Public Relations & Political Influence
The controversy surrounding genetically
modified organisms has persisted as the agricultural biotech industry
has continued to promote its creations around the world.
Unfortunately, many people still do not understand the issues
relating to genetic engineering and the products of that process.
The ignorance surrounding this subject can largely be credited to the PR efforts of corporate agribusiness. These PR efforts have been so
successful that at this point in time it can very difficult to engage
in honest civil discussion about the issues related to genetic
engineering and genetically modified organisms.
A popular accusation used against the
opponents of GMO technology is that they are the “climate change deniers of the left.” This dismissive accusation, while quite
cleverly crafted, entirely misses the substance and reality of the
issues at hand. For one thing, it serves to inaccurately classify
the opponents of GMO technology as leftists. This serves to
marginalize them along the arbitrary lines of a left/right political
dichotomy and casts the issue in a political light which is largely
irrelevant. But suffice it say that it's not just leftists who
oppose this technology. The next attribute of this phrase, equating
them to “climate change deniers,” also serves to create another
false parallel which can potentially serve to divide people. People
on the right side of the political spectrum don't want to be seen as
sympathizing with an issue of “the left” and informed people of
any political persuasion do not want to be equated with any sort of
climate change denial. But the reality of this accusation is that it
obfuscates the real issues at hand.
