I just read an article titled “Dean defends terminator seed” (WP, May 13) by Barry Wilson.
I used to think that people given positions of responsibility should have the ability to see the whole picture and not just a blurry corner of it.
Mr. McLaughlin, Dean of the Ontario Agriculture College, seems to have forgotten that an ag college should be able to consider the position of the production segment (farmers) and consumers, as well as big business in an industry expected to provide safe, cheap food for all.
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I wish I had the ability to place my faith in technology the way Dean McLaughlin does.
I accept that bioengineering is here to stay. That does not automatically mean that the fruits of bioengineering are “good” for anyone except the originator.
When governments have decided to treat gene splicing and patenting the same way as label branding by Nike then we are in serious trouble.
Have you noticed that Mother Monsanto always dwells on the desperation of a large number of people in the world? They talk of the increased amount of food required by the world in the future. This shows everyone they are a caring company just wanting to do their part.
This preamble massages our guilt so that anything they propose we are willing to accept because their motives are noble.
Governments have ignored their responsibilities to allow all segments of the public to debate this issue of bioengineering. We are not talking about sewing blue jeans with a different thread. We are dealing with the concept of potentially altering the genetic makeup of the world for profit motives.
The concept of the terminator gene is so sinister that another long letter would be required. Obviously for Mr. McLaughlin, the maintenance of genetic diversity has lost its importance.
To date, the public has had reasonable confidence in the development of functional, safe technologies and the regulatory agencies required to police them.
In order to prevent a meltdown of that trust governments and academics like Mr. McLaughlin should start to realize again that they represent people too.
– Ken Eshpeter,
Daysland, Alta.
