Even before this emerging technology has gained a foothold, we have already had the accident of an unapproved form of genetically engineered corn entering our food supply. This should be seen as a severe warning of worse problems yet to come - not a blip on the road to some genetically modified heaven. The truth is, we don't live in a perfect world where appropriate safeguards on high technology can be infallibly counted on. Even if we impose strict monitoring systems now, that is no guarantee that in the near or distant future, an economic or political decision will be made to loosen the safeguards. With some technologies, the most prudent course is to simply not go down that road.
Biotechnology is the prefect example of imperfection.
But if Mark Satin now sees nuclear power as an acceptable option, then I'm not sure if he will ever fully get it again. And Mark's comments made me sad - his earlier work was a deep influence on me, and you like to imagine that your mentors will always be faithful to their fundamental principles and paradigms. But life rarely works according to the ideal, as we have seen. In one issue of New Options, Mark made a good case for respecting the labels that movements use to describe their goals. Ah, Mark, a little humor can hurt when it is used in a derisive manner.