GM rice approval 'edging closer'

GM Rice Approval 'edging closer'

Scientists in the Philippines are weeks from submitting a genetically modified variety of rice to the authorities for biosafety evaluations.

This is an ethical minefield.  The rice in question is Golden Rice which has enhanced Vitamin A. Will this genetically modified rice really address the problems of malnutrition? If there is a chance it will reduce malnutrition, what right do we over-nourished Westerners have to stop it, despite the risks to the environment?

There are obviously other, better ways of tackling malnutrition while so many developed countries waste tremendous quantities of food. Ways which cover a broad spectrum of nutrients rather than focusing on only one vitamin.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23581877

Related Posts:
Aphid Resistant GM Wheat
The Time is Right for GM Crops
Can Organic Agriculture Feed the World?

Leaping Bengal Tiger Numbers

A good news story as the number of wild royal Bengal tigers in Nepal has increased to 198, a 63.6 per cent rise in five years. The only down side is the increased number of villagers killed by Tigers.

Royal Bengal tiger numbers in Nepal leap to 198 via The Independent

Oil Threat to Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the last refuges of the mighty Mountain Gorilla. Decades of civil war and armed resistance had taken its toll on gorilla numbers but the latest threat is resource exploitation, oil in particular.

'Oil threat' to Africa's oldest park via the BBC

The forest in the Congo basin is second only to the Amazon and is one of the planet's lungs.  It must be protected at all costs. But the DRC is a desperately poor country and its fragile government does not have control over many parts of the country.  We must therefore provide viable and sustainable alternatives to widespread resource exploitation.

Time

We can't stop it.

We can't buy it.

We can't make more of it, no matter how many rare and precious resources we use.

We are all equal in that we all have only twenty four hours of it in a day.

And there lies the problem.

Work has been taking me away from home more often over the past few months so when I am at home I want to spend more of my time with family and friends.  Something has to give.

It is the EcoWarriorMe blog that has suffered most and, unfortunately, it looks like I will have limited time and opportunity to research and write posts for the next few months. This does not mean that I have given up on the environment. I will continue to campaign and raise awareness of issues and most importantly try to live a greener, more sustainable life. 

EcoWarriorMe Express contains a mixture of shorter posts and filtered feeds from other sites relevant to energy, climate change and conservation. 

As always, all comments are welcome.