The Truth of GMO Products

Not many people notice much more than the calorie index on the back of their food products. Although most consumers have some awareness about the attributes of organic agriculture, they know very little about agriculture biotechnology. What if I told you that most of the food you were putting into your mouth was genetically modified and you had no idea. Corn for instance is labeled as an insecticide rather than a food. The FDA strongly encourages companies to label genetically modified food as well as to test the foods for allergens, yet this is not a mandatory procedure and few companies follow through with these recommendations. By making the labeling of genetically modified foods mandatory, society will be aware of side effects associated with GMO food, people with allergies can avoid allergic reactions to GMO foods, and society would be able to choose weather the want to consume GMO foods or not. Resolved: That Genetically Modified Foods should be labeled.

I. Society will be aware of side effects associated with GMO products.
a. Wide range of health hazards associated with genetically modified foods.
“Proven health hazards from genetically engineered foods already mentioned include the production of carcinogens, a rise in level of toxins, resistance to antibiotics, and allergic reactions”.
Epstein, D. R. (n.d.). Untitled. Retrieved April 1, 2009, from http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/GEessays/GEF%20labelling.htm

b. GM foods can have hazardous genes that can be transferable to human genes.
“The effects of every gene is determined by the total situation in the cell. When genes are transferred to a foreign environment, their effects is therefore inevitably unpredictable. Unexpected substances may appear, which may be harmful.”
Genetic Engineering - important news. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2009, from http://www.psrast.org/newsin.h


II. People with allergies to GMO foods can avoid allergic reactions.
a. After GM soy was introduced to the UK soy allergies jumped 50 percent.
“Soy allergies jumped 50% in the U.K. just after GM soy was introduced.2 If GM soy was the cause, it may be due to several things. The GM protein that makes Roundup Ready Soy resistant to the herbicide does not have a history of safe use in humans and may be an allergen. In fact, sections of its amino acid sequence are identical to known allergens”
Smith, J. (n.d.). Article point of view: genetically modified foods unsafe? Evidence that links GM foods to allergic responses mounts genetic engineering & biotechnology news - Biotechnology from bench to business. Retrieved April 1, 2009, from http://www.genengnews.com/articles/chitem.aspx?aid=2252

b. Unpredicted changes were discovered in the DNA GM soy.
“A mutated section of soy DNA was found near the transgene, which may contribute to some unpredicted effects. Moreover, between this scrambled DNA and the transgene is an extra transgene fragment, not discovered until years after soy was on the market.”
Smith, J. (n.d.). Article point of view: genetically modified foods unsafe? Evidence that links GM foods to allergic responses mounts genetic engineering & biotechnology news - Biotechnology from bench to business. Retrieved April 1, 2009, from http://www.genengnews.com/articles/chitem.aspx?aid=2252


III. Society should have the choice weather they want to consume GMO foods.
a. There is not enough research to prove safety with GMO foods. “Americans are eating genetically modified food without their knowledge. There is not enough research to prove the safety of inserting genes into fruits, vegetables, and other foods.”
McCuen. (n.d.). Should genetically modified foods be labeled?. Retrieved April 1, 2009, from http://www.speakout.com/activism/issue_briefs/1130b-1.html

b. Not labeling GMO foods shows a general disregard to free society.
“The overwhelming number of people naturally want to know what is in the food they are buying. Labeling for all kinds of ingredients is already required. In many cases the need for labeling of certain kinds of ingredients is not as urgent as for labeling of genetically engineered foods. Free choice in the food we buy is dependent on information on the content of the food. You cannot identify genetically engineered food just by looking at it. Without labeling citizens are denied what should be their fundamental right. Labeling genetically engineered foods in no way restricts the rights of those people who do decide to purchase and consume them.”
Epstein, D. R. (n.d.). untitled. retrieved April 1, 2009, from http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/GEessays/GEF%20labelling.htm
In conclusion, by making it mandatory for GM foods to be labeled society will become more aware of the side effects associated with GMO foods, people with allergens will be able to identify GMO foods that they are allergic too, and society will be able to make the decision to buy GMO products.

Vocabulary Term:
boisterous: enthusiastic, loud
conformist: someone who follows the majority

Food Industry's Dangerous Lies

False and misleading nutrition information is being sold to the unsuspecting public through convincing TV, radio, magazine and newspaper ads and not to mention brilliantly designed marketing campaigns.

Advertised as the latest and greatest new "healthy" foods, chemically based and unnatural synthetic food additives, such as high fructose corn syrup, are being promoted as safe and "made from food." Due to the fact that millions of Americans are becoming more conscious of healthier food choices, manufacturers have resulted to telling the public that these fake foods with their artificial ingredients are good for them.

The known, yet disregarded fact that the food industry is behind the media displayed nutritional information is the major contributor of the continued production of most of the unhealthy food available in our grocery stores. The food industry does not care about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or obesity, only the advancement and furthered success of their companies.


An article from NaturalNews.com, a website dedicated to providing healthy living information, discusses the how the food industry promotes high fructose corn syrup. As a television viewer, I have seen countless advertisements concerning high fructose corn syrup and how it has been unfairly given a bad name. "The food industry is advertising how HFCS is made from corn, doesn't have artificial ingredients, has the same calories as sugar and is fine when used in moderation." However, NaturalNews.com warns that the influencing commercials are nothing but propaganda. "They're brainwashing you into believing that highly processed, high fructose corn syrup is just like sugar, is okay to eat and is not going to adversely affect your health."

The website disclaims that the USDA, has found otherwise.

Unfortunately due to the media's mass communication attributes, the USDA's warning has been overlooked by millions of Americans. Resulting in high amounts of health problems, and directly sending these Americans to their health care providers.

It is so upsetting that deceiving, yet wealthy industries have the power to submit such lies to the public. I would definitely appreciate if an advocate or policy-maker would step up to this challenge and fight for the well-being of our nation's people.

For my next entry, I will look into such advocates and policy makers and research the work that they have created.


anachronistic: out of the context of time, out of date
ephemeral: fleeting, temporary

Government Influence on Nutrition (Possible Portfolio Topic)

I discovered the book, Food Politics: How The Food Industry Influences Nutrition And Health by Marion Nestle, and realized its topic was almost exactly what I was considering making the subject of my Portfolio Assignment.
After flipping through the book, I narrowed down the main points Nestle was trying to address. She divided her book into five parts, beginning with the messages the food industry uses to sell more food. I find this extremely interesting due to the fact that simultaneously our society is telling us we are too overweight.
Nestle then introduces the food industry’s tantalizing instruments used to increase sales in the second part and proceeds to give an example in the third part showing their influence on children. The fourth part concentrates on the food industry’s effort to actually deregulate the current advertisement restrictions which leads to her fifth part in which she explains how marketing turns “junk” food into healthy food. Obviously this book is going to be a staple in my "researching diet" :)


I have been reaffirmed that the overabundance of food forces food companies into competition with one another to make consumers eat their products instead of others. Additionally, food companies want to sell expensive rather than cheap food. Therefore, they try to sell more processed food than unprocessed fruits and vegetables. I am determined to centralize where and how this insanity is or is not being addressed.

This topic became more and more interesting to me as I continued my research. I am confident that there will be ample resources to use when producing the requirements of my Portfolio. I have decided to stick with this topic and to begin establishing the frameworks of the assignment.


sub·si·dize/ˈsəbsəˌdīz/Verb
1. Support (an organization or activity) financially.
2. Pay part of the cost of producing (something) to reduce prices for the buyer.

a·base/əˈbās/ Verb
1. Behave in a way so as to belittle or degrade (someone)

“San Jose residents oppose public safety cuts as budget worsens, may accept sales tax hike or reduced library hours” By John Woolfolk

San Jose over the past decade has been constantly at work, producing jobs for the unemployed and more efficient forms of energy and transportation use. However, with the recent budget cuts in the area, the men and women in charge have been forced to figure out a new system for the growing city. Discussed in the article was a recent citywide survey proving residents interests in making cuts to the public park and library funds. These specific cutbacks would result in the closing of many public park restrooms and reduced library hours. This data is very significant to me, I believe that this type of feedback premeditates future alterations to the city and the general direction its resident’s are interested in heading. But what is this article’s purpose? I think that Woolfolk wrote this article not to scare his readers with more economy talk, but to show the population what it’s citizens are really feeling. He explained the amount of people who could possibly loose their jobs due to the cuts, while simultaneously encouraging the population to be aware of the situations at hand. Woolfolk describes the council and city management’s discussions as “frustrations” and “prodding”. This word choice shows (not tells) the digressions that have been occurring over this issue. Woolfolk ended his piece with a quote from Councilwoman Nora Campos, “"Every decision we have to make is going to be difficult." By ending the article this way, leaves the reader open to make their own decisions on the budget cuts. It also leaves a hint of hope, for the citizens to trust the officials and the decisions they make.

Alcohol-Related Issues (possible portfolio topic)

Alcohol related statistics have always been very interesting to me. I became fascinated with the subject after taking a course in elementary school about the facts of drugs and alcohol, also known as the D.A.R.E. program (http://www.dare.com/home/default.asp). It amazed my young mind that people could, after seeing the horrific pictures they showed us throughout the program, still drink and drive. We were shown how deadly the act of drinking could potentially become, and even worse, realized that people continued to break the laws on drinking.

Recently in the Mercury News editorial section, I came across a particular editorial on San Jose and its large number of public drunkenness. While this editorial was short and not very thorough, the author reported facts and presented a definite opinion on the subject. The author believed that the public should have direct access to the reports on these drunken arrests. He believed that the numbers are too high for the general public to be unaware of. He began is editorial saying “To make any sense of San Jose's large number of public drunkenness arrests — far more than even Los Angeles — the public needs to see the police reports on the incidents.”

That type of direct heading basically made my decision to agree with the author before I even read the article. He continued to explain that contrary to what many think, most of the arrests are not made in the downtown “club-scene”, but in the outlaying neighborhoods. Those neighborhoods are where I could possibly live in the future, and I believe that it is my right, an important one, to have access to that particular information.

He proved further knowledge on the subject when he referred to Councilwoman Nora Campos, and her work with a task force derived to tackle these specific issues and the arrest policies surrounding them.

Overall, this editorial was effective in its motive. However, it appears that the outcome of this issue will have to be voted on in some form. Perhaps the councilwoman and others interested in this request will make the changes themselves, but it will still take the support of the public to make any serious changed. Public drunkenness is dangerous in so many ways and should be controlled and regulated. The arrests that have been occurring in San Jose should not be kept a secret, and should be notified to the public.

This topic is very interesting to me and could potentially be the topic to my Portfolio Assignment. With further research I believe I could produce a well-written political interest paper.

Autarky:

1.the condition of self-sufficiency, esp. economic, as applied to a nation.

2.a national policy of economic independence.

Reciprocity:

1.a reciprocal state or relation.

2.reciprocation; mutual exchange.

3.the relation or policy in commercial dealings between countries by which correspondingadvantages or privileges are granted by each country to the citizens of the other.

Does one begin a personality, or begin to have a personality?

Thinking...

:)

Communication and Its Importance, Post #1

Communication and the methods used to communicate should be conceptualized as the root of nearly every aspect of our society. I believe, along with several other communication theorists, that communication amongst humans begins nearly at birth. Meaning, quite literally, that humans are talked into humanity. What I mean by this is that life experiences as well as genetics bring the traits forward; this process is what makes people individuals; individuals and their differences are the reason I am interested in communication skills, especially within the field of Political Science.

The first moment the nurse places a newborn into her mother’s arms a physical and chemical phenomenon occurs. An instant bond formulates and the relationship begins to build. This brings me utmost curiosity and attraction to the communication field. My mother has reminded me, at nearly every sentimental occasion in my life, that I began my extroverted and outgoing personality as an infant. When my first smile charmed my parents at three weeks old, they knew it was not simply my tiny body’s digestive gases bubbling around in my stomach, but more of a premature indicator of my future life as a communicator. Only months later I was having conversations with my baby dolls in a gibberish language using different pitches for the different dolls’ personalities. Half a decade later, I was vocally lining up my Kindergarten class to prepare for the daily schoolyard activity. Leading my peers in such a way stayed with me throughout high school, where I began working in costumer service at fourteen years old.

As a Political Science Major here at San Jose State University, I have learned that with power comes the potential to influence. Aside from the ideologies, population, and economic strength within a nation, the country's leadership must possess communication skills in order to obtain any form of legitimacy. Due to this fact and my great interest in politics, I hope to further broaden my skills as a communicator and Political Scientist throughout this semester.

delves(Verb)

1. Reach inside a receptacle and search for something: "she delved in her pocket".

2. Research or make painstaking inquiries into something.

periphery (Noun)

1: the perimeter of a circle or other closed curve; also : the perimeter of a polygon

2: the external boundary or surface of a body

3a : the outward bounds of something as distinguished from its internal regions or center
b : an area lying beyond the strict limits of a thing