Genetically Modified Forest Planned for U.S. Southeast
Nothing said here about the effects on the wildlife of the area, does it matter?
International Paper and MeadWestvaco are planning to transform plantation forests of the southeastern U.S. by replacing native pine with genetically engineered eucalyptus
The companies’ push into genetically modified trees, led by their joint biotech venture, ArborGen LLC, looks to overcome several hurdles for the first time. Most prominently, they are banking on a controversial gene splice that restricts trees’ ability to reproduce, meant to allay fears of bioengineered eucalyptus turning invasive and overtaking native forests.
Yet many questions remain about the effectiveness of the fertility system used by ArborGen, which, according to leading scientists, has never been rigorously studied in multiyear trials to prove that it can effectively control plants’ spread. More research must be conducted before such systems are relied upon to restrict pollen and seed spread, they say.
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Really bad idea. The replacement trees really suck up water and will upset “balance” in natural system but what do they care - they just think faster grwoing trees will make money for them even though it will do great harm to eco-system and people in that ecosystem. They are real planet killers!
1 month agoThis makes me soooo fuuuuurious!!! What are they destroying Earth!! Just for money….
1 month agoSoon, the earth is going to start fighting back and we’ll find out who’s the boss. Well, those who are left will find out.
1 month agoEarth fights back everyday - it is just not recognized as such. When malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever make a comeback, as they have, it is because we cut down forests and create conditions that favor their vector - mosquitoes - and rapid growth in rodent population - also fed development of hanta fever. When Mayans did this centuries before
1 month agowe arrived, it turns out that a Western Hemisphere version of ebola killed nearly half of them and was probably the cause of their civilization collapse. I think - soon - it will be discovered that ebola outbreaks follow deforestation events.
Re: http://amplify.com/u/1pm9 @ozarkherbs I believe those of us who dread the boomerang effect may need to accept that nothing will stop human interference with the “natural” world. Unless we become extinct. I know the odds are stacked against us. Experiments in civilization can be deadly, but I hope-against-hope that we’ll survive.
With respect to this article, if you read all of it, I think you’ll see that our concerns are reasonably voiced. It appears to have been generated by a reputable and unbiased environmental news agency @ eenews.net
1 month agoWhy do you want us to survive Daniel, mankind does nothing good for Earth, all we do is kill and destroy!! I am ashamed of the human race and would like to not belong to it!!
1 month agoIn reply to Eileen, I can only recommend venturing into the weird possibilities of ascension, ET saviors, and/or simply turning your ’self’ into something more compatible with nature. While it may sound absurd, I’ve had many friends tell me they would be willing to upload their minds into an earth-compatible species in order to disassociate from the disease of the human condition. Others would be happy uploading their minds into a virtual world simulation in order to mitigate the damages of consuming the planet. As strange as these options may seem, I find them healthier alternatives than suicide.
1 month agoMaybe you are right Daniel, suicide may not be the correct reaction, but I honestly cannot find one single benefit from human existence for other beings on Earth, be they animal or vegetable, or even water!!!. We just seem to kill and destroy. Someone said today in one of my English classes, that it all began with man discovering fire, since then we have just gone straight downhill, killing and destroying for sheer greed. Why do we have religions when no one lives by what is taught, I don’t understand human beings at all.
1 month agoI have to say that those talking here are all pretty good people and I am glad you are here trying to make the world a better place.
1 month agoI think that one of the things that I like about Amplify is that the majority of us are of like minds Ned, which means we get no hassle from the Neo Cons and can exchange ideas, which is nice too, albeit it, alternative ideas are useful too and I don’t reject alternative ideas if they are offered in an educated manner.
It sure would be nice to make the world a better place……. but we are so scattered and sooo many tell me to get off my soapbox when I start talking about change or say that we are too insignificant to change anything
1 month agoNed, I agree, so far, everyone I’ve “met” here impresses me as very sincere, caring, interested in this world & their role in it. I can relate to what Eileen feels, and to the vision of transhumanism offered by Daniel (who has a very cool website). I feel immense pain at the suffering we cause, and yet, the mind I (and we) am endowed with enables me to expand my view to the “big picture”, beyond the earth and all finite things, to where there’s an endless field of creation playing with us all. When I go there, I feel comforted that “it” knows what its doing, that its about to transform the living systems on earth in magnificent ways which include vast extermination and vast re-creation of entirely new species as it has done before…again and again. What wonders we behold! To be alive at this time, to witness the cosmic drama with such intimacy. Immense pain and immense joy & awe. Varies according to our point of view.
1 month ago