Beggars can't be choosers! or can they??
By Debs_place
@Debs_place (10520)
United States
March 26, 2008 11:00pm CST
The other day I am watching the news and they are talking about a country who has starving people who turned away tons of grain from the US because it is genetically modified.
Now, they have a dilemma - dead people or people who in future may have medical problem due to GM grain but at least they will be alive.
I really don't know much about GM grain, I know the EU has outlawed for the past few years but in the US we do have it.
What is your feeling about it? And what about a country that would rather have people starve then accept the grain?
Has anyone actually proven it to be dangerous?
5 people like this
12 responses
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
27 Mar 08
Deeming a country as beggars.. seems prejudice. Anyone could help out others. Nothing is wrong with that, as well as declining help. You can't insist on somethings if the recipients really don't want the provided assistance. You have your reasons, they have their's.
2 people like this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
27 Mar 08
The title itself is prejudiced. Please avoid such expressions.
Regarding about Genetically Modified grain or any other food aid for that matter.
From un.org
Many Zambians believe that GMOs cause resistance to antibiotics, thereby cutting immunity to diseases, and that they may lead to the emergence of new food toxins or to allergies in people with poor health. "For Zambia, most people in outlying areas are of an average health status," argued Dr Mwananyanda Mbikusita-Lewanika, a Zambian scientist, "and if consumption [of GM grains] is high, then toxicity would equally increase."
Proponents of genetically modified foods counter that there is no solid evidence that they are, in fact, harmful to health. Even some of those who do, such as Dr. Tewolde Berhan G. Egziahber, an Ethiopian scientist and one of Africa's chief negotiators on biodiversity and biosafety, acknowledge that famine conditions require an emergency response. "The short-term effects of malnutrition coupled with HIV/AIDS outweigh the long-term effects of GM foods on health," argues Dr. Tewolde.
Reacting to the concerns in Southern Africa, the UN's WFP, Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization issued a joint statement in August 2002 stating that "the consumption of foods containing GMOs now being provided as food aid in Southern Africa is not likely to present human health risk. Therefore, these foods may be eaten." The UN agencies affirmed, however, that each recipient country has a right to accept or reject the entry of GM foods.
Well proven or not, they still do have a choice if they want to get such aids or not in the end.
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
27 Mar 08
Deb most of us understand that the phrase beggers can't be choosers is one we use often in the US. Perhaps this person is just unfamiliar with the phrase. Its hard to always be soo flipping politically correct. It drives me crazy.
@DESMASTER2007 (1130)
• United States
27 Mar 08
Wow they is just something right there. I have never heard of something crazy as this. I tell you the world can be chaoitic at times. We see so many things happening every second, minute, hour you know.
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
27 Mar 08
I know it is crazy, to sacrifice fight because of health problems that may never materialize.
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
27 Mar 08
From what I understand of this situation is that in 2001 -2004 there was a GM maize b10 that was accidental sold as seeds and this is the one that can not be screened for. European Union has voted to block imports of certain US grain unless they prove to be free of the genetically modified maize Bt10. We do not use it in the US but we do use and the EU has approved the GM maize BT11. But as of right now there were millions of tons of this BT10 that made it it to feed for cattle and corn meal. Scary stuff. There is not enough research done yet to prove it safe or human consumption.... This is all so complicated. Bat dad gum if its already into our food chain and that of our cattle why not feed those that are starving. Who knows how many of us have already consumed the BT10 version of the GM maize to begin with.
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
27 Mar 08
Break down of how antibiotics work for the most part. Raz above me gave a very good example of the broad concerns of the EU.
1 person likes this
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
27 Mar 08
what do they think could happen if we do eat that b10 stuff?
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
27 Mar 08
Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face! They cannot be that starving then can they really, if they can afford to turn food away like that. I think if you need food then you take whatever you can get when you can get it, no matter what it is. When you turn away help too many times, people just stop offering because you cannot help those that do not want to help themselves!!
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Mar 08
YEs, that is the way I feel. I know of people that have found themselves homeless and ate out of garbage cans..these are people in the good old USA..until they got backon their feet, they did what they had to do to survive.
@chelinfeng (1)
• China
28 Mar 08
the people living in those countries where food is not sufficient who are so sympathy and pitiful ,but the counties who product GM grain are so hatefui
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Mar 08
WHy is someone who produces GM grain hateful. I have to disagree with that statement, please explain.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Mar 08
Can you produce some links from legitimate sources that show us the danger of GM grain. I have not been able to find anything.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Mar 08
People dying from starvation....they must have a different priority.
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
27 Mar 08
so they would rather have children die than accept GM grain..that just doesnt seem right. i can understand if there was proof that there were short-term negative affects, but what parent would say no to food when their child is wasting away before their eyes?
which i assume means their government is probably trying to make some kind of statement..what that statement is, other than we dont care if our ppl die, i havent a clue.
but i bet the starving familys THEMSELVES wouldnt say no to the food.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Mar 08
Cinder, that is how I feel. I can't understand it. You hear of these poor people eating bugs, weeds, grass, dirt, stones...just to feel better...GM grain has got to be better. I am confused.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Mar 08
My question here is, like why the heck are we giving genetically modified ANYTHING to ANYONE??? I mean don't we have grain products not modified and more than enough to help out? I mean it kind of says something if EU has outlawed it, doesn't it??..and what about us??...is our own government giving us GM grain as well and maybe we're not aware of it?
To give an example of how "wonderful" this country has helped out in the past...Now I'm part Native American so of course I do know about this..when our government was setting up the reservation systems in the late 1800s to early 1900s, our government was giving the reservations govt. issued food...mainly rice, white flour, beans, and later on peanut butter....no proteins, nothing really substantial and nothing like the food Native Americans were used to eating like meats that they had previously hunted for---in the early days of the reservations, Native people weren't allowed to leave the reservations without govt issued passes, which meant they were stuck on the rez and couldn't hunt properly. The result of this continued poor diet of govt issued foods lead to major health problems...even today, Native peoples run the highest risk of diabetes, and many are overweight due to the high starchy diet...it's now a genetic thing now inherited from generations of eating such a poor diet of govt issued food...and this happened in our OWN country to the people who were the original indigenous peoples
Why is it when our govt "helps" any people they issue crappy non-nutritious food to begin with..like grains? People need some kind of protein foods not just grains-oh and another popular govt issued food...cheese that is usually moldy...gee we really ARE a help aren't we?
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Mar 08
I think it is safe to say that the US government has done many things wrong in the past and the treatment of native Americans is just one thing.
I think grains are a traditional thing that is sent to help other countries, and if someone is eating grass, dirt, bugs etc...I would say grains are definitely better.
1 person likes this
@shalom123 (51)
• India
27 Mar 08
Beggars are also human. We cant force them to accept any outlawed products at the cost of their starvation. I am not aware of the danger of GM grains, but if it is harmful then even beggars have the right to ignore(because they are HUMANS..)
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Mar 08
EU and Japan have banned GM grains..the US has not. We don't know that it is harmful. IF you drink water from a plastic bottle...it could be harmful.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Mar 08
If anyone could understand the reasoning of the government, I would be concerned about them.
I don't know why GM grain was sent, maybe it is less susceptible to rotting or bugs while it is being shipped.
@blush_blush (307)
• Philippines
27 Mar 08
Here in our place, some beggars are really choosy. I remember when me and my friends were strolling an old lady came near us. She was wearing clothes that are tattered but obviously it was clean. Then, I gave the old woman a one peso. After giving it to her she rudely gave back the one peso to me. It was disappointing because I'm still a student, I don't have that much money. Then after that she said what does one peso would do to her? Then, my friend told me that some beggars are rich. Like the old woman. Because in some instances they would only wear those tattered clothes just to have money and if given they want it huge. Oh! I forgot after giving it to me, the one peso. The old woman asked for larger amount. I guess, the choosy people are really rich here.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Mar 08
Wow, that is rude! You gave someone what you could afford and they insult you. And then to ask for more..give me a break!
I hope you gave the woman a piece of your mind.