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Accurate Pre-Neolithic Calendars
Braden is quite wrong when he says the initiations to this knowledge began about two thousand years ago. I think that is when some people emboldened by the earlier Pythagorean partial inclusion of the knowledge into Therapeutae systems like the...
Auras - The Energy of Life
Auras - The Energy of Life
I have seen auras my entire life. I remember feeling surprised and confused when I first learned that not everyone is able to see auras. This sense of bewilderment led me to search for clues at an early age as to what...
More Ark of the Covenant
"But there are other difficulties with the Ark of the Covenant that have to do with the possibility that it could have been part of the treasure of Rome brought by Visigoths to Rennes-le-Château. According to the Old Testament, Exodus, the Ark of...
Taking Back Your Power in Health Care
Taking Back Your Power in Health Care I was dismayed recently to see an article on the front page of the USA Today on the crisis in the cost in health care. Basically, the article was asking, “Who is to blame for the continual upward spiral in...
What does statistics have to do with drug contaminated bank notes?
Does the topic pique your curiosity? Are you wondering what
indeed does statistics have to do with drug contaminated notes?
Let's suffice it to say: Everything. Yes, though the connection
may sound implausible, a team of conscientious and...
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Zimbabwe and Biotechnology
Two years ago, drought and famine ravaged Zimbabwe. Many
Zimbabweans cheated death by a whisker as their leaders haggled
over whether to accept food aid, especially maize (corn) from
the World Food Programme (WFP).
The borne of contention was whether to allow WFP deliver
genetically modified food to hungry Zimbabweans. In the words of
the then Minister for Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Joseph
Mande, Zimbabweans would not accept any food from WFP as it was
"contaminated" with genetically modified organisms. "You cannot
use the Zimbabwe population as guinea pigs," Mande was quoted as
saying. President Mugabe, himself, declared that his country
would not be receptive of any genetically modified food. This
year again, Zimbabwe is facing another worst food crisis. After
another long spell of drought, Zimbabweans face, perhaps, the
worst food shortage.
After months of self-denial, the Mugabe government is finally
pleading with WFP for food. It is, however, interesting that no
one is talking about genetically modified food. What more can
one say? Evidently, the Mugabe government must have learnt that
the debate about GMOs, especially by Africans is a luxury. It is
important to point out that all this chest-thumping rhetoric
about genetically modified food has one thing in common.
The rhetoric is devoid of hard scientific evidence to support
the case against GMOs. President Mugabe and Minister Mande's
allegations about
GMOs would only be described as wild and
misplaced. At the height of hunger in 2002, Mugabe allowed WFP
to bring in genetically modified maize as long as it was milled.
For a president who cares about the 'health' of his people, this
somersaulting was unexpected. But it confirms the fact that the
hubris about the dangers posed by genetically modified food is,
again, only informed by ignorance and disinformation.
If milled genetically modified maize would be safe to
Zimbabweans, why not the unmilled one? Critics of GMOs need to
realize that they cannot eat their cake and have it. Those who
allude at the US's hypocrisy in introducing GMOs in Africa are,
to say the least, are misinformed. Genetically modified food,
has been certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as
safe to eat and plant. FDA is highly respected regulatory agency
that would not compromise the health of consumers of genetically
modified food. This is why if you go to Wal-mart, Kenmart or any
other supermarket in the US, you will not encounter corn labeled
'genetically modified.'
What Africa needs is a technology that will guarantee its
farming community sustained food production. Genetic engineering
offers this hope.
About the author:
James Wachai is a communication specialist who uses his
expertise to increase public understanding of science and
technology, specifically biotechnology. Read more from James at
http://www.gmoafrica.org.
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