Posted on 10/10/2008 12:33:29 PM PDT by reaganaut1
ZURICH -- For years, Swiss scientists have blithely created genetically modified rice, corn and apples. But did they ever stop to consider just how humiliating such experiments may be to plants?
That's a question they must now ask. Last spring, this small Alpine nation began mandating that geneticists conduct their research without trampling on a plant's dignity.
Beat Keller "Unfortunately, we have to take it seriously," Beat Keller, a molecular biologist at the University of Zurich. "It's one more constraint on doing genetic research."
Dr. Keller recently sought government permission to do a field trial of genetically modified wheat that has been bred to resist a fungus. He first had to debate the finer points of plant dignity with university ethicists. Then, in a written application to the government, he tried to explain why the planned trial wouldn't "disturb the vital functions or lifestyle" of the plants. He eventually got the green light.
The rule, based on a constitutional amendment, came into being after the Swiss Parliament asked a panel of philosophers, lawyers, geneticists and theologians to establish the meaning of flora's dignity.
"We couldn't start laughing and tell the government we're not going to do anything about it," says Markus Schefer, a member of the ethics panel and a professor of law at the University of Basel. "The constitution requires it."
In April, the team published a 22-page treatise on "the moral consideration of plants for their own sake." It stated that vegetation has an inherent value and that it is immoral to arbitrarily harm plants by, say, "decapitation of wildflowers at the roadside without rational reason."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Next step is to impose an eating ban on the entire animal kingdom.
Then Mendel was a terrorist!.............
Now their being silly...
Will Obama give us a new federal program to develop artificial protein?
There is little hope for the future.
Now, seems we’ve been hearing about this stupidity from some long time now.
WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE ROCKS!!!!!
This should really bother some vegans I know. I can’t wait to show it to them.
LOL...I think if it comes to that the rocks just might speak on their own. :D
MOCK ME IF YOU MUST ~
BUT THE ROCKS CRY OUT FOR JUSTICE, TOO.
I’M HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEM!
SO LONG GIVEN SECOND CLASS CITEZENSHIP.
IS IT ANY WONDER PEOPLE LAUGH AS THEY SKIP ALONG THEIR MERRY WAY ALL THE WHILE NOT THINKING OF THE INORGANIC MATTER SUFFERING BENEATH EACH CRUSHING STEP!
STOP THINKING OF YOURSELF,...
FOR ONCE,...
THINK OF THE ROCKS!
THINK OF ALL THE STONES AND INORGANIC MATTER
STOP TREATING IT,...
LIKE,...
LIKE,...
DIRT!!
Nature’s been doing it for eons.
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