I’m all ears

I’m All Ears

This was a  bit of fun really. Behind it there is a serious message though. We are seven billion people. It is far too many. In order to feed, house and entertain that many we are steadily encroaching into the wilderness and destroying wildlife. We need to reduce our numbers drastically if we wish to preserve any wilderness. In the meantime we have to feed everyone. About a third of the world – two and a half billion – are starving. To feed them we need to make some strides in food production. If we were to make significant strides in producing significantly more food from the same area then I am all in favour. GM might be the answer.

I am a devout environmentalist but I am not a Luddite. I believe it is sensible to go slowly and test out new inventions properly. I think it is important to check the downsides and not play them down for profit. I believe that the corporations and governments have a long sad history of lying which leaves people distrustful. They will do anything for profit (see VW). But I do believe in Science and I am not automatically against innovation.

For me GM has the potential to be transformative. By putting in the right genes we can make plants resistant, increase yield and enable crops to grow in deserts. I am not foolish. I know that all of this has a downside. But if it enables mankind to feed its hungry mouths while preventing its inexorable steamrollering of nature I am all for it.

This is a poem about that!

I’m All Ears

I’m all ears

When it comes to feeding the skinny and lean.

I’m all ears

When it comes to changing the deserts to green.

I’m all ears

When you speak of the green revolution’s dawn

I’m all ears

But what else would you expect from GM corn?

 

Opher 8.10.2015