Here's the latest outragous spin that pro-GMers are desperately circulating re Greenpeace and golden rice. It has given us an excuse for ressurecting information on its originators - the extraordinary Guestchoice Network.
Biotech Activists wrote:
Biotech Activists (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) Posted: 02/12/2001 By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ============================================================
Which Way Is The Wind Blowing?http://www.guestchoice.com/daily.htm#0212
Greenpeace issued a press release on Friday blasting genetically improved rice that could save thousands of children from blindness and death, a.k.a. "Golden Rice." In response, the creator of the rice took Greenpeace to task for its opposition (http://agbioview.listbot.com/cgi-bin/subscriber?Act=view_message&list_id=agbioview&msg_num=979&start_num=)
By Saturday, Greenpeace sensed a public backlash and begrudgingly backed down. It's just another example of how supposedly dedicated activists are really only interested in an issue if they can use it to garner public support for fundraising. Take away the money and see how fast their position changes.
This is of course complete garbage, not least as Potrykus himself has acknowledged the reasonable base to Greenpeace's critique.
So how come the extraordinary distortion worthy even of the Daily Telegraph or Connor in the Independent?
Well, Guestchoice's website is well worth a visit for anyone who'd like an unintentionally comic take on the GM debate.
You'll find that among it's "nanny sites of the day" in the Guestchoice spotlight is Christain Aid's report on the potential impact of GE seeds on the Third World: "Selling Suicide".
Here's the Guestchoice.com take on Christian Aid's report:
"Selling Suicide - Hell Bent on Terror Tactics
Critics of genetically engineered (GE) foods aren't shy about using exaggerated rhetoric. But the far-left leaning Christian-Aid group flat-out lies about GE foods, calling their consumption 'suicide'. This is 'through-the-looking-glass' culture smog, where future-fearing radicals hide behind a religious facade to more easily malign farmers, scientists, food companies, and even PR people who deal with GE foods."
Given that Christian Aid are viewed as "far-left leaning" liars, it's no surprise that Peter Rosset's 'Food First' are simply dismissed as "Leninist".
Among other sites spotlighted by guestchoice.com:
"The Five-Year Freeze Campaign - Frosted Flakes
A 'who's who' of multinational organic marketers, food shops and activist groups, headed by all-organic Iceland Foodsà Malcolm Warner[sic].... The campaign' s 'five year' rhetoric is a transparent ruse by Iceland to strip its competitors' grocery shelves. "
"Women Say No to GMOs" are "Organic Marketers" who "Skirt Science"
According to Guestchoice's genetic engineering section headed "Salem 2000", this is a "Breakthrough Technology Being Burned By Junk Science":
"Just as the 'witches' of old Salem were accused, tried and executed without solid evidence, some of todayÃs breakthrough scientific advances such as genetically engineered (GE) food are being shunned by an increasingly frightened public.
Using half-truths and 'junk science', groups like Greenpeace can whip up public hysteria over new technology before peer-reviewed oversight and scientific consensus can set the record straight. But by then, the die has been cast, the public alarmed, the 'witches' of scientific progress burned at the stake." [http://www.guestchoice.com/issuepage_ge.htm]
Then of course there are the inevitable attacks on organic farming. Guestchoice have a whole page of quotes on Organic and E. Coli including such gems as:
'Most especially at risk are organic products because they could be fertilized with manure.' - Virlie Walker, a spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
'Personally, if I knew something was grown with conventional chemical fertilizers, I would feel it was extra safe.' - Dean Cliver, Professor of food safety at the University of California,Davis
Organic growers, however, get off lightly in comparison with the French:
"Why are the French Upset by U.S. Genetically Modified Food Imports?
17% Fear genetically modified foods lack that stinky je ne sais quoi.
22% Don't like the fact that French scientists didn't think of it first.
18% Concerned that new U.S. imports won't compare with Jerry Lewis.
19% Don't like capitalist bastards selling them stuff.
24% Not sure if GM produce will taste right with snails, pigeons and frog legs."
http://www.guestchoice.com/info_old_french.htm