What's real

Katharine Hamer
Contributing Writer

WE have fat substi-
tutes, sugar substi-
tutes, and aicohol-free
beer.

But among ail the revolu-
tionary foodstuffs and sup-
plements which hit our
supermarket shelves every
day, genetically modified
(GM) foods must be the
most controversial.

By cross-fertilizing genes
from different species, scien-
tists have been able to pro-
duce perfect plant speci-

- mens.

Vegetables and grains
which are resistant to
extreme temperatures, pesti-
cides and pests, vibrant in

‘colour, and plump in
appearance are all the result
of years spent tinkering with
plant DNA structure.

. Biotechnology companies
like Monsanto (whose motto
_ is “Food, Health, Hope”)

and Novartis say their man-
date is to produce crops
with greater sustainability
and productivity.

Bur in Europe, a furore
has been raging for months
between governments, who
insist that GM foods are safe
for human consumption, and
environmental groups —
who view these creations as
the Frankenstein monsters of
the vegetable world.

In a recent survey, 47% of
the British public listed the
safety of GM foods as their
primary health concern —
above even fears about BSE-
infected beef.

Some environmentalists
in Britain are so concerned
that they are actually tres-
passing on land owned by
GM food companies like
Monsanto to dig up farm
crops.

In response to public
fears, major U.K. supermar-
kets and food companies,
including Nestle, ~ have:
stopped carrying food prod-

‘Professional, Practical Counselling
fe

ucts with genetically engi-
ingredients.

he public outcry has not
been so great in North
America. Last year, U.S.
farmers planted 50 million
acres worth of genetically
modified seeds.

However, cavironmental
groups in Canada are wor-
ried a proposed federal bill
that would update the
Environmental Protection
Act could make it casier for
biotech companies to market
their products.

Bill C-32, which had its
third reading in parliament in
August, would transfer juris-
diction over GM foods from
the Ministry of Environment
to the Ministry = of
Agriculture — which is
already responsible for pro-
moting the biotech industry.

The battle to produce top
veggies is a dirty one — both
literally and ideologically.

Canadian farmers are

‘being encouraged to use a

special “snitch” line to
inform Monsanto of those
who are using its specially-
formulated seeds without
paying for them. So far,
they’ve accused dozens of
farmers of pilfering theic
seed.

Though seed pollen is fre-
quently transferred by the
wind, not by human hands,
Monsanto claim they’re just
protecting their investment
by blaming farmers.

Critics say that pesticide-
resistant GM foods may be
responsible for the death of
some insects, such as
Monarch butterflies.

The U.S. -based

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Campaign for Food
Safety also says that
GM foods set a dan-
gerous precedent for
genetically engi-
necred humans, ani-
mals, and the devel-
opment of biological
weapons.

Because gene
splicing involves bio-
logical materials,
there is also always
the possibility of
unexpected muta-
tion.

In a fact shect on
genetic enginecring,
the Campaign for
Food Safety quote
noted _ biochemist
Er Chargoff as
saying the practice
was tantamount to a
“molecular
Auschwitz.”

GM crops includ-
ing canola, corn, and
potatoes now cover
thousands of acres of
Canadian farmland.
Squash, tomatoes,
and tofu have also
been given the labo-
ratory treatment.

GM foods are not
visible to the naked
consumer eye, how-
ever. Because there
have been no report-
ed health problems
linked to GM feeds,
those who produce
them are not cur-
rently required to affix iden-
tifying labels.

Last month a joint project
was launched by the
Canadian Council of
Grocery Distributors and the

t and ve

Canadian General Standards
Board to develop a Canadian
standard for the voluntary
labelling of foods derived
from biotechnology.

The move was seen. by

[S this corn grown naturally or in a ieb? With no mandatory:
labelling, it’s hard for consumers to tell what they're getting. -

farming and grocery associa-, °°
tions as a. positive step: .
towards making informed’
choices. about genetically
modified © foods. easier. for
both farmers and consumers.

Vancouver Island and now lives in Washington Stare,
decided to publish some of the stories she'd receive:

in this compilation.

Arielle Ford, author of

Hot Chocolate for the Mystical

- Sout, has high praise for Mary Ellen’s work. She ‘calls

the Angelscribe “truly one of this planet’s special:
angels. Her commitment to spreading. the light. is
unrivalled.” _ ; wee
Mary Ellen describes herself as an “earth angel who:
uses. her computer to deliver daily doses of ‘good
news.” She attributes the revitalization of her. mar-
riage to the intervention of angels in her. life. Her:
newsletter is now read by pcople in over thirty coun-
tries and is linked to the official Web site of the artist.
formerly known as Prince. a a a
Stories in the book detail dramatic rescues and
: eries, as well as tales of fortune and good will: |."
Mary Ellen says it is her “deepest wish” that by reading sto
ries of miracles from around the world, readers will-also be
to “expect miracles.” — Katharine Hamer.

MARY Ellen
Angelscribe sees angels
all the time.

A few years ago, she decid-
ed to share her stories with
others.
Because she is dyslexic and
would have trouble spreading
the word via conventional
channels of communication,
Mary Elfen turaed to God's latest invention, the Internet.
Following the success of her on-line “Angels and Miracles
Good-News-Letter,” Mary Ellen, who is originally from

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