approach has
produced Roundup Ready soy bean plants which resist the harmful effects of chemical pesticides,
thereby creating two to five times more pesticide use than originally claimed.  Canada has reported
the creation of superweeds and super pests through the use of biotech seeds.

“At the very least, we should get them labeled,” says Miranda.  43% of U.S. soybeans, 36% of corn,
corn oil, tomatoes, potatoes, radicchio, papaya, yellow squash, cotton, cottonseed oil, canola oil, and most dairy products have been genetically modified, and in the markets for some time.   And most of your conventional packaged foods contain genetically modified foods, according to the
Greenpeace web site.  “We have a right to know what we are eating, and if it is good for us.  But we
are hampered by the close relationship of government, and the biotech industry, which is self-
regulating.  They present their findings to the EPA or the FDA, and for the most part they are rubber
stamped,” said Miranda, who read a long list of major governmental appointees that now have high
profile jobs at Monsanto, the biggest holder of biotech patents in the U.S.  “There are large
grassroots efforts in Europe to ban GMO imports and regulate testing and labeling.  They have been
very successful in the UK and in other countries that don’t have these same revolving door policies.”

Jan Cole quoted a noted geneticist who said that we could correct many of our human errors ... even
desist from dropping bombs on people.   But once these life forms are let loose in the ecosystem,
there will be no controlling them, and no calling them back.  “How important is this?  This is the
biggest thing to happen to the human race.  Everyone should get educated and respond to this issue,
because we can make a difference if we are heard.”  Future forums are being planned to cover topics
not discussed, such as the Human Genome Project and the use of biotechnology on humans and
animals.  For information or resource material, Jan Cole can be contacted at Salmonberry Naturals,
or Terrie Miranda at Northwest Resistance Against Genetic Engineering, in Portland: http://www.nwrage.org

Source: Joanna Henderson, Florence, Oregon