Mark Lynas

[[Image:Mark-Lynas-at-Oxford-Farming-Conference-400x225.png|thumb|right|165px|Mark Lynas speaking at the Oxford Conference]]{{Enviro}}
'''Mark Lynas''' {{lived|1973|}} is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[author]], journalist, and 
Monsanto shill
 environmentalist. While he has no formal scientific qualifications or credentials he contributes to many newspapers in the UK and has written several books about climate change. He is pro-[[nuclear power]].

In 2001, [[Bjørn Lomborg]] was pied in the face by Mark Lynas during a book signing at Borders.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOg8IqkS4PA Lomborg cream pied by Mark Lynas]</ref>

==Career==
In his mid-twenties, Lynas was an anti-[[GMO]] activist, helping destroy GMO test plots in the UK in direct action protests.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.manitobacooperator.ca/2014/03/05/global-warming-turned-anti-gmo-activist-mark-lynas-into-a-promoter/ |work=Manitoba Co-operator |title=Global warming turned anti-GMO activist Mark Lynas into a promoter |date=Mar. 5, 2014 |author=Dawson, Allan}}</ref> In January 2013, he shocked the [[organic food]] and anti-[[GMO]] world by giving a lecture at the Oxford Farming Conference apologizing for opposing GMOs and for helping to start the movement in the 1990s (saying he regrets it completely), stating specifically that he is now pro-GMO for environmental reasons, and challenged anti-GMO people "to question your beliefs in this area and to see whether they stand up to rational examination."<ref>[http://www.marklynas.org/2013/01/lecture-to-oxford-farming-conference-3-january-2013/ A video and transcript of Mark Lynas' speech]</ref><ref>[http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/01/03/mark_lynas_environmentalist_who_opposed_gmos_admits_he_was_wrong.html Leading Environmental Activist’s Blunt Confession: I Was Completely Wrong To Oppose GMOs]</ref>

==Change to pro-GMO==
As stated by [[Michael Shermer]], when both he and Lynas were featured on the show <i>The Agenda</i> discussing "The Anti-Science Left", the [[intellectual honesty]] that Lynas displayed by updating his position after learning about the science of GMOs is commendable and incredibly rare.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9w6D9xtPlE The Anti-Science Left] <i>The Agenda</i></ref> Lynas specifically credited discovering [[science]] as the reason for his ideological shift. In a later speech<ref>[http://www.marklynas.org/2013/04/time-to-call-out-the-anti-gmo-conspiracy-theory/ Mark Lynas calls anti-GMO thinking conspiratorial]</ref>, Lynas states "the controversy around GMOs represents one of the greatest science communications failures of the past half-century. Millions, possibly billions, of people have come to believe what is essentially a [[conspiracy theory]], generating fear and misunderstanding about a whole class of technologies on an unprecedentedly global scale."

After the initial Oxford speech, [[shill gambit|accusations of being paid]] by agriculture technology companies to come out in favor of GMOs began surfacing on the internet from anti-GMO related sources.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.alternet.org/food/uncovering-real-story-behind-conversion-mark-lynas-climate-change-journalist-cheerleader |title=Uncovering the Real Story Behind the 'Conversion' of Mark Lynas from Climate Change Journalist to Cheerleader for Genetically Modified Foods |work=AlternNet |author1=Paul, Katherine |author2=Kaldveer, Zach |date=February 13, 2013}}</ref> Lynas has specifically denied any such claims and so far the evidence has not been in favor of such an accusation being even remotely true.<ref>[http://www.marklynas.org/2011/10/why-i-will-never-be-an-ambassador-for-the-corporate-biotech-lobby/ Why I Will Never Be an Ambassador for the Corporate Biotech Lobby] <i>Mark Lynas Blog</i></ref>

However, his softening on GMO and nuclear has meant softening his views on [[geo-engineering]].<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8631604/Geo-engineering-nuclear-power-and-climate-change-playing-God-is-good-for-the-planet.html "Geo-engineering, nuclear power and climate change: playing God is good for the planet"], ''[[Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]''</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Journalists]]
[[Category:GMO]]
[[Category:Living people]]
{{stub|journalists}}

Categories: Authors, British people, Journalists, GMO, Living people