A view of the dark side:
"Whoever controls the genes, controls the 21st century"
biz.yahoo.com
Wednesday December 6, 10:56 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Jeremy Rifkin Maps Out the Future of the Genetics and e-Commerce Revolution at eHealthcareWorld New York
NEW YORK--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 6, 2000--Yesterday at eHealthcareWorld, industry visionary Jeremy Rifkin painted the future of genomic science and its convergence with the technology and economic revolution.
Rifkin, the author of 15 books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society and the environment, was the keynote speaker on day-two of the Internet-healthcare industry's leading conference at the Javits Center.
During his remarks, Rifkin detailed how breakthroughs in the genetic fields will soon be changing parent/child relationships, the legal system and the workplace. ``Whoever controls the genes, controls the 21st century,'' said Rifkin.
Rifkin provided the audience, over 1,000 business executives, with his hypothesis on how the global corporate arena would react and adapt to genetic engineering scenarios. While he suggested that genetic engineering is ethically and morally unappealing to most business leaders, many have indicated to him that they would be forced to experiment with genetics screening of job applicants if the practice became an industry norm.
``It's going to be essential for all industries to understand the question of the ownership of genes. I will predict that genetic rights will be the great political movement in the 21st century.''
Rifkin also elaborated on a theme expressed in his newest book, The Age of Access - how the ``genetic revolution'' is amalgamating with 21st-century e-commerce. He told the audience that they are ``at the cusp of a revolution.''
``Fifty years from now the market economy will be replaced - we are moving from profit-exchange in markets to access relationships and networks. It's one of the great economical changes in history.''
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I know, I know. Not everyone agrees with or likes to hear Jeremy Rifkin's trenchant criticisms of American business, culture, and our genetic future. So if you want to wallow in ignorance while munching tacos cooked with corn laced with the latest herbicide from Monsanto, don't buy his latest book, "The BioCentury: Harnessing the Gene and Remaking the World."
biotechcentury.org
But those of you with an intellectual curiosity that reaches beyond your wallet can read many provocative Rifkin articles and essays, such as "Cradle to Grave, You're a Customer First," for free right here --
biotechcentury.org |
