Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumThe Same Folks Who Manufacured Agent Orange Are Now Into New Genetically Engineered Crops
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/07/outrage-follows-usdas-advancement-new-genetically-engineered-cropsEnvironmental groups warn that advancing Dow's new genetically engineered crops means a continuation of a toxic chemical treadmill that threatens human health.
'Outrage' Follows USDA's Advancement of New Genetically Engineered Crops
Andrea Germanos, staff writer
Thursday, August 07, 2014
Common Dreams
Watchdog groups are denouncing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recommendation on Wednesday to approve new varieties of genetically engineered corn and soybeans as a path towards more toxic pesticides that threaten the environment and public health.
"We are outraged," stated Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, PhD, senior scientist with Pesticide Action Network, adding that the "USDA has turned its back on Americas farmers and rural communities."
The new crops are Dow AgroSciences 2,4-D- and glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans. They are made to be used with Dow's Enlist Duo herbicide, which contains 2,4-D and glyphosate and is also under review by the USDA.
The decision to advance the crops towards full deregulation flies in face of warnings by food and environmental groups, doctors, scientists, 50 members of Congress, as well as thousands of public comments to the USDA.
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)2,4D is, I believe, classified as a "suspected" carcinogen. As far as I recall, it would be classified as a carcinogen, were it not for the intense lobbying of Dow.
Dow's company motto should be "Eat cancer; it's good for our bottom line."
djean111
(14,255 posts)The decision to advance the crops towards full deregulation flies in face of warnings by food and environmental groups, doctors, scientists, 50 members of Congress, as well as thousands of public comments to the USDA.
And Dow will probably field its own army of shills telling us that being afraid of Agent Orange and its poisonous herbicidal relatives is just being all anti-science and woo and shit like that.
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,681 posts)Entire RAINBOW of agents. It was pink/white that lead to my dad's 'melting of his internal organs the last week of his life. It was the orange that caused the lung cancer.
And I believe blue is the one that changes your chemistry so that it is VERY difficult to see cancer in the blood stream/test.
By the time our vets get into the lung biopsy - it's just too late for these souls.
If we can have the full discussion - a clear understanding that it was a rainbow of colors that we have used to engage in a prolonged murder of our Vietnam Era (with the bookends of Korea and the Carter Admin as there would have been traces during Carter's admin in military transport/equipment/facilities) Vets - we can better identify the caustic chemicals they are putting into the food supply.
randr
(12,408 posts)totally miss this point. GMO's are not created to solve world hunger, they are created to sell more herbicides.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)They're safe! And anything new created by Science! is safe. Stop being Luddites and eat up!
NickB79
(19,113 posts)My dad used it on the farm back in the 1980's as I recall.
I also recall him yelling at me to stay the hell away from the sprayer when he was filling it, and wearing rubber gloves and googles while handling it.
LouisvilleDem
(303 posts)Agent Orange use in Vietnam stopped in 1972, so the people that made it are likely either dead or retired...