NOTE: Harvard's Calestous Juma has listed 20 "lessons" (delivered starting 16 July via his Twitter feed http://twitter.com/#!/Calestous) that he says he's drawn from his long involvement in the GMO debate. Juma directs the Agricultural Innovation in Africa Project for the Gates Foundation.
A scientist responded with his own lessons from the GM debate, which consist of modified versions of Juma's tweets. We've published highlights below. Juma's original tweet is followed by the scientist's response, with the scientist's modifications in capitals.
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A scientist's lessons from the GMO debate
published by GMWatch
20 January 2013
Juma: #GMO debate: People do not resist change; they resist loss.
Scientist: #GMO debate: People do not resist change; they resist EXPLOITATION.
Juma: #GMO debates are not usually about actual risks; they're are about perception of risks.
Scientist: #GMO debates are not usually about actual BENEFITS; they're are about PROMISE of BENEFIT.
Juma: #GMO debate: Scratch thin layer of scientific objection and you find thick bundle of socio-economic interest.
Scientist: #GMO debate: Scratch thin layer of scientific SUPPORT and you find thick bundle of ECONOMIC interest.
Juma: #GMO debate: Public perceptions are often carefully constructed to add an element of outrage, whether true or false.
Scientist: #GMO debate: Public perceptions are often MANIPULATED BY MARKETING FIRMS to add an element of outrage, whether true or false.
Juma: #GMO debate: Experts are always outnumbered by laypersons in any society so knowledge often takes a back seat.
Scientist: #GMO debate: SCIENTISTS are always outnumbered by experts PAID FOR BY CORPORATE-POLITICAL INTERESTS in any society so knowledge often takes a back seat.
Juma: #GMO debate: When science clashes with belief systems, the latter get entrenched rather than changed.
Scientist: #GMO debate: When science clashes with belief systems (SUCH AS ECONOMIC IDEOLOGY), the latter get entrenched rather than changed.
Juma: #GMO debate: The duration of a technological controversy is about 40 years, most of it away from public view.
Scientist: #GMO debate: The duration of a technological controversy is about 40 years, most of it away from public PERCEPTION BUT NOT AWAY FROM CAUSING HARM TO THE PUBLIC.
Juma: #GMO debate: There are no dumb arguments against new products and ideas, only loud ones.
Scientist: #GMO debate: There are no dumb arguments FOR PARTICULAR products and ideas, only VESTED ones.
Juma: #GMO debate: Most spokespeople are self-appointed and often unaffected by the outcomes of the debate.
Scientist: #GMO debate: Most spokespeople IN SUPPORT are self-appointed and often VESTED IN the outcomes of the debate.
Juma: #GMO debate: The preferred method is to attack individuals if there is a chance, as a proxy to debating the issue.
Scientist: #GMO debate: The preferred method is to attack individuals if there is a chance, as a proxy to debating the issue - COULDN'T HAVE DESCRIBED THE CORPORATE/POLITICAL TACTICS BETTER MYSELF.
Juma: #GMO debate: More energy is spent fighting new solutions than solving the original problem.
Scientist: #GMO debate: More energy is spent SELLING new solutions than solving the original problem.
Juma: #GMO debate: Comparison with other outlawed products or demonization is a shortcut to prohibition without trial.
Scientist: #GMO debate: Comparison with other FAILING TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPLY BENEFIT IS A WAY TO AVOID CONDUCTING A PROPER COMPARATIVE trial.
Juma: #GMO debate: Guilt by association is the commonest verdict against new products.
Scientist: #GMO debate: Guilt by ACCUSATION is the commonest verdict against SKEPTICS.
Juma: #GMO debate: Products speak louder than words.
Scientist: #GMO debate: ECONOMIC INTERESTS speak louder than SAFETY.
Juma: #GMO debate: In US products are considered safe until proven risky.
Scientist: #GMO debate: In US products are considered safe until proven HARMFUL, WHICH HAPPENS ALL TOO FREQUENTLY.
Juma: #GMO debate: In EU products are considered risky until proven safe.
Scientist: #GMO debate: In EU products are considered risky until proven safe, UNLESS BULLIED BY THE US.
Juma: #GMO debate: In much of Africa products are considered risky even if they don't exist.
Scientist: #GMO debate: In much of Africa products are considered risky BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SOLD OR GIVEN HARMFUL PRODUCTS IN THE PAST.
Juma: #GMO debate: Consumers and users make the ultimate decision, which presupposes existence of products not words.
Scientist: #GMO debate: CORPORATIONS BACKED BY POWERFUL GOVERNMENTS make the ultimate decision, which presupposes existence of products not FAIR MARKETS OR PROPER REGULATION.