Semantics

Increasing agricultural production alone does not alleviate hunger.

The amount of grain produced in the world in1999 could by itself sustain 8b, 2b more than the population. Total food production is estimated to provide each human being with at least 3500 calories per day. Many Bangladeshis starved during the 1974 floods, 4million tons of rice produced in that country were stacked in warehouses for want of buyers; the people were too poor to buy. India regularly exports food and animal feeds despite an estimated 200million in starvation.

In the Kenyan chapter, 10million are starving while grains are being exported to Sudan.

All these figures will never bring put food on the table for the poor. The issue of hunger, it appears is not lack of food but lack of entitlement to food. Those lacking the ready cash to buy food or the resources to produce it themselves seem destined for hunger no matter what miracles agricultural technology provides. Irrigation increases productivity in dry areas but is only viable for those with the resources.

The world’s nations will need to deal with issues of equity and democracy first if hunger is ever to be effectively addressed.

No Agriculture can continue to feed a growing population if it depletes or fouls its resource base. The path undertaken by conventional agriculture is ultimately a dead and in this regard, though there is an almost mystical faith that Genetic Engineering and other complex technologies will always triumph. Agriculture needs to be sustainable. Therefore we who promote organic agriculture as a true alternative are well advised to do our part in ensuring that certification and regulations do not create a compliance agriculture in which sustainability becomes little more than an afterthought.

Simple Solutions

The global crisis cannot be overstressed, especially climate wise. We already believe that we can solve big problems with simple solutions; it does not call for rocket science. But at the same time, we have to be careful with how we bring in the simple solutions not to blow the situation out of proportion.
The other day one article author talked of how near we are to the day when humans will only have to sit out in the sun to make their lunch!(after inserting the chlorophyll gene on our skin) That’s how reductionistic we can go; I mean how possible is that? Bearing in mind the other physiological and anatomical systems of the body.
GMOs will not solve our problems. This is evident in the statistics which show the cost of the technology compared with losses caused by some of the aspects being manipulated by the GMOs.So why not approach the subject with care and sobriety it deserves?

THE KENYA WE DO NOT WANT

Humanity's most sacred possession, its freedom of subjective thought,
action and feeling, will be literally trodden underfoot by people who were
never really in a position to intervene in a positive way. In such a situation
the colours under which these leaders choose to march is quite immaterial,
because the same oppressive drive exists everywhere.
Generally, the inner
perception of the true causes has been lost, and consequently, the last
chance of really effective help. Moreover, those in positions of power, who
are incapable of forming their own opinion, must constantly rely on the
advice of so-called experts who are themselves victims of a universally inferior
education. As a result, they are unable to realize that it is precisely their
advice, and the actions arising from it, which will inevitably transform this
Kenya of ours into a hell, when it could be a paradise.
The hippocracy of our leaders is alarming, we cannot even talk of the grant corruptions.

Time To wonder and Ponder.

Sometimes its inevitable to stop and think why most things tend to remain the same.
This is the case as partains the social and economic sructures in the society especially poverty and behaviour of individual e.g social vices like drug abuse and theft.
Am tempted to think of the gaia theory to explain such but to what level this is justified is subject to debate since it might reduce to the reductionist school of thought.
Its impossible to think of issues in a linear manner especially concerning social issues.

Genetic Determinism

This is a science which has failed the reality test.
Some scientists after understanding the DNA and the gene concluded that an organism is just but the sum total of its genes i.e your genes determine ehat you are, do and even ypur diseases.
But reality proves thet not only does DNA give instrictions, it also gets information from the environment and changes accordingly-fluidity of the genome.
Before Dolly was cloned, they had made Tracy after genetically manipulating her genes so as to produce a certain Amino acid in large quantities but failed to pass the same genes to her offsprings hence the Idea of cloning was born so as to avoid loss of essential genes.
Some genes have been associated with some diseases E.g diabetes,cancer and cystic fibroids to mention but a few.But reality has proven that environment plays a part for disease development.
So genetic determinism is fundamentally wrong.

Genetic engineering

This guys talking of genetic engineering as the only technolgy to feed the world.
This is a case of genetic determinism which is imposible considering that genes do not function alone but are influenced by very many other interelated factors. This means that even if you transfer the genes this does not mean they will function as in their previous niche.
This is true considering that different genes provoke different reaction in different individuals.
Therefore its better we approach these issues bearing in mind the wholeness of cells.
If we have the principles wrong i.e our research paradigms revolve around the wrong assumptions it means everything we do will be wrong.

GOD IS INNATE

I happen to habor this view that Gods power is inside every human being.
Even before human beins read the bible, they still had this notion that in one way or the other they must recognise some power beyond their understanding.
These individuals could set up special places for their God only that different people had different names for the supreme power.
Everything was associated with this power and only good things were sacrificed for this power so as to get favours.