We all know to look before we leap. Once these new organisms are created, and let loose in the environment, you can't bring them back to the laboratory. Nobody knows what they will do to complex ecosystems that have evolved over millennia. With so much at stake, you might think that democratic countries would be engaged in lively and vigorous public debate. But here in Canada only one medium, the Internet, has been ringing with concern and warning.
Issues can catch fire and awaken the public mind.
In England, largely thanks to the involvement of a crusading newspaper, the Independent, concern has been catalyzed and many of the nation's corporate players are suddenly turning away from purchasing and selling genetically modified foods. Over the past few weeks Unilever, the world's largest food manufacturing company, made a commitment to stop using GM ingredients in its products throughout Britain. Nestle, Cadbury, and a raft of large companies and supermarkets and quality restaurants followed suit - just like that. The GM industry is reeling, at least in Europe. They desperately need a toehold, and North America is their hope.