googly argument against genetic modification which isn't.

1. GM food is evil … and beyond argument If you agree with GM then you are evil too

3. The measure of Evil global warming © original scientific research conducted scientifically with science by scientists “ The evillest thing I know is…” 6 6 6

4. Why GM food is evil It’s unnatural – it’s not called Frankenstein Food for nothing! It’s poisonous and will give you cancer It contaminates the environment It is the brainchild of corporate monopolistic control freaks It is not a solution to world hunger It is scientifically proven to be evil, by science HRH Prince Charles hates it Pressure groups like Greenpeace and Friends Of The Earth say it’s evil as well Organic is better and more productive

5. What drives the anti-GM campaign?

6. People in streets

7. Pressure groups with petitions and stuff

8. Children

9. Naked people

10. Naked people in fields Look!

11. The British people are against it “ I would never buy food that has been genetically modified” Any agree 33% Any disagree 24% TGI UK July 2007-June 2008 survey

13. 1999 – the year it all kicked off

14. GM tomato puree selling well up to 1999 (The GM element was clearly labelled)

15. and then two things happened

16. 1. The Lancet published a study of GM potatoes that cried “DANGEROUS!”

18. The phrase: FRANKENSTEIN FOOD … was born!

19. Let’s look at the science! Anti-poverty charity ActionAid in 2003 published report that became cornerstone of anti-GM argument

20. Let’s look at the science! Later cited by organisations such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Soil Association and other charities and pressure groups opposed to GM

21. Let’s look at the science! References within report are to… pressure groups and anti-GM organisations

22. By 2003 research into GM had already been carried out by Brazilian, Chinese, Indian and Mexican Academies of Sciences, the USA National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society (4 reports) and the Nuffield Foundation. All found no evidence of health or environmental risk.

23. DISCREDITED

24. 800 million are undernourished Crop yields are diminishing because of Shortages of water Pests & diseases Running out of suitable land Loss of topsoil due to deforestation Declining fauna (which would otherwise aid pollination etc) Argument for GM

25. 800 million are undernourished today 800 million are undernourished World population 6 billion in 2007 9 billion by 2050 Food production will have to at least double by 2050, but there’s nowhere new to grow it Argument for GM

26. Over 80% of soya bean crop 70% of cotton 38% of maize … . in the USA is already genetically modified

27. Crops that have a targeted resistance to specific pests and diseases do not require chemicals which pollute poison farm workers kill “innocent” species Crops that will grow in previously un-farmable land e.g. salty desert (1/3 of world’s arable land regularly affected by drought) Crops that do not require ploughing ploughing releases carbon into the atmosphere ploughing kills animals ploughing erodes topsoil ploughing run-off causes pollution in lakes and rivers do not require investment in expensive equipment and fertilizers Crops which are enriched with vitamins an issue in Asia and Africa where vit. A deficiency is common GM is used to create:

28. Is it safe?

29. GM ubiquitous in the USA for a decade … where are the lawsuits? GM prevalent too in most of Europe (the animals you eat have probably been fed on GM) and parts of Asia … .no evidence of harm Is it safe?

30. Cross-pollination from GM plants to non-GM plants: when it does happen, nothing happens most GM crops are sterile anyway the modified genes are not in the pollen Is it safe?

31. Corporate monopolistic control freaks? Ironically, protests have driven GM finance away from government spending (i.e. accountable to the public). ¾ of acreage on which GM crops are grown are in rich industrial countries – that’s where the profit is. GM manufacturers have made licences to grow their crops freely available in the developing world (i.e. in the power of local farmers and their governments – manufacturers have no control over the end product).

32. Selected influencers for critical-thinking media-cynical sceptics .com