As as I was looking into the petition to take GMO ingredients out of Girl Scout cookies I had a revelation. Actually it wasn't even a revelation, but more of a confirmation. A confirmation that GMO supporters are not as strong in the grassroots initiatives like the anti-GMO supporters. The girl scouts petition was a perfect example. A girl scout put her voice against GMOs on the site change.org and received over 47,000 signatures to date. It was enough of a voice to get her an audience with the Girl Scouts. The Girl Scouts organization still listened to science and kept GMO ingredients in their cookies, but I can guarantee that petition pushed someone that was on the fence to think GMOs are dangerous. Decisions based on a emotions happen to all of us at some point. A good story can capture our hearts whether it is based on a true story or not.
The biotech industry pushes out facts and brochures in an attempt to educate the public. Scientists talk about their research to their friends and neighbors. The education effort must not stop, but in my opinion this is not enough. The anti-GMO movement in many cases is using false information, but it doesn't matter if that story grabs someone by the heartstrings. It is a personal story and people are emotional beings. A story captivates much more than bars and graphs for many people. The pro-GMO movement is not making it emotional, at least on the same scale as its opponents. That emotional grassroots movement is what we need.
I went to change.org and searched GMO. Here is a nice excerpt of what is shown:
I know that lots of people already have their mind made up. There is a group that will not be swayed and many of them will support these types of petitions. Yet, don't be naive to think these types of tools on the internet don't also persuade people that are on the fence. These petitions are from people that feel so strongly about there view that they try to persuade other's to share the same viewpoint. Where are the same stories from a from a pro-GMO view? They almost non-existent.
I know we have science on our side. The safety record of GMOs is impeccable and the benefits are well documented, but almost everyone in Europe vehemently opposes GMOs. Even in the US there is some opposition. We have to make this emotional and take the battle to the front lines on a personal level. The science by itself is not enough. Just use Europe as a case study. People need to connect to the science emotionally.
I made a change.org petition to support GMOs. Show your support. Show other's that feeding the world and making better tools for the farmer's is not just a job for us. It is a personal mission. We want to make a difference in the world. I please with you to go to this link, sign you name and show your support for GMOs. Even write a comment and share your story. We can change the culture even if it is one person at a time. We have to try.
Click to sign: Support the science based benefits and proven safety of GMO crops to feed a growing population
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