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What are GMOs and Why GMO?

How GMOs Affect The Environment

How to Solve the Problem of GMO Foods

So what is the problem with GMOs?

GMOs can cause a number of negative effects for ecosystems, the survival of natural plants and even ourselves. It all starts with one crop of GMOs.

Here is an example...

1. Corn is genetically altered from

its original genetic composition

2. Humans eat GMO corn which can cause conditions such as, precancerous cell growth, problems with organs (pancreas and liver) and even food allergies.

3. Corn is modified to kill pests that eat the pollen of the corn

4. Bees eat corn pollen and start to die off

5. Spiders have trouble finding food and begin to die off because the bee population is decreasing

6. Rabbits don't get enough protein in their diet because the spider population decreases

7. Due to decrease in the bee population, pollination is also affected. Lack of pollination causes food supply to be diminish.

As you can see, ecosystems everywhere are affected greatly by GMOs.

Results

The End Game

In order to make the bigger change towards all of us. We have to stand up against these companies. If we all support this growing movement, one day a law such as Proposition 37 will pass. Companies will have to stop making GMOs for us. If countries around the world such as France, England and even China are promoting a GMO free life, why can't the rest of the world join the movement?

Solutions: Phase 2

Solutions: Phase 1

Proposition 37

Awareness

Right now, most people are in the dark about the problem of GMO foods and continue to go through their grocery shopping without any idea.

Awareness is the answer. The more we know about GMO foods, the more people can support the movement. We need to support local grown and organic and keep our grocery stores and our bodies free of genetically modified foods.

We as Canadians import a majority of our food from the U.S.A. Laws that are made to protect us from corporations are important if we want to preserve the quality of our food. However, awareness can't do anything if corporations don't listen. We need to be aware of laws like Proposition 37. Proposition 37 is a law in the U.S.A. that requires companies to label if foods are genetically modified or not. We as Canadians have to organize with our government officials to pass a law like Proposition 37. The more we know the less we buy of GMO foods and thereby forcing companies to stop producing these unnatural foods.

Effects on the Environment

Cross Breeding and Competition

As well as the affects of GMO corn on the animals and people in an ecosystem, it also proves to have an affect on the native plants in the ecosystem. The seeds of GMO crops tend to spread into nature. These seeds are modified to have an increased fitness advantage and will be a sure win if they compete with natural plants. This will make it extremely hard to native plants to survive therefore the GMOs are destroying native species and replacing them with a Genetically Modified (GM) ones.

Unfortunately, this isn't the only way they deteriorate native species. GMO plants can actually cross breed or out cross. Out crossing of genes of GMOs is possible when compatible hybridization partners are found nearby. The most common way of out-crossing is the dispersal of pollen to compatible species of plants. These plants gain the same genes the GMO had and become a GMO.

What are GMOs ? and Why GMO?

Effects on Us

What are GMOs?

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic makeup has been modified from its original state to obtain preferred characteristics. They are spawned from within a laboratory using gene-splicing biotechnology. This new science involves adding or removing genes and allows DNA from one organism to be injected into another organism creating a hybrid.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (an international agreement on biosafety) declares that a GMO is “any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.” GMOs can be anywhere from bacteria and plants to fish and mammals.

As humans, we are also apart of the environment. We affect and are effected by GMOs just like other organisms. When GMO foods are ingested by humans, they can affect us in negative ways. There aren't many studies done on the health affects GMOs but here is what we know.

When a new gene is transferred to a plant, there can be possibilities of unforeseen "side effects". This has to do with the fact that a new gene can interact with existing genes. For example, a new gene could deactivate an existing gene, causing shifts in a plant’s metabolism (chemical reactions involved in maintaining the living state of the cells and the organism). In certain cases, this kind of change could impact human health.

Allergies for example can occur when GMO corn, produces a substance that protects it against pests. Theoretically, the new protein responsible for this trait that is ingested, could trigger allergies. This occurs because the protein added was never recognized before by our cells.

Why Companies Use GMO?

How GMO Foods Work

If GMOs are a work of science and technology, why would companies who are promoting healthy eating use these dangerous methods to achieve something that is created better naturally?

GMOs can be used in biomedical research, production of pharmaceutical and experimental medicines as well as agriculture purposes. They are able to change the colour, DNA make up and look of an organism by adding or taking away different genes of the organism.

GMO foods are generated to possess desirable traits, like increased shelf life, improved nutritional value and resistance to pests, herbicides, or severe environmental conditions for the organism. All these features are beneficial towards the food producers because they can produce more food annually, thus getting profit faster.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are now no longer a distant science-fiction idea. Big food companies are manufacturing and breeding organisms with GMO plants to create a mass industry of modified foods. Even though some companies make it look as if GMOs are perfectly fine and safe, such as Monsanto. they actually have horrifying effects on humans and the environment.

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