To: K-list
Recieved: 2002/09/01 07:01
Subject: [K-list] Re: evil Monsanto
From: Stephen Kowalchuk
On 2002/09/01 07:01, Stephen Kowalchuk posted thus to the K-list:
In my dealings with Monsanto I have found they are not an evil company, as much
as a company who is trying to use a scientific, mechanistic approach to dealing
with issues that are (IMHO) better left to a more holistic or non-scientific
solution. And their few successes have left them with the hubris to think they
can improve on mother nature's design.
As a pharmaceutical company, of course, their research is in creating drugs to
combat specific health problems. Their research with Pfizer on the COX-2
enzyme, for example, led to the development of Celebrex, which is a godsend for
folks with rheumatoid arthritis. This research is specific to fighting certain
symptoms or conditions, which keeps its scope small -- likewise its impact.
As a biotech company, Monsanto uses genetic manipulation to make cotton,
soybeans, or other crops more resistant to disease and weeds. It does this in
combination with its agro-chemical business, which produces stuff like Roundup
herbicide. It also makes BGH, which is intended to increase milk production in
dairy cows.
The problem with this approach is it assumes that Monsanto knows the full scope
and impact of introducing these products into the biosphere. Typical among
large companies of any stripe, Monsanto assumes that because it did the required
testing and went through the motions, it is free to distribute its products
anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. And the effects -- well, let's manage that on
the backend. After all, it's easy to pay a settlement for product liability
than waste hundreds of millions in research and pre-production.
Would Monsanto willingly introduce something that was known to be harmful? I
doubt it. Are there other companies out there that would? I am sure.
What I'm getting at is this: it's a combination of hubris and denial that makes
a Monsanto tick. Hubris, to think they can tinker with the genetic code (or
chemistry, or whatever) and know what they are doing; and denial, when things
inevitably go wrong.
While this is a very human milieu (success breeding arrogance, and arrogance
breeding carelessness, and carelessness breeding mistakes, which are then
vigorously denied and defended), the best thing we can do is be aware on our own
what we consume and what's in our environment. I mean, I have a Superfund site
(supposedly cleaned up) a mile from my house. Am I concerned? You bet! So I
don't go swimming or fishing in the creeks near my house. I don't drink milk,
except for the occasional raw milk I get from an organic farm quite some
distance from here. I eat organic foods whenever possible. I keep my kids away
from certain areas which I know are probably not safe for them to hang out in.
I filter my drinking water. I don't smoke, and only drink alcohol in
moderation.
This dovetails well with other recent threads on food, environment, habits (like
smoking), etc. By now, if you don't know smoking is bad for you, I suggest you
come out of your cave. Does it affect K? I think Jason had it right --
anything that's toxic to your mind, body, and spirit will need to be cleared.
And that might take time and energy away from other pursuits.
Each of us has to manage our own risks, and the factors that play into the end
result are many. We all have different tolerances and suscptibilities.
Steve
> Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 07:39:00 -0400
> From: BestPoetATnospamaol.com
> Subject: Re: Re: Diabetes
>
> As for showing you, go show yourself. Read Dr. Julian Whitaker, for one example. And by the way, Monsanto is an evil company. My purpose in posting was not to convince you of anything, only to support those who thought as I did about the topic. What you do or don't do in your diet is of no concern to me, tho I wish you a long, healthy life.
>
> Beast Poet
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