Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, a bomb drops...

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Environment/Energy Donate to DU
 
GliderGuider Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-25-11 02:02 PM
Original message
Meanwhile, back on the ranch, a bomb drops...
Everyone who hopes GMOs will fix the world's food security problem needs to read this.

One of the nation’s senior scientists alerted the federal government to a newly discovered organism that may have the potential to cause infertility and spontaneous abortion in farm animals, raising significant concerns about human health. Dr. Don Huber, professor emeritus at Purdue University, believes the appearance and prevalence of the unnamed organism may be related to the nation’s over reliance on the weed killer known as Roundup and/or to something about the genetically engineered Roundup-Ready crops. In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the professor called on the federal government to immediately stop deregulation of roundup ready crops, particularly roundup ready alfalfa.

Roundup or Roundup-Ready Crops May Be Causing Animal Miscarriages and Infertility

A team of senior plant and animal scientists have recently brought to my attention the discovery of an electron microscopic pathogen that appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals, and probably human beings. Based on a review of the data, it is widespread, very serious, and is in much higher concentrations in Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans and corn—suggesting a link with the RR gene or more likely the presence of Roundup. This organism appears NEW to science!

This is highly sensitive information that could result in a collapse of US soy and corn export markets and significant disruption of domestic food and feed supplies. On the other hand, this new organism may already be responsible for significant harm (see below). My colleagues and I are therefore moving our investigation forward with speed and discretion, and seek assistance from the USDA and other entities to identify the pathogen’s source, prevalence, implications, and remedies.

We are informing the USDA of our findings at this early stage, specifically due to your pending decision regarding approval of RR alfalfa. Naturally, if either the RR gene or Roundup itself is a promoter or co-factor of this pathogen, then such approval could be a calamity. Based on the current evidence, the only reasonable action at this time would be to delay deregulation at least until sufficient data has exonerated the RR system, if it does.

For the past 40 years, I have been a scientist in the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural and manmade biological threats, including germ warfare and disease outbreaks. Based on this experience, I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen is unique and of a high risk status. In layman’s terms, it should be treated as an emergency.

What is there left to say about Monsanto?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
DCKit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-25-11 02:17 PM
Response to Original message
1. K&R so I can come back and watch the fireworks. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LiberalEsto Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-25-11 02:24 PM
Response to Original message
2. Just think of all the miscarrying women going to prison!
Some state legislature is trying to pass a law requiring a police investigation into every miscarriage.

Just imagine how busy the cops are going to be if the law passes, and if it happens to be a farming state with heavy use of Roundup and GM crops. Why, they'll be too busy to catch crooks or write tickets!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
hatrack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-25-11 03:07 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. And when it comes to the law enforcement sector - boy, talk about jobs growth!!!!
:eyes:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
AC_Mem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-25-11 03:15 PM
Response to Original message
4. They need to stop playing God
Before they destroy humanity.

Annette
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
GliderGuider Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-25-11 03:19 PM
Response to Original message
5. Never mind. It's probably a hoax.
http://cookingupastory.com/purported-letter-from-dr-don-huber-to-secretary-vilsack-possibly-a-fraud

Monsanto is such an easy target that people (including me) are ready to believe just about anything nefarious that's published about them. I'm going to treat this story with gimlet-eyed skepticism unless I see something more authoritative.

Sorry about the panic, everybody.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bananas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-26-11 01:40 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. Update: Not a hoax
Your link has been updated:

Update: 2-25-2011 According to Reuters, Dr. Don Huber’s letter to Secretary Vilsack confirmed by R. Andre Bell, USDA spokesperson, and is currently under review. Office of the Executive Secretariat, M. Young, apologizes for providing incomplete, and thus inaccurate information to this reporter when initially contacted yesterday about the existence of such a letter.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
GliderGuider Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-26-11 02:03 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. Yes, I saw that.
This confirms that they got the letter, but doesn't verify its provenance or contents. The language in the letter was odd enough for a scientist that I'll need further confirmation. I'd like to see a statement from Huber himself.

I'll keep an open but skeptical mind for now. All will be revealed in time, I guess.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
wtmusic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-26-11 10:18 AM
Response to Reply #7
8. K&R for honesty. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Fri May 03rd 2024, 06:37 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Environment/Energy Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC