17 Jan 2009
FDA issues final guidelines for genetically engineered animals

The money quote:

"We want the public to understand that food from GE animals will not enter the food supply unless FDA has determined that it is safe," she [Bernadette Dunham] said.

Like Thalidomide? Like Vioxx?

But forget the potential human health consequences - what about the potential for these genetic modifications to get loose into livestock populations and wreck havoc? Breeding for specific traits is one thing - altering the genetic structure of an organism is quite another. Intensive breeding programs have already caused severe problems for some species - and those problems will only be magnified when modifications are made in the lab.

Maybe Obama will change this, maybe not. We'll see. My biggest fear is that if he doesn't, Mother Nature will. And that will be a far sterner lesson than a mere US President can provide.

The Food and Drug Administration announced formal guidelines Thursday that will regulate the production of genetically engineered (GE) animals.

(link) [CNN]

07:40 /Agriculture | 1 comment | permanent link

Top Saudi cleric OK with child marriages

"Controversial"? I was not aware that the systemic practice of child rape could be "controversial"! Imagine the howls of rage that would accompany a similar pronouncement from, say, The Pope, or a Rick Warren type character. Do you think we'd still maintain an embassy at the Holy See if the Vatican advocated this? Would a preacher who pushed such a position be given a slot in the upcoming inauguration?

Yet we still have diplomats in Riyadh, and you can bet the House of Saud will be well represented at next weeks events in Washington.

Disgusting.

The debate over the controversial practice of child marriage in Saudi Arabia was pushed back into the spotlight this week, with the kingdom's top cleric saying that it's OK for girls as young as 10 to wed.

(link) [CNN.com]

07:17 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link