Page 10 - Summer2018

Caustic Commentary

ing studies, no arguments about the validity of computer cells, congestion of blood vessels in the kidneys, and necrosis
models, no disruption of an economic system nor any adverse of the cells that create sperm (theinternationalreporter.org,
human health or even digestive problems, after five billion January 4, 2017). So opposition to GMOs is not superstition,
acres have been cultivated cumulatively and trillions of not the ravings of befuddled Luddites, but genuine concern
meals consumed.” Daniels sneers at those who buy organic based on careful science.
food and non-fluoride
toothpaste, claiming YES, IMMORAL
that “This is the kind We can think of nothing more
of foolishness that rich immoral than the pharma-
societies can afford ceutical industry targeting
to indulge. But when infants in their lust for sales of
they attempt to inflict psychiatric drugs. An article
their superstitions on published in The New York
the poor and hungry Times (December 10, 2015)
peoples of the planet, documents increasing use of
the cost shifts from af- antipsychotics (such as Risp-
fordable to dangerous erdal and Seroquel) and anti-
and the debate from depressants (such as Prozac)
scientific to moral.” in children under the age of
According to Daniels, two—twenty thousand pre-
in Africa “you won’t scriptions for antipsychotics
find the conversation dominated by anti-GMO protesters.” and eighty-three thousand prescriptions for Prozac in 2014.
Consumers and farmers in Africa “are eager to share in the The report notes that legally, doctors are free to prescribe
life-saving and life-enhancing advances that modern science any medicine for any reason, so there is nothing to stop
alone can bring.” Yet the photo posted with the article shows them from recommending that infants take these drugs—
a Kenyan woman protesting GMO food during a Kenya drugs that can profoundly influence infant brain growth
Biodiversity Coalition event in Nairobi (The Washington and have side effects such as agitation, mania, aggressive or
Post, December 28, 2017). Small farmers in developing hostile behavior, seizures, hallucinations and even sudden
countries are becoming increasingly aware that genetically death. Dr. Martin Drell, former president of the American
engineered crops are no blessing, but lead to more debt, more Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said he was
dependence on world market prices, more toxic chemicals, “hard pressed to figure out what the rationale would be” for
more heartache and more suicide. the prescriptions—but we can. When children are off the
wall with constant crying and temper tantrums, desperate
NO CREDIBLY CONFLICTING STUDIES? parents will agree to almost anything. During the famine
In fact, several studies that Daniels should know about do in years in Europe, parents gave their babies opium to keep
fact point to real damage from GMOs. All three took place in them from crying, and the current practice of medicating
Egypt and compared the effects of a local species of corn with difficult youngsters is similar. These children are starving
the genetically modified (GM) version of that species. Rats too—starving for vitamins, minerals and healthy fats that
fed the GM compared to non-GM corn developed distorted only real foods can give.
and flattened intestinal villi—in one of the studies after only
ninety days. Said the researchers, “Consumption of GM-corn THE SLOW MARCH TO VICTORY
profoundly alters the jejunal histological [microscopic] struc- Progress often comes in small steps. The Fluoride Action
ture.” The other two studies found differences in organ and Network (FAN) has sued the EPA to end the deliberate addi-
body weights, abnormalities and fatty degeneration of liver tion of fluoride to the public water supply, and on February 7,

8 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2018