GMO - GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM

GMO - genetically modified organism is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal.  The foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans.

Because this involves the transfer of genes.  GMOs are also known as "transgenic"organisms.  This process may be called either Genetic Engineering (GE) or Genetic Modification (GM); they are one and the same.

http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education

How Is Genetic Engineering Done?

Because living organisms have natural barriers to protect themselves against the introduction of DNA from a different species, genetic engineers must force the DNA from one organism into another. Their methods include:

·        Using viruses or bacteria to “infect” animal or plant cells with the new DNA.

·        Coating DNA onto tiny metal pellets, and firing it with a special gun into the cells.

·        Injecting the new DNA into fertilized eggs with a very fine needle.

·        Using electric shocks to create holes in the membrane covering sperm, and then forcing the new DNA into the sperm through these holes.

But haven’t growers been grafting trees, breeding animals, and hybridizing seeds for years?

Genetic engineering is completely different from traditional breeding and carries unique risks.

Ø In traditional breeding it is possible to mate a pig with another pig to get a new variety, but is not possible to mate a pig with a potato or a mouse. Even when species that may seem to be closely related do succeed in breeding, the offspring are usually infertile—a horse, for example, can mate with a donkey, but the offspring (a mule) is sterile.

Ø With genetic engineering, scientists can breach species barriers set up by nature. For example, they have spliced fish genes into tomatoes. The results are plants (or animals) with traits that would be virtually impossible to obtain with natural processes, such as crossbreeding or grafting.

http://responsibletechnology.org/the-ge-process/

IN YOUR FOOD!  (may differ in different countries)

They were first introduced into the food supply around the mid 1990’s.  GMO’s are now in vast majority of processed foods around the world.

Although there have been attempts to increase nutritional benefits or productivity, the two main traits that have been added to date are:

·        Herbicide tolerance and

·        The ability of the plant to produce its own pesticide

These results have no health benefits, only economic benefit.

The Big Four: 

Soy, maize, cotton and rapeseed account for almost all commercial GMO production.  GM plants are grown mainly in North and South America, but increasingly also in India, China and South Africa.

http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/agri_biotechnology/gmo_planting/

What combinations have been tried?

It is now possible for plants to be engineered with genes taken from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. Scientists have worked on some interesting combinations:

·        Spider genes were inserted into goat DNA, in hopes that the goat milk would contain spider web protein for use in bulletproof vests.

·        Cow genes turned pigskins into cowhides.

·        Jellyfish genes lit up pigs’ noses in the dark.

·        Arctic fish genes gave tomatoes and strawberries tolerance to frost.

Field trials have included:

·        Corn engineered with human genes (Dow)

·        Sugarcane engineered with human genes (Hawaii Agriculture Research Center)

·        Corn engineered with jellyfish genes (Stanford University)

·        Tobacco engineered with lettuce genes (University of Hawaii)

·        Rice engineered with human genes (Applied Phytologics)

·        Corn engineered with hepatitis virus genes (Prodigene)

·        Potatoes that glowed in the dark when they needed watering.

·        Human genes were inserted into corn to produce spermicide.

http://responsibletechnology.org/the-ge-process/

Herbicide tolerance lets the farmers spray weed-killer directly on the crop without killing it.

Why should we care?

·        Did you know that over 70% of foods in your grocery store contain Genetically Modified (GM) ingredients?

·        The most common foods that are genetically modified, or engineered,” include corn, soy, canola, sugar beet, and cottonseed oil, which can be found as ingredients in almost all non-organic packaged foods, and even in the food in most restaurants.

·        Additionally, the vast majority of GM corn and soybeans are grown to feed livestock—meaning the GMOs are incorporated into animal tissue and ingested at a much higher rate by humans than if we ate the corn or soybeans directly.

·        So, unless you eat organic all the time, without food labelling, you will inevitably participate in the great Genetic Modification experiment being perpetuated on us all, whether we like it or not.

http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/why-label-genetically-modified-foods

·        GMOs are banned in 27 and labelled in 61 countries. There must be a reason for this.

·        GMOs have been recently linked to cancer, leukaemia, autism, obesity, sterility and birth defects, and a ton of other health issues.

Do your research online.

·        Furthermore, GMOs have a very negative effect on the environment. The herbicides used by Monsanto and other similar companies to grow these crops, sometimes run off into neighbouring farms, streams and populated areas, which is poisoning our environment and us as well. They have been also linked to the recent bee colony collapse.

http://organics.org/what-is-gmo-monsanto-and-why-you-should-care/

What can I do?

·         Avoid any products that contain GMOs.

·        Do your research and shop smart

·        Buy organic food that’s grown closest to you.

Spread and share the information...

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ROUNDUP and GLYPHOSATE

Being a keen gardener myself, this is a worrying issue not only for myself but for so many out there.  (More on GMO to follow later)

Roundup is a broad spectrum systemic herbicide-(is a pesticide used to kill unwanted plants) which mean, it kills most plants that it come in contact with.  Roundup is also the most widely used herbicide in the world.  Roundup is the brand-name for this herbicide produced by Monsanto.  Its active ingredient ‘glyphosate’ was patented in the 1970s and first brought into the market in 1974.

Glyphosate is the active herbicidal ingredient in Roundup.  Many genetically modified food crops, such as corn and soybean, have been scientifically designed to be resistant to glyphosate.

Current glyphosate-resistant crops include soy, maize (corn), canola, alfalfa, sugar beets, and cotton, with wheat still under development.

In 2015, 89% of corn, 94% of soybeans, and 89% of cotton produced in the US were genetically modified to be herbicide-tolerant. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyphosate#Genetically_modified_crops

Farmers spray Roundup on their fields and kill all the weeds, leaving only the food crop standing.  This greatly simplifies weed control, but it also means the food crops are literally covered with Roundup.  And so is any food you eat that’s made from these crops, like corn chips, bread, cereals, biscuits and other packaged food. 

Roundup Ready crops are crops genetically modified (GM) to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup. 

Monsanto also produces seeds which grow into plants genetically engineered (GE) to be tolerant to glyphosate. The genes contained in these seeds are patented. Such crops allow farmers to use glyphosate as a postemergence herbicide against most broadleaf and cereal weeds. Soy was the first glyphosate-resistant crop. 

In 2003 Monsanto patented the use of glyphosate as an antibiotic.

In South Africa Roundup is manufactured by ‘Efekto’- ® Registered trademark of Monsanto Company

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Plastic Bag Pollution

(Part 1) Indigenous Native American Prophecy (Elders Speak part 1)

Great Spirit - Native American Prayer for Mother Earth

WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED

On the surface ‘Recycling’ seems clear and simple, however as you go deeper into the process you  realise that things can get a bit tricky, when you discover that some glass, paper and lots of plastic can’t be recycled.  Actually throwing out items into the recycling bin that you were convinced can be recycled, but actually can’t be, can worsen the environment…what a downer!

However since most people are aware of the importance of recycling and the benefits it can provide to the environment, please continue!

Also note: Recycling regulations vary depending on where you live and what kind of facilities are in your community. 

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20+ THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT THROW IN THE COMPOST HEAP

1. Bread – In this category, cakes and pastas have been included. All forms of residue left behind are a magnetized attraction for unwanted pests.

2. Cooking oil – It is perceived as food by pests. Also its chemical content can upset the balance of nutrients in the compost.

3. Dairy products – Like bread or grain products, these products are also a favoured food source for pests and can also attract wildlife or flies..

4. Diseased plants – These carry fungus and harmful bacteria which can be transferred to the organic nutrients of the compost heap.

5. Plants that challenge and invade – Otherwise known as weeds, these plants won’t decompose but grow instead.

6. Faeces – The bacterial content from both human and carnivorous animals, mainly to do with consumed meat, is hazardous which might contain pathogens.

7. Meat scraps – Apart from the bacterial hazard, contents such as blood, bones and fleshy residues are also attractive to pests.

8. Heavily coated paper – These are broadly categorized to include things such as greeting cards, magazines and writing pads. Apart from its chemical content, its high foil content is non-compostable.

9. Coated or Printed paper – One simple trick to use as a sticky reminder is to simply never print. There is no longer a need to do this and its impact on the environment remains negative.

10. Rice – In two parts, rice is unsuitable for the compost heap. Raw rice is attractive to pests, while cooked rice is fertile ground for bacteria, potentially harmful to the compost’s nutrients.

11. Sawdust – It is not feasible to identify whether wood has been treated with chemicals and other harmful ingredients or not. It is better not to toss sawdust into the compost heap at all.

12. Used personal items – All used personal items such as tampons and diapers are soiled with human fluids and are health hazards.

13. Tea and Coffee bags – Tea and coffee should only be added in compose pile if they are bag less. Some bags contain synthetic fibres that do not break down in a compost pile.

14. Citrus Peels, onions and garlic scraps – They should be avoided as they might scare of useful bacteria and insects or kill worms and other organisms..

15. Coal ash – It may contain so much sulphur that it may make soil excessively acidic.

16. Large branches – They take long time to break down. It is better to cut them down into smaller pieces. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will break down.

17. Synthetic Fertilizer – Synthetic fertilizer may upset the balance of nutrients in the soil and may increase.

18. Dead animals – They should better be buried underground.

19. Inorganic materials, such as polyester, plastic, acrylic, rubber etc. – Plastic products take much longer to compost. So, it’s better to keep them off your compost bins.

20. Manure from sick animals – Manure is a great product to be used in compost pile. But this should be used only is you are sure that it hasn’t come from sick animals or from animals taking antibiotics.

21. Walnuts – They contain jug lone, a natural aromatic compound considered toxic to plant life.

22. Pretty much anything that is poisonous – This should be a case of stating the obvious. Proactive measures entail checking product labels.

23. Not even torn or shredded bits of clothing – Even the tiniest bits of fiber can contain harmful substances and invariably do contain chemicals. Also, there is the question of dye from the clothing material’s colorants.

By now you may have come to realize that even the best intentions have their consequences.

Source:  http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/things-that-you-should-never-put-in-compost-heap.php

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