A few thoughts on GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)

First there's this...

Neil deGrasse Tyson Hammers 'Fear Factor' of GMO's: 'I Don't Have a Problem' with them, 'So Chill Out' (Click here to read more)

July 31, 2014 By Allen Clifton Leave a Comment
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On a video that appears to have been shot on someone's phone, Tyson said:

    "I'm amazed how much rejection genetically modified foods are receiving from the public.  It smacks of the fear factor that exists at every new emergent science, where people don't fully understand it or don't fully know or embrace its consequences, and so therefore reject it."

    "There are no wild, seedless watermelons. There's no wild cows.  There's no long-stemmed roses growing in the wild - although we don't eat roses.  You list all the fruit, and all the vegetables, and ask yourself, is there a wild counterpart to this? If there is, it's not as large, it's not as sweet, it's not as juicy, and it has way more seeds in it."

    "We are creating and modifying the biology of the world to serve our needs.  I don't have a problem with that, because we've been doing that for tens of thousands of years. So chill out."

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Now, I have a lot of respect for Neil deGrasse Tyson and his intellect, but I'm afraid, on this issue, he's missing some of the forest for the trees. One of the larger issues, for me, is the fact that huge companies are being allowed to patent the seeds for the very foundation of our existence - putting into the hands of a very small group of people over whom we have no control ownership of our very food supply. Think of the power they would have in bilking us out of our very last penny just for our survival. Or their ability to control governments. It is terrifying.
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Supreme Court hands Monsanto victory over farmers on GMO seed patents, ability to sue (Click here to read more)

Published time: January 13, 2014 21:51
Edited time: January 15, 2014 10:42

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Reuters / Darren Hauck

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​The US Supreme Court upheld biotech giant Monsanto’s claims on genetically-engineered seed patents and the company’s ability to sue farmers whose fields are inadvertently contaminated with Monsanto materials.
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The high court left intact Monday a federal appeals court decision that threw out a 2011 lawsuit from the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association and over 80 other plaintiffs against Monsanto that sought to challenge the agrochemical company’s aggressive claims on patents of genetically-modified seeds. The suit also aimed to curb Monsanto from suing anyone whose field is contaminated by such seeds.
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