Re: OT: Pinch me ! Scientists prove there is no greenhouse effect. IPCC commits hari kiri (I wish)

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:31:27 +0100, Eeyore wrote:
Richard The Dreaded Libertarian wrote:
Eeyore wrote:
Richard The Dreaded Libertarian wrote:
Eeyore wrote:
Joel Kolstad wrote:
...
There are bigger problems in the world of food, though, such as nations
that will let their people starve rather than accepting genetically
modified corn which, ok, sure, isn't going to be the best possible
tasting corn out there, but is still quite palatable and certainly
safe.

Which nations ?

GM crops are expensive. Farmers in underdeveloped countries are quite
reasonably wary of a crop that provide no seed for next year's crop.
They may not be able to afford it and they'll starve far worse if they
have no seed at all.

Where in the world did you ever hear this?

Corn _is_ seeds. (which, BTW, is where the concept of the "tithe" came
from - save out 10% of your crop for next year's seed.)

The whole point of most GM crops is that the seed is infertile, thus forcing you
to buy seed from the manufacturer every year. Otherwise how would Monsanto etc
make their money ?

Did you really not know that ?

Well, farmers who grow food commercially have to buy a bunch of seed every
year - I know this is true, because my cousin Owen in Mankato, MN sells
seed corn and seed beans to Northrup King.

This is very much modern western practice only.

And that wasn't really the issue. If Monsanto etc are selling seeds that
grow sterile offspring, then their customers should know better and demand
a fertile product. That would be called "self-reliance".

That's why these farmers don't buy Monsanto's seed. They're not in any position to
*demand* Monsanto to do anything.


Yes - I should have just said, "Don't buy crap seed." :-)


Do you recall when Monsanto made LEDs btw ?

Vaguely. Didn't they also make about a billion other products?

Thanks,
Rich

.

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    ... modified corn which, ok, sure, isn't going to be the best possible ... reasonably wary of a crop that provide no seed for next year's crop. ... They may not be able to afford it and they'll starve far worse if they ... *demand* Monsanto to do anything. ...
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  • Re: OT: Pinch me ! Scientists prove there is no greenhouse effect. IPCC commits hari kiri (I wish
    ... modified corn which, ok, sure, isn't going to be the best possible ... Farmers in underdeveloped countries are quite ... They may not be able to afford it and they'll starve far worse if they ... Many of the gm crops cannot be grown from 2nd generation seed. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)