The Green Party October 2, 2009
I just started an argument with a lady from the green party who was collecting signatures for a petition to outlaw genetically modified organisms (GMOs). I agree with most of the problems they are trying to tackle with that petition, particularly those related to patents on GMOs and the practice of using GMO seeds in order to sell pesticides. However, after hearing Theo van Hintum’s talk about using biotechnology in order to fight world hunger at GCB 2009 on Tuesday, I couldn’t bring myself to sign such a broad petition. Germany may be able to afford the luxury of being able to ban GMO’s, but most of the world simply won’t be able to sustain its population without the use of GMOs. If the petition had been about prohibiting the use of GMOs as a vehicle for selling pesticides, or the fact that farmers aren’t allowed to use part of their crop as seeds for the next growing season, I would have been more than happy to sign. Since that wasn’t the case however, I was hoping to have an informed discussion with the lady collecting the signatures about her reasons to support this cause. After all, it doesn’t happen very often that I meet someone who is both knowledgeable and passionate about the same topic as me and also disagrees with my views.
Sadly, the lady turned out to be all passion and no knowledge. After about a minute in which I tried to explain what the basics of molecular biology and the concept of plasmids, she began to ignore me and instead started to rant incessantly at the others at the table. When I did get a word in, my arguments were duely ignored, and she continued spewing unfounded incoherent pseudoscientific arguments at my friends.
It saddens me to think that the people I voted for (despite disagreeing with the two main issues in their campaign) are just as ignorant and ill informed as those campaigning for them. My only consolation is that they lost the election and won’t be doing much harm in government over the next years. However, I fear that those who are in government may be even worse.
I need a new ideology. Radically pragmatic humanism doesn’t work for me.

