Difference between revisions of "GMWatch: Portal"

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Consumer pressure and scientific concerns have largely kept GM foods and crops out of Europe. But millions of tons of GMOs enter Europe each year in the form of GM animal feed. Unlike GM foods meant for humans, these "stealth GMOs" do not have to be labelled and remain hidden from consumers.
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The GMWatch portal exists to expose the often undisclosed vested interests of the people and groups that push GM technology.
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In the face of growing consumer rejection of GM foods even in their homeland of the USA, GM animal feed and biofuels have become the biotech industry's lifeline.
 
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Should we worry about stealth GMOs in animal feed? Probably, yes. Scientific studies show that GM DNA shows up in the milk and meat of animals fed GMOs. Other studies show that GM feed damages the health of animals. The only study that examined the direct effects on humans of eating GM food showed potential problems (see [[Genetically Modified (GM) Foods - Renewed Threat to Europe]]).  
 
  
 
GMOs are promoted around the world on the back of:  
 
GMOs are promoted around the world on the back of:  
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* suppression of inconvenient scientific findings  
 
* suppression of inconvenient scientific findings  
 
* denial of on-the-ground experiences of farmers around the globe, and
 
* denial of on-the-ground experiences of farmers around the globe, and
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* persecution of whistleblowers.  
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* persecution of whistleblowers.
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Consumer pressure and scientific concerns have largely kept GM foods and crops out of Europe. But millions of tons of GMOs enter Europe each year in the form of GM animal feed. Unlike GM foods meant for humans, these "stealth GMOs" do not have to be labelled and remain hidden from consumers.  
  
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The GMWatch portal exists to expose the often undisclosed vested interests of the people and groups that push GM technology.
+
In the face of growing consumer rejection of GM foods even in their homeland of the USA, GM animal feed and biofuels have become the biotech industry's lifeline.
 +
 
 +
Should we worry about stealth GMOs in animal feed? Probably, yes. Scientific studies show that GM DNA shows up in the milk and meat of animals fed GMOs. Other studies show that GM feed damages the health of animals. The only study that examined the direct effects on humans of eating GM food showed potential problems (see [[Genetically Modified (GM) Foods - Renewed Threat to Europe]]).
  
  

Revision as of 15:14, 3 February 2009

Gmwatchlogo.jpg

Welcome to the GMWatch Portal on Spinprofiles—your guide to networks of power, lobbying and deceptive PR around the issue of genetically modified (GM) crops and food.

Spinprofiles has a policy of strict referencing and is overseen by a Managing editor and a Sysop and several associate portal editors. The editors of the GMWatch portal are Claire Robinson and Jonathan Matthews.

Comments on GMWatch

"If you want to know how the world works, this is the place to start. I cannot think of a more necessary set of facts than these. GMWatch permits us to peer into the crucible of politics, to see how public perceptions and government policies are smelted and forged by corporations and their front organisations." – Journalist, broadcaster and author George Monbiot

More comments

What is wrong with GM?

When GM crops and foods were first introduced in the late 1990s, scientists raised concerns that genetic modification was imprecise and unpredictable and could result in harm to health and the environment. They warned that:

  • GM could create foods that are toxic, allergenic and less nutritious than their non-GM counterparts
  • GM crops could damage vulnerable wild plant and animal populations
  • GM plants cannot be recalled, but as living organisms will propagate, transmitting any damaging properties from generation to generation
  • GM crops could cause irreversible alterations to the food supply, with serious consequences for the environment and human and animal health.

Subsequent events and a growing body of scientific evidence have shown each of these concerns to be correct (see Genetically Modified (GM) Foods - Renewed Threat to Europe).

The issues

The GMWatch portal exists to expose the often undisclosed vested interests of the people and groups that push GM technology.

GMOs are promoted around the world on the back of:

  • false claims and hype
  • suppression of inconvenient scientific findings
  • denial of on-the-ground experiences of farmers around the globe, and
  • persecution of whistleblowers.

Consumer pressure and scientific concerns have largely kept GM foods and crops out of Europe. But millions of tons of GMOs enter Europe each year in the form of GM animal feed. Unlike GM foods meant for humans, these "stealth GMOs" do not have to be labelled and remain hidden from consumers.

In the face of growing consumer rejection of GM foods even in their homeland of the USA, GM animal feed and biofuels have become the biotech industry's lifeline.

Should we worry about stealth GMOs in animal feed? Probably, yes. Scientific studies show that GM DNA shows up in the milk and meat of animals fed GMOs. Other studies show that GM feed damages the health of animals. The only study that examined the direct effects on humans of eating GM food showed potential problems (see Genetically Modified (GM) Foods - Renewed Threat to Europe).


Recent Articles on SpinWatch

Latest articles on 'GM' on Spinwatch <rss title=off desc=off>http://www.spinwatch.org/-articles-by-category-mainmenu-8/46-gm-industry?format=feed&type=rss</rss>

GM in the news

<rss>http://www.gmwatch.eu/feeds/index.rss2</rss>

Articles

An A-Z list of articles on the people and groups behind the push for GM crops and food is here.

Or search by category:

References and Resources

Websites:

GMWatch sends out daily, weekly or monthly email bulletins that give all the latest news and comment on GM foods and crops, with particular emphasis on exposing the lies and deception behind the global push for GM technology. Subscription to bulletins is free.

Greenpeace International Genetic Engineering Campaign has details on the latest campaigns with easy and quick-to-do email actions to help keep our food supply free from GM contamination.

Friends of the Earth International is the place to find details on the latest FoE global campaigns and downloadable reports on GM food and crops.

Biosafety Information Centre, run by the Third World Network, has information and downloadable briefing papers on biosafety problems with GM crops and foods worldwide.

Bioscience Resource Project is a user-friendly website with all the latest science stories on GM crops and food. Includes critiques of corporate 'junk' science, exposures of conflicts of interest, and news on the persecution of whistleblowers.

Ban GM Food is a campaign-oriented website geared to Europe. It has details of how to take action and downloadable leaflets that people can print out at home and distribute. Emphasis is on scientifically accurate and well-referenced information.

GM Contamination Register: Because no official body is keeping track of GM contamination events worldwide, GeneWatch UK and Greenpeace have stepped into the gap with this up-to-date register.

Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology is a group of scientists and medics who campaign for a ban on GM foods.

Will GM crops deliver benefits to farmers? is an informative web page on farmers' experiences and agronomic research on GM crops.

EcoNexus "offers a rigorous scientific critique of genetic engineering (GE) and genetically modified organisms, and more recently of agrofuels (biofuels), synthetic biology and other new technological applications".

ISIS – Institute of Science in Society is the place to go for science in the service of social and environmental sustainability. This website and the associated print magazine, Science in Society, frequently break news about new insights and developments that take years to become widely accepted knowledge.

Ban Terminator Terminator Technology is a dangerous and extremely unpopular development in GM that makes GM crops produce sterile seeds. This website has news about the research and worldwide campaigns against Terminator.

Books:

Guy Cook, Genetically Modified Language: The Discourse of Arguments for GM Crops and Food, Routledge, 2004. An analysis of how proponents of GM food and crops manipulate language to frame the debate to their advantage.

Andy Rees, Genetically Modified Food: A Short Guide for the Confused, Pluto Press, 2006. An invaluable introduction to the issues. Accessible but does not compromise on scientific and factual accuracy.

Andrew Rowell, Don't Worry, It's Safe to Eat, Earthscan, 2003. This investigation of science, politics and our food production system exposes the bogus science, political interference and flawed policies that threaten our food supply. Includes a thorough examination of various GM scandals.

Jeffrey Smith, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Modified Foods, Yes! Books, 2006. A masterpiece of science communication which should be required reading for all those who pretend that there is no evidence of harm from GM foods. It's laid out so that you can get the point of each chapter whether you skim, read in slightly more detail, or want all the small print. You don't have to be a scientist to understand it.

Getting Started

Looking for somewhere to start?

To learn how you can edit any article right now, visit Spinprofiles:About, Welcome, newcomers, our Help page, Frequently Asked Questions, A quick guide to editing or experiment in the sandbox.

Research and Writing Tips

Quick Guide to Getting Started | Manual of Style | A Guide to Referencing | A Guide to the use of Tone | A Guide to Sourcing | How to research front groups | Resources for studying propaganda | Research using the web | Libel

Can you help?

Spinprofiles can be made more effective if more people join the project. If you have research or writing skills or just spare time, you can help.

If you are unsure where to start, you could expand some of the recently created but currently very brief articles. (If you look at the recent changes page you will see some noted as being 'stubs' - articles that may just be a line or two and needing to be fleshed out). So if you would like to add to some of those you would be most welcome.

There is an automatically updated page which includes the pages which have been signalled by Spinprofiles users as most wanted. In addition there is a page which includes a list of Things you can do to help.

Or if you would like some other suggestions closer to your interests you could drop Spinprofiles editor, David Miller an email. His address is sysop AT spinprofiles.org

Start Here


Spinprofiles history

Spinprofiles is a collaborative venture initiated by Spinwatch in collaboration with Lobbywatch, GM Watch Red Star Research and Corporate Watch, but put into effect by a wide variety of volunteers and independent researchers.

Contributors are now working on 19,414 articles.

Disclaimer: Spinprofiles is an encyclopedia of people, issues and groups shaping the public agenda. It is a project of the Spinwatch—email editor AT spinprofiles.org.

Antispam note: To avoid attracting spam email robots, email addresses on Spinprofiles are written with AT in place of the usual symbol, and we have removed "mail to" links. Replace AT with the correct symbol to get a valid address. We regret the inconvenience this entails. Campaign for more effective antispam regulations.


References
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