In my previous two posts, I laid out the arguments. I tried, as best I could, to present both sides, though frankly I am solidly on the 'against' side at this time. I say 'at this time' because, like any rational being, I am open to new evidence. I challenge anyone with a good argument to present their facts in favor of GMOs and I guarantee I will publish it here alongside my own.
That said, I promised to present a model in this essay for a global debate on GMOs. I think I have made a superficial case for the necessity of such debate, now I want to outline a course of action that I hope to mobilize a great number of people to take. Through the magic of the internet, my LinkedIn network alone connects to three million people. This blog has 300-400 unique readers per day, and by six degrees of separation, I should be able to reach well over three million people, if each of us will forward a link to just three more people.
Buyer beware: I am not promoting myself. I am promoting an idea and (hopefully) functioning as a seed or kernel to sprout that idea into action.
In recent years, the idea of 'crowd funding' has grown very quickly. Whether it's the Mars One project or films such as Iron Sky, the idea of appealing to large internet audiences for support is a valid business model. So, with that said, here's the model:
The UN is a global governance body, for better or worse. It is, therefore, susceptible to mass opinion, whether it likes that idea or not. It has proven that it is controllable by corporate interests in that it has promoted global warming, feminism and social services as business models at the behest of business interests.
We also know that the UN does have some teeth. Those who go against the UN are subject to public scorn, be they the United States or various interests such as Greenpeace, et al. The UN can throw some weight around, and with enough pressure from any given source, it can be steered.
Furthermore, the corporations letting GMOs into the wild, such as Monsanto and DuPont, are multi-nationals that can easily slip from one jurisdiction to another to avoid sanctions and other controls. Likewise, their products release pollen, which does not recognize fences or national boundaries, thus even if one country bans GMOs (as many have), crops in neighboring nations can cross-pollinate with natural species.
The only way to address these issues, and things like clear and honest labeling, is to go to the top - the UN. Many will not like this idea and say that it empowers the UN over national sovereignty, and they have a good point, but the issue is such that there is little other choice in addition to a global boycott, which we must also address.
I propose that people start swamping the UN with email and letters to force a global conference, even a court, to hear the issues. This court should have three judges, one an expert in Western law, one an expert in Eastern law, and one specialized in international law. There should be a jury of twelve composed of six recognized experts who agree with GMO technology, and six who are openly and vocally opposed to it. There should be a period to allow people around the world to file sworn affidavits detailing their experiences with GMOs, as well as those from acknowledged experts in the field - pro and con. The proceedings should be webcast so that all humans can participate in this crucial debate.
Most importantly, the open dissemination of GMO products must have a moratorium imposed on them for at least 25 years. There are far too many unknowns in this technology. The issue of 'junk DNA' alone demands that the use of GMO tech be stopped until such major questions are answered. We just don't know what huge chunks of DNA do, nor do we know what can happen if we start mixing and matching bits of DNA from different species, or creating new genes that could enter our DNA permanently with unknown results.
The potential long-term problems are just too great to ignore. We know that every technology has its drawbacks, and we've already caused major long-term damage to our habitats with accidents like Fukushima. We are challenging Fate by stepping into realms where we just don't know enough to go, and we risk the entire human race, if not the entire biosphere, in doing so.
Start writing the UN General Secretary and your national delegation. Swamp them with email and letters until they can no longer ignore or dismiss this issue. Demand open hearings, such as the one I outlined above, and demand a stop to open dissemination until the outstanding issues can be resolved. If your nation is not yet recognized, such as Palestine or Texas, then you can address your concerns to UNPO. Also, contact the World Court, since GMO technology is potentially a Crime Against Humanity, and possibly even Genocide - two issues for which the court exists to address. Finally, contact your local and national representatives and demand that they support a moratorium on GMO tech and support a global debate on the issue.
GMOs are an emergency issue. We don't know what we are doing to our long-term survivability and we know that GMOs in the wild agressively mix with other natural species and transfer genetic material to them. Monsanto has proved this in courts of law by suing farmers whose crops were accidentally pollinated by neighboring GMO crops.
We also know that GMO crops do NOT meet all the criteria for patents, and any patents already issued should be revoked, thus removing the profit motive. Companies who break any moratorium should be fined an amount equal to one year's revenues (not profits but revenues). Give the law real teeth and make infractions really hurt in the only way one can with corporations. This money can be put towards helping farmers who have been damaged by GMO crops.
If everyone who reads this gets the contact links to just three other like-minded folks, it would reach millions in a matter of days. We have readers from 98 countries on a regular basis. Let's put that kind of power to work for the benefit of our species. It won't take you more than ten minutes of your entire life to get this issue moving. If you are under 30 years old and/or don't yet have children, then the imperative is even greater to address GMOs now, before the problem becomes a crisis.
Don't forget to contact your local and national media, while you're at it. Make them sensitive to the issue so they will look for any stirrings on the part of global bodies, and perhaps - just maybe - some will join us in bringing the problem to a head.
Thanks for listening, and good luck!