Precautionary Principle Applied to GMOs. (7500 Words) "I suspect any worries about genetic engineering may be unnecessary. Genetic mutations have always happened naturally, anyway." - James Lovelock INTRODUCTION Mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, is a neurodegenerative disease in cattle caused by a misfolded protein (called a prion). It caused most of its havoc in the United Kingdom, but also struck Alberta, Canada in 1993 . So what does this have to do with GMOs (genetically modified organisms)? GMOs were not the cause of mad cow disease; but “the mad cow crisis created an opportunity structure particularly conducive for the mobilization of anti-GMO demands”(especially in the European Union(EU) ) . In the public’s imagination mad cow disease became conflated with GMOs. The people in affected countries became more interested in questions of GMO safety and began to demand more …show more content…
The EU has separately incorporated the precautionary principle in its founding treaty such that the principle is now a general principle of domestic EU law. The Supreme Court of India has also held that the precautionary principle is part of customary international law and that in addition it was binding on the domestic law of India. In contrast, Canada has not accepted the precautionary principle as a principle of customary international law, but has accepted it as something likely to become customary international law in the future. The Supreme Court of Canada has accepted the principle as an interpretative aid for domestic law, but it is not as yet not binding on domestic law unless included in a statute. Incorporation of the principle in common law may be one way it could become operational in Canada and other common law countries in the future. Some Australian authorities consider it to have already become a part of common
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To conclude, it is very easy to criticize society. Humanity keeps failing to realize the mistakes they are making and Twain and Shakespeare help the readers see the mistake being made by humans over and over again. Through the criticism of the authors in Huckleberry Finn and Romeo and Juliet, one learns that the authors criticize what humanity has created by incorporating conflicts such as forbidden love, family feud, symbolism and irony. Humanity creates society and if humanity keeps doing wrong, the society will become worse. Why can authors criticize society very easily? Humans are becoming selfish and our society is being corrupted. This is the time to stop following what society does. Don’t follow the wrong things people do just because
As an innocent young boy watches his mother being killed by the cruel bank robbers, he vowed to himself he will avenge his mother’s death. He struggled through the bitter winter but he survived through the determination of revenge. Similarly, Roger Chillingworth, from Hawthorne’s renowned The Scarlet Letter, also thrives on revenge due to his wife’s disloyalty. As Chillingworth’s vengeance eats away at him, he transforms from a courteous man to a sadistic man; since Chillingworth is the driving force of the novel, he eventually evolves into a man he does not even recognize himself. Throughout this novel, Hawthorne argues extreme jealousy can turn an amiable person into a vengeful monster.
It is incredible to see how far genetic engineering has come. Humans, plants, and any living organism can now be manipulated. Scientists have found ways to change humans before they are even born. They can remove, add, or alter genes in the human genome. Making things possible that humans (even thirty years ago) would have never imagined. Richard Hayes claims in SuperSize Your Child? that genetic engineering needs to have limitations. That genetic engineering should be used for medical purposes, but not for “genetic modification that could open the door to high-tech eugenic engineering” (188). There is no doubt that genetic engineering can amount to great things, but without limits it could lead the human race into a future that no one
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has tested hundreds of thousands of cattle for BSE. Researchers believe that the infectious agent that causes mad cow disease is an abnormal version of a protein normally found on cell surfaces, called a prion. For reasons still unknown, this protein becomes altered and destroys nervous system tissue (brain and spinal cord). There exists strong epidemiologic and laboratory evidence for a causal association between a new human prion disease called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) that was first reported from the United Kingdom in 1996 and the BSE outbreak in cattle (http://www.cdc.gov). According to The National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit, by June 2014 it had killed 177 people in the United Kingdom, and 52 elsewhere. This essay will focus on the possible causes, effects, and treatment for this
Although GMOs have been around for years, GMOs have created a controversy about whether it has a positive or negative effect. There is currently a big debate going on in Canada if Genetically Modified Foods, known as GMOs, should be decreased or increased in production due to health risks. Canada should decrease the production of GMOs before its negative affects impacts the world and everything currently inherited. In fact GMOs show many positive affects but alongside also show a huge health and environmental impact.
Maxime Schwartz’s novel, How the Cows Turned Mad: Unlocking the Mysteries of Mad Cow Disease, is written for those interested in the history and how a disease slowly changed over time to become what it is today. This novel, although considered academic writing, cater to any type of reader. While a slight background of general biology is recommended, Schwartz does an amazing job in describing each scenario to the point in which many people can understand. Even with the academic diction, this novel is easy to follow and makes a very interesting story nonetheless. This story engages the readers with stories of the past and the present in regards to mad cows disease.
The effect on the cattle will take two to eight years from the time of infection to appear as a full case. The animals that are infected by this disease will resemble those that have rabies. Mad Cow disease will not spread as rapidly as rabies does, however. Symptoms of this infection will develop over a period of two to six months. As the disease sets in and the clinical signs are in place, the animal will deteriorate and either die or will be destroyed to prevent more instances of Mad Cow disease (www.cattle.com).
According to WebMD, Mad Cow Disease is fatal, resulting in the destruction of the brain and spinal cord*. Humans can get the human form of Mad Cow disease through eating nerve tissue of cows that had the disease*. However, the gelatin used in breath mints, if from cows, is comprised of cattle bones and hides, both of which have a low risk of transmitting the disease according to Clemson University**. So while it is possible, people should not live in fear of getting Mad Cow Disease from breath mints. This is due to how the FDA has guidelines in place to try to prevent spreading the disease. Again, Clemson University stated that the FDA suggests that no part of a cow with any neurological disease is used in production of gelatin**. To prevent
In the essay “Genetically Modified Food: Watching What We Eat,” by Julie Cooper, she argues against the rampant use of genetically modified food (GMO) without any current form of regulation. Cooper discusses the possibility of health risks to those consuming foods with altered genes and the food’s capabilities to have far-reaching health risks. She continues with a discussion as to how and why the creation and use of the GMOs have become so unregulated. She then discusses the response, which is the public’s cry for their right to make informed choices. Other topics discusses are the political, environmental, and corporate ramifications of the rise of GMOs.
Obesity is the 21st centuries plaque. It is a disease spreading at a rapid rate, taking over our society; affecting us from the grass roots up. Obesity, defined as excess fat/weight causing health issues is a multifactorial issue that needs to be addresses. There are too many consequences presented by the disease, both physical and mental to allow it the continual power to destroy the lives of many, too many Australians. The alarming rate at which this disease is spreading must become a topic of conversation for our whole society. Change needs to be seen at every level.
The following passage is from a research paper, and it’s the last body paragraph overseeing the history of mad cow disease. The topic sentence is located at the beginning; Although, I could’ve done a better job clearly stating the main topic: mad cow disease. Instead of stating what the cattle were fed, I could’ve said how many were infected by the mad cow disease or how the British government didn’t believe the disease was transmissible. Overall, the main issue that stood out to me was the way I introduced my quotes. For example, in my first quote, I didn’t introduce the quote before inserting it. Thus, my readers don’t have prior knowledge of what the quote is about. Hence a better way of writing this sentence could’ve been, “Britain decided
The Oprah Winfrey Show broadcasted an episode that talked about the Mad Cow Disease. It was a discussion over the disease that was going on in England and how it may become aware in the United States. Oprah invited a lady named Beryl Rimmer, her granddaughter was hospitalized from the disease. Rimmer stated that her granddaughter caught the disease from beef that was contaminated with the disease.
Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.
Within the last 100 years or so scientists have many valuable discoveries that have benefited mankind. These discoveries include the discovery of genes. Scientists have discovered what makes humans so unique from one another. However, with this newly gained knowledge of the function of genes comes the ability to alter or change them. Just imagine in the not so near future, you and your partner want to start a family together. You travel to your local gene councillor to pick the physical and characteristic traits of your child. That’s right. With the knowledge that has been gained about genes, scientists can “create” the perfect child genetically. The thought is scary. Nature has always taken us down the right path but are we really ready