GM Food (Genetically Modified)
Details
GM Foods, or GMOs, have been a controversial topic recently, especially in CA with the narrow defeat of prop 37 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_37_(2012)), a law that would have mandated labeling of GM food.
Should GM Foods be labeled? Outlawed? Are GMOs necessary to feed to world's growing population? Should GM seeds be patentable, and what are the implications? Will GM Foods help the environment by requiring fewer pesticides and chemicals? What are the health impacts of GM Foods? Are GMOs fundamentally different from foods produced with traditional splicing?
Alasdair Young (http://www.iac.gatech.edu/faculty-and-staff/faculty/bio/young), a professor at Georgia Tech in international affairs, has volunteered to join in our discussion, and will give us some insight into the differences between how we (and our governments!) think about GMOs here and in the EU.
Also, Stephanie from Georgia Organics (http://georgiaorganics.org/) has volunteered to talk about her group and some background on GMOs and their risks.
Reading links on GMOs
On the Pro side:
UGA Genetic Engineering Lab (lots of good links!)
http://parrottlab.uga.edu/parrottlab/GMOResources.htm
best food facts: is sweet corn safe? (http://www.bestfoodfacts.org/food-for-thought/GE_Sweet_Corn_is_it_safe)
last minute additions:
http://gmopundit.blogspot.com/
I love Monsanto video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ulq0NW1sTcI#!)
Con side:
Union of Concerned Scientists
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/genetic-engineering/
GMOs in Georgia: 50 Shades of Gray (http://www.georgiaorganics.org/wp-content/themes/GeorgiaOrganics/Downloads/fall_2012_web.pdf) (georgiaorganics)
GMO LiabilityThreatsfor Farmers (http://www.flag-sa.org/blog/GMOthreats.pdf)
Seeds of Freedom (http://vimeo.com/43879272) 30 min video on conflicts of businesses and farmers
Monsanto Wins Patent Case On Plant Genes (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/22/business/monsanto-wins-patent-case-on-plant-genes.html)
(sorry for the lopsided number of con links, please email me more pro ones or post them in the comments if you have them)
Schedule:
Order food (if at restaurant) from 7-7:30, also meet other people.
7:30 experts present
8:00 group discussion
We usually wrap up around 9:30, but people are free stay to talk as long as they want.
We're an eclectic group that meets to respectfully exchange ideas about controversial topics.
Our group is more focused on learning and hearing different view points than winning a debate. We try to keep the discussion respectful and encourage devil's advocates. It's a chance to talk with and learn from people you would never meet in your existing circles. The conversations are moderated to keep things friendly.
There's a $1 charge to help cover the yearly meetup costs, which are $144 / year. This is optional, but appreciated!