What is a GMO?

A movement in the U.S. that has started to gain ground is the one against GMOs. What is a GMO? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism and is "a plant or animal that has been genetically altered by scientists to improve its ability to grow in non-native environments, resist pests, tolerate extreme weather conditions, produce more food (like milk in cows), or show other desired traits. In other words, a GMO is a new version of a food plant or animal created by scientists through genetic engineering (GE) techniques." (www.strongertogether.coop). 

What's the big deal? First off, we're no longer eating nature made foods, instead its something that was created by a scientist in a lab. Think of the example of plants breeding with fish, not possible in nature, but actually happening in labs to help grow plants cheaper and faster. Secondly, there's possibilities that these GMOs could have long term negative health effects, like creating new food allergens that didn't exist in previous generations or even possibly increasing the chances of forming cancerous cells in our bodies.

So why isn't this movement more mainstream? Because of a company called Monsanto. Here's a quick summary about Monsanto from steveedwardsfitness.com:

"Back in the 70s our government in its infinite wisdom allowed companies to patent living things that had been genetically modified. This meant that companies like Monsanto could patent the plant seeds they were tampering with. Alas, if only our politicians had remembered their elementary school biology they may have given pause.

Plants, if you didn’t sleep through this chapter of class like everyone in Washington apparently did, breed by dispersion; their seeds fly through the air looking for a place to prosper. This means that if you genetically modify a plant and don’t keep it inside it will eventually wind up sowing its seed with something natural.

The lawyers at Monsanto, who didn’t sleep through any class except ethics, apparently, saw this as one giant business opportunity. Because as soon as their patented corn would mingle with the neighbor’s natural corn they’d find a patent infringement get to work.

Since lawyers for multi-billion dollar corporations never lose to farmers, even those who’ve done nothing but farm the way their fathers did, and pretty soon Monsanto was forcing these farmers either out of business or to buy their genetically altered seeds. The latter makes them, essentially, indentured servants (another term from elementary school if you remember your Civil War classes) because they are forced to buy Monsanto’s seeds at whatever price they ask. Last year (you know, the one with the world recession that we’re still in), Monsanto raised their corn seeds by 25% and their soy by 28%. I’m sure their farmers are livin’ large."

The first crops to be genetically modified were corn, soybeans, and cotton. Have you read the ingredients of the most common processed food on our grocery store shelves these days? Corn and soy. And Monsanto has fought for these products NOT to be labeled as GMO, so we the consumer, have no idea what we're getting or eating.

So basically Monsanto has prevented the possible negative health affects GMOs can cause us from reaching the masses. Currently they have influenced our government to try to influence the rest of the world to do the same. And they have also had success censoring anything negative about them out there on the internet. For example, the below picture was posted on facebook by a group called the Raw Brahs:

The post was removed by facebook soon after being posted. People have actually had their accounts suspended by facebook for posting negative pictures, articles, or videos about Monsanto. There's a reason they don't want the negative publicity out there, and it's most likely because GMOs are bad for you. There's also been an article released recently how Monsanto will not give their own executives GMOs to eat in their cafeteria. 

So what can you do about it? First off, buy organic. Anything with a USDA Organic seal means that it cannot have any sort of GMO involved. A lot of people think organic = expensive, but just be smart when you shop. Buy in season produce, and try to find nearby farmer's markets. Also, just think about how the money you put into organic food now may save you from health costs caused by GMOs later in life. The #2 thing to do is gain more knowledge about the subject. The internet has plenty of articles, and there are many books and documentaries (Food, Inc) out there that can inform you about GMOs and what you can do. Finally, check out http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/, which will tell you what to buy and what not to buy.

And hopefully my blog doesn't get shut down after this post...if so the conspiracies are true :)