Dear Mr Thornton,
It is people like Jose Bove that bring attention to the real causes of
starvation in the world, namely the huge corporations that run this planet.
We should be thankful that there are people like him courageous enough to stand
up for the rights of people everywhere. The thought of using genetically
modified foods to feed the starving millions is disgraceful.
Nobody can know for sure if genetically modified foods are safe for human
consumption. Nor can we know for sure that they are dangerous. To
use those who are already suffering, such as people in the third world or in war
torn countries, as guinea pigs for these experimental foodstuffs is despicable
and cruel.
Maria Brennan 8 May 2002
iGreen comment
"It is sad that someone like Maria can hold such ideas, but we should
not be unduly downhearted. At least she surfed onto iGreens and read a
little bit of sense. It will have made a change from the usual conspiracy
theories that the anti-globalisation brigade feed her. It
may take time to convert her, but I’m an optimist. “There
is more joy in heaven for one sinner that repenteth …”.
Let’s just say it one more time. For the vast majority of
human history nearly everyone starved to death, or died of hunger related
diseases, and the population remained low. Then in those places where
rulers started respecting private property, instead of just stealing any surplus
from the peasants, the farmers started producing more. Population grew and
hunger decreased. The process raced on in capitalist countries, so
that hunger is now completely abolished. It was a bit slower in communist
ones and has remained slow in places like Africa which have not had good
government (i.e. one that does not steal from the people by expropriation or
extortionate tax) for any length of time.
The problems in Africa all have their origin in bad or unwise government
activity. We can’t do much about the local despots but we
can do something about EU barriers to trade, or the dumping of surplus food,
which discourage farmers from investing.
They are problems of government, not of the multinational companies. It is
governments, at the instigation of Maria and her friends, that ban GM food, or
occasionally force taxpayers to subsidise them. Companies, whether
multinational or not, can neither ban anything nor force anyone to eat anything.
Capitalism did not cause starvation. It prevented it. By
opposing capitalism, Maria and her friends are increasing world hunger. She
may be either foolish or evil but I suspect the former. Jose Bove is
a populist politician fighting for the short-term interests of a small group of
French farmers, who does not care who he harms in the process. He is not
foolish. He is evil.
Finally, I have a question for Maria. iGreens would certainly be
interested to hear of any example of multinational companies feeding GM food to
people in the third world before it had been fully tested in the first. You
may possibly find the Chinese government or, perhaps some other public body
doing this, but I’d be amazed if you found a multinational. If
you can find one we’ll be delighted to publicise it.
Jim Thornton 12 May 2002
