Genetically Modified Organisms are unsafe for people and the environment.

One of the most convincing reasons why GMO's are unsafe for people and the environment stems from the use of it in our food supply which is why my argument highlights that. Health is your wealth, and when GMO's threaten the one thing people need to survive (food) it becomes of great concern. Agriculture has back tracked, altering genetic codes of plants and animals, with devastating effects, some that have been found, and some that have yet to be discovered. What is most concerning is that we cannot even comprehend the effects that may come out of screwing around with nature. I will show you that manipulating nature in this way is not an advancement in science, but a deviation that will end up threatening our world. UNTESTED: The US government conducts no independent testing of these crops, because patents prevent outsiders from testing the biotech seeds without company approval. [5] I think this is proof enough. Due to the mistrust and evil practices of Monsanto, wouldn't it make sense only to allow testing to insiders with similar interests, or scientists with a big pay day? Due to the lack of testing on GM foods, safety is a huge concern.[1] Concerns encompass human and animal health, to the spread of herbicide-resistant weeds. [2] Critics argue that after only 14 years of using GMOs, it is still unclear whether or not the technology has long-term adverse effects. [2] It is irresponsible to make GMO so widespread, before we know the repercussions. To trust the government to make these decisions may not be wise. Especially, when scientists themselves are arguing the negative effects. Scientist, Doug Gurian-Sherman, who served on an FDA biotech advisory subcommittee from 2002-05 stated, "We simply aren't doing the kinds of tests we need to do to have confidence in the safety of these crops." His studies on minute doses of Roundup (a natural herbicide) disrupt sex hormones like androgen and estrogen. [3] The inert ingredients in Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans kill human cells and disrupt the synthesis and action of human sex hormones. [3] Animals studies conclude that Roundup is an endocrine disruptor. [3] We must remember humans aren't the only ones to worry about here. All organisms, down to insects are at risk. Take the bee for example. Without bees crops would be at risk, and humans would be affected. US bees are dying from antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, likely to be the result of widespread (GM) crops.[4] This is just one small example of how one thing going wrong can snowball into an out of control disaster down the road. CORRUPTION: CON and I both agree on Monsanto's corruption. You state that the evil of one company shouldn't affect the rest of them, but that is assuming the rest are more trustworthy. Monsanto, DuPont, and Syngenta combined own 47% of the global seed market which robs consumers and farmers of the most basic right to choose what they will eat and grow. The entire GM seed business is based on corporate control: The seeds are non-replenishing and must be purchased anew each season, eliminating the farmer tradition of saving and re-using seeds. [6] The World's Top 10 Seed Companies 1.Monsanto (US) - $4,964m - 23% 2.DuPont (US) - $3,300m - 15% 3.Syngenta (Switzerland) - $2,018m - 9% 4.Groupe Limagrain (France) - $1,226m - 6% 5.Land O' Lakes (US) - $917m - 4% 6.KWS AG (Germany) - $702m - 3% 7.Bayer Crop Science (Germany) - $524m - 2% 8.Sakata (Japan) - $396m - <2% 9.DLF-Trifolium (Denmark) - $391m - <2% 10.Takii (Japan) - $347m - <2% [7] I thank the CON for pointing out some of the good things that have come out of GMO such for illnesses and such, and I thinkï¿½the core issue behind the genetic engineering is ethics. I am here to say that it is morally wrong to change nature to suit man's desires. Take salmon for instance. If you took a GM salmon, and for some reason it got loose, and mated with regular salmon in the wild, it runs the risk of contaminating wild salmon with altered genes. "Recent scientific evidence shows that if GM salmon escape, they could successfully breed with wild stocks, potentially destroying the genetic adaptations that have allowed fish to thrive for millennia." [8] RESEARCH/HIDDEN DANGERS: This is probably the most confirming evidence I found in this whole debate. Monsanto has ties in everything. Your research that came from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (that you claimed not to be from Monsanto... which is true) is actually indirectly influenced by Monsanto. Monsanto donated $104,000 to be used for research under the direction of Jason Bond and Ahmad Fakhoury, professors of plant pathology in the College of Agricultural Sciences. [9] The donation stems from an ongoing research agreement between Monsanto and the university. [9] "Monsanto saw an opportunity to assist the college in a way that would also help them achieve their goals," Bond adds. [9] I think we can all read between the lines. MASSIVE PESTICIDE POLLUTION: A lot of GM crops do require more pesticides than their counterparts, but even if some do not it's not at no cost. Some GE crops are actually classified as pesticides. [10]The GE New Leaf potato, produced the Bt toxin to kill pests that ate it. EPA regulations had never anticipated that people consume pesticides as food. Creating foods that are poisonous to pests, are also poison to us. CROSS BREEDING: The CON and I both agree that preventing cross breeding is near impossible. I don't know about all people, but most do not have the means to grow a myriad of vegetables in their own organic garden. To constitute food as organic is a lengthy, expensive, and controlled process. I want the right as a consumer to go to the store and buy my organic vegetables like anyone, and I'd like to be assured that they are not tainted by these dirty GM practices. Resources http://www.naturalnews.com... [1] http://laudyms.wordpress.com... [2] http://pameladrew.newsvine.com... [3] http://santostrading.com.au... [4] http://laudyms.wordpress.com... [5] http://www.csmonitor.com...... [6] http://www.gmwatch.org...... [7] http://www.treehugger.com... [8] http://thesouthern.com...;[9] http://www.sustainabletable.org... [10]