While many anti-GMO folk support the scientific consensus on climate change, they belittle these same science institutions by denying the consensus on genetic engineering (GE). The oil companies have not been able to overturn the consensus on climate change, so how could Monsanto have more power than they do?
Sadly, when I talk to people about biotechnology, it is often the first time they have heard someone in favor of the technology. They had only heard from anti-GMO activists, yet take a staunch stand.
I’m a hippie who is falsely accused of shilling for Monsanto at least weekly. Anger often fills the space between certainty and lack of evidence. False information about biotechnology has increased organic sales, but it’s not helpful towards our planet’s sustainability efforts. I find it somewhat ironic that the very people who seem to be most concerned about climate change seem to be against one of the major tools we can use to actually combat some of the deleterious effects of current farming practices.
Like most people, I have an affinity for like-minded people. We have built our own ideological tribes, echo chambers for our own thoughts, thoughts that perpetuate themselves every time we hear them reverberated back to us.
We are neurochemically confirmation-bias addicts.
Like most people, I defaulted to the position of my own in-group, which is the anti-GMO movement of the left. I believe in the idea that profits should not be a greater priority than the health of people and the planet. And I value reason and evidence because I want my beliefs to accord to reality as best as can be.
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While I know that I am quite capable of making mistakes, by supporting my beliefs with evidence, I enable a self-correcting mechanism with which I can revise a false belief. I remain willing to change my mind if provided with sufficient evidence. I value reason and evidence and consider belief revision to be an undervalued virtue.
The evidence will say otherwise, but some facts will never be considered by people moved by fear, misinformation, and the constant barraging of the same message over and over.
A particularly vile lie the anti-GMO continue to repeat like a mantra is that GMOs cause Indian farmers to commit suicide. This is one of the easiest myths to debunk when you apply a small amount of doubt and look for the evidence. This emotionally riveting and manipulative accusation is no minor claim!
Read full original post: Chad White: Anti-GMO tribal conformity and mythology, part 2
