I Will Continue to Continue, to Pretend.... Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : I Will Continue to Continue, to Pretend....

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: Sully- who wrote (6270)	12/2/2004 2:37:21 PM
From: Sully-	of 35834

Science and silence By Madsen on Environment Adam Smith blog The four-year Bright project news.bbc.co.uk UK government study) reported on Monday that GM crops are no more harmful to the environment than ordinary crops. It found that GM crops, used in rotation, did not deplete the soil of weed seeds needed by birds and other wildlife. The report pointed to the benefits of GM crops in such areas as herbicide use. This comes after unfounded scare stories from environmentalist groups have damaged research and development of GM crops, delaying by years their benefits in food production for poorer countries, and in combating blindness in children by vitamin-enriched rice. There are wider effects, too. Scientists used to announce their progress proudly at each breakthrough in new areas, enabling others to take an interest and speculate about future possibilities. The behaviour of unscrupulous environmental groups has changed that, though. Scientists and research businesses now know there are predatory NGOs waiting to fan the next scare in order to boost their profile and their funding. They have also learned that good science and truth are no defence against cleverly manipulated hysteria. The rational response is silence. What is not announced cannot be seized upon and used to generate unjustified alarm. If they do not publicize their successes, there will be no mindless slogans such as 'Frankenstein foods' thrown at them. They will be able to continue their research to develop new products without having to face irrational hostility from self-serving NGOs. That lobby had already seized upon nanotechnology as its next victim, with stories of turning the planet into 'grey goo.' It will be difficult to sustain such campaigns without news of new developments to latch onto. The wise researchers are sensibly keeping quiet. The closed-door strategy has been adopted in response to the lurid misrepresentation of their work by those who gain from doing so. It is a pity for the rest of us because it brings secrecy where there was open discussion. It takes away a little of our pleasure in being able to follow the latest scientific advances and to speculate about them. The strategy has been forced upon them, but it will result in all of us knowing a little bit less about the world we inhabit.

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next