Vote Yes to Prop 37 in California

Yes, genetically modified foods are still misunderstood, their harm is underestimated and at the very least, can we please LABEL THEM? California voters, that means YES to Prop 37!

I mean, they are no improvement to our ever so changing chemical factory-driven food supply and the whole debacle of their existence tends to affect my favorite category, fruits and vegetables.  I mean, people think they are doing the right thing eating corn and soy, cucumbers and papaya.  So, what is the deal these days?  I have written about this many times and in the mean time GMO seed giant Monsanto has developed a few more ways to harm us through GMOs.  Funniest thing ever, according to Jeffrey Smith Seeds of Deception, their European headquarters cafeteria posted a sign that their food is GMO-free.  Hmm, way to stand by your products, guys.

So, the newest controversy is the failure of the Bt corn crop.  It is failing to prevent rootworm that it was designed to resist.  First off, just so everyone understands, the way it resists the pest is the corn contains the actual toxin. What used to be sprayed on is now a part of the actual corn, in every cell, in every bite. So, while it fails, actual spray style pesticide will be needed in regions relying on the Bt corn for sustenance.  But, would they have been better off had they stuck with non modified corn?  Well, based on stories from third world countries, yes.  Crops promising greater yields have frequently failed...when pests become resistant to the Bt, organic growers often encounter resistance to their methods because the bigger better stronger bugs crawl on over to their fields too.  Furthermore, the transfer of seeds and the inadvertent cross breeding just from nature and wind allows genetically modified crops to infiltrate regular crops.  And also those farmers that grew Bt corn can not effectively switch back to traditional seeds because the root worm and pests in the area are bigger stronger and resistant...the same toxin in a different form can be used in natural organic formulas which will eventually become completely ineffective.

ConAgra, doesn't look like a farm to me, should our food really come from here?

A long time ago, Monsanto put forth the argument that less pesticide and herbicide would be used because of the genetic modifications.  Hmm, since they are the ones that produce and sell glyphosate, is that really what they want? Lower sales?  For the first couple of years of using Roundup Ready crops, this may be true.  But then, for convenience and because weeds become resistant, more Roundup is used, which, after all, is great for Monsanto's profits.  Now it seems millions of gallons more per year of Roundup are used.  It is easier to douse an entire area with round up once you know crops are resistant.  In the old days, weed killers had to be used sparingly in order to not kill the desired, cultivated plant.  Now, they can be sprayed aerially with no worries about killing the round up resistant plant.  There have been more workers sickened by glyphosate than ever before and more huge profits to Monsanto.

Monsanto headquarters

So, when you try to do the right thing and you buy corn, corn products (hopefully not high fructose corn syrup), soy, cucumbers, papayas, alfalfa etc., be cautious about the label and buy organic only.  (A 5 digit code beginning with 9 on a produce sticker or buy from a local reputable farmer).  It would be easier if GM foods were required to be labeled clearly and if Prop 37 passes in California on Tuesday, well, they just may be labeled.  The labeling requirement would open up a big market of consumers who prefer not to buy organic foods but want their foods free of genetically modified ingredients.

old fashioned farmers; are they a thing of the past?

So genetically modified crops are a lot like strip clubs, nothing good comes from them so we can start by labeling them, maybe make people be at least 18 or 21 to participate (to breathe near the glyphosate and the Bt pollen, to eat the resulting crops), then carefully zone them down to nothing and maybe, just maybe, get rid of them eventually.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/09/monsanto-corn-idUSL2E8E9ASB20120309