Re: Terminator Seeds.....Voices can be heard! (long!)

It is good to see some response here  and would like to ask you several
questions...
Your correct that the promise offered here is tailored seed ,returning higher
yeilds to areas previously unfavorable or marginal to those crops via gentic
alteration..Who could disagree with that premise?(lest readers think that I am a
wacko,opposed to any and all Bio-AG let me say NAY not so)However the very nature
of this particular technology should justify its use, ONLY,  if PROVEN fail safe
in practical crop application......It makes one almost prefere another tact they
are considering ,something along the lines of a 'timed release' or perhaps a
'remote rendered'method which would terminate the plant prior to its setting
viable seed..Sounds like science fiction?perhaps..But trust me they are studying
and considering all manner of possibilities to protect their investment and future
colossal profits.Am I opposed to profits NOPE.Providing all is done in a
responsible manner.

But it still remains unanswered as to what will happen when cross pollination
occurs not necessarily with "wild"plants but with other 'non-Term.Tech.seed 'crops
of the same or pollen compatible families.
You state that this fear is "unfounded"..Is that enough for safety?
OR can you offer test results that I am not familiar with that would verify long
term safety..

If it is worth while it seems it would be worth the time to test these seeds to
not only conclusively determine its true safety but assuming it to be found safe
it would go a long way to winning the publics confidence and trust.

It it a subject they are very sensitive to.Much study of the acceptance of
Bio-tech.has been done ,they know which countries(right down to gender,race,
religion,educational level,monetary status,etc.)are the most and the least
resistant to acceptance.Since they know people are prone to fear what they cannot
see, more than what they can, it is a sensitive subject,however their own P.R.
advisors reccomend open and full disclosure to ,educate the public.But thus far
they have not chosen to follow their advise ,instead refusing to Label the many
genetically altered food products already on the shelf  and now resisting offering
any evidence to thwart the understandable confusion and fear this Terminator
Tech.has generated.Raises question to say the least as to why they have ignored
their own advisors if ALL is well .

Seed industry insiders are now saying, when it all falls out there will proably be
no more than 4-5 industrial seed providers globally.(their words not mine)..And
they all want to utilize this or similiar technologies..With this perspective,is
the fact that concerns are "unfounded"enough for you.?Not for me anyway..If we are
going to lend ourselves over to limited diversity(which is critically limited
now)an to a scant 4-5 seed sources world wide I want prove positive that we're
doing the right thing for the worlds peoples and the planet.(OH, and  dont get too
smug that they wont be doing this with dometistic home seed because US Government
just gave the go ahead to develope a full genetic profile for
tomatoes,potatoes,and the the grain
crops.........http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/1999/01/19/national0100EST0416.DTL

This technology was created under the pretext of "feeding"those very third world
countries you spoke of..You acknownledge that they most probably will become
poorer due to the inability to afford these seeds.Kind of a contradition in terms
is it not..?Visit some of these press release sites and then get back to use with
your thoughts.

http://www.webpage.com:80/hindu/daily/990123/02/0223000d.htm

Must we do something simply because we Can.??
Connie Hoy


Meum71@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 1/27/99 9:27:57 PM Central Standard Time,
> Bazillions@aol.com writes:
>
> I have mixed feelings about this issue.
> There is a lot of good this technology will do, but also a lot of harm.
> The harm will come to those that cannot afford the new seeds that produce
> better crops, those that are  poor will get poorer.
>
> the fear that this will leak out into the "wild" is of course unfounded so
> that is not an issue.
>  the third world countries do not like this plain and I can understand why,
> they will not be able to afford to pay for the seed of newer higher yielding
> crops.
> some we will have many grain crops that will be able to grow in salinated
> soils and those plants will be "injected" with the terminator genes. High tech
> plant engineering is not cheep so that is why the seed producers have worked
> hard to develop this and the get it patented and licensed.
>
> will it be good for the farmer. Not in the short run, but as more plant
> breeding takes place because those that are willing to pay the high cost of
> doing the work will find that it will pay off if they can keep their product
> from being stolen.
>
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