ABSTRACT
With genotechnology all the issues I have raised in this book come to a head: for science, indeterminacy reaches a climax and the hazard potential is mind boggling. The involvement of the world’s major transnational companies is virtually total. The difficulty of national governments to arrive at policy and regulation is compounded by the global sourcing, the complexity of the science, and the networks of interests that span most spheres of social life. For farmers the control over the mode and means of re/production is moved even further out of reach: intensified is the squeeze applied by the agri-and bio-chemical companies that supply them, a science that defines for them what is modern and up-to-date practice, and ever larger debts to service the system. With respect to getting the all-important media coverage, genotechnology is devoid of any features that would make it attractive for popular media attention. And, finally, for citizens the potential hazards and social problems are amplified: the poorest people of the world and the members of countries who cannot afford to apply strict regulations are the unsolicited guinea pigs of this massive experiment. To the extent that this is largely a reproduction and food issue, women the world over find themselves extensively implicated. Third World producers are deeply affected by the corporate global pursuit and utilisation of this technology whilst people with genetic diseases are at the sharp end of its application in medicine. Consumers are expected to eat the food in blissful ignorance. The recipients of genetic screening are to be thankful to be told their potential genetic fate. In the absence so far of any spectacular disasters, complacency reigns supreme.
