A controversial new genetic technology called "gene drives" threatens the
balance of our ecosystem. It could mutate the food we eat or be used to
spread disease. So far scientists have series doubts on its
safety.
We need to protect our environment and biodiversity! Will you call on the
European Parliament to stop gene drives?
WILL
YOU CALL FOR A MORATORIUM ON GENE
DRIVES? |
Hi Manfred,
Our ecosystems are fragile and complicated. One small
change can have a butterfly effect that ripples disastrous consequences
throughout the entire natural world. For example, we know the extinction of the
honeybee could lead to societal collapse as 80% of our food is dependent on
their existence.
A controversial new genetic manipulation
technology threatens to speed up that butterfly effect. They
are called “gene drives”. Gene drives allow scientists to modify,
delete or insert DNA into organisms that ensures the mutations are inherited to
99.5% of its offspring. These human-made mutations are guaranteed to spread
throughout the population with every new generation of offspring. In theory,
scientists could quickly alter the parasite populations to be malaria or tick
resistant and prevent public health epidemics. [1] In practice, unleashing mutated
species modified by gene drive technology without proper study could affect
entire ecosystems. We’ve seen this before with scientific experiments,
such as producing pesticides to protect agriculture but catastrophically
poisoning our bees in the process. [2] With gene drives, we could speed up that
invasive process.
What’s worse is that big
agricultural lobbyist and corporations have begun to appropriate and test this
technology for commercial gain, whilst the US Defence Advanced Research have
been considering it for use as a bioweapon.[3] In the wrong hands, our biosecurity
and food security would be under threat. These interests are now pushing hard
for a total deregulation of the technique everywhere and opposing any
restriction or assessment guidelines to be developed at international level.
That’s why we need to push on the European Parliament to call for an
international moratorium on gene drives.
Science has given us solutions to end human suffering,
from penicillin to curing small pox and polio. But in the wrong hands and
without ethical consideration, it can impact our biodiversity, like genetically
modified superweeds that grew to be immune to pesticides and invade local
plants. Say no to gene drives. Even the pioneer of gene drive,
Kevin Esvlet, said that: “Unethical closed-door research, unwarranted fears, or
unauthorized releases of gene drives will damage public trust in science and
governance”. [4] We need the
European Commission/Parliament to call for an international moratorium on gene
drives.
Let’s slow down and take care of our planet.
Technologies powerful enough to solve societal problems should not come at the
price of endangering our biodiversity nor our civilization.
Thank you for your support.
Carrie, Fernando, Joline, and the Tilt Team
References:
[1]
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/5/31/17344406/crispr-mosquito-malaria-gene-drive-editing-target-africa-regulation-gmo
[2]
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/16/frankenbees-genetically-modified-pollinators-danger-of-building-a-better-bee
[3]
http://genedrivefiles.synbiowatch.org/2017/12/01/us-military-gene-drive-development/
[4]
https://www.wired.com/story/this-gene-editing-tech-might-be-too-dangerous-to-unleash/
Manfred --
Thank you for signing our petition to support an international moratorium on
the use of gene drives in our ecosystems. Our ecosystem is complex and
delicate. We need to protect it from further unresearched scientific meddling
and experimentation.
Another way we can pressure our politicians to commit to a moratorium is by
sharing widely on social media. Can
you help us do that?
All done! Regards Manfred
Tilt!
http://www.tilt.green/
| 
