Hi Chris,

The 'Chicken Little' syndrome is especially pervasive amongst 'economists',
PR firms that rally around the notion that profit maximization is not just a
sacred right but a duty to boot, montebanks preaching their principles of
wealth accumulation as the cornerstone of democractic governance, podium
pounders screeching the value of material growth at any cost,  I would
surmise. As far as the hoax is concerned regarding the Genetically
Engineered plant that turns living things into slime, this not a hoax.

The Chicken Little sydnrome is especially motivational in the world of
genetic engineering not because of the 'potential benefits' but rather the
perception of nearly instant wealth accumulation for the patent holders.

Here is the post regarding the true 'hoax' maker, a post sent to the Wildnet
list. It is from Wil Burns, Chair, of the American Society of International
Law section of the Wildlife Interest Group. I checked out Dr. Ingham's
website in Oregon, and there is a email newsletter that one can subscribe
to. See is a forest soil scientist with a PhD I believe.


"Nice try, but Dr. Ingham does exist; she's with Soil Foodweb Inc. in
Corvallis and most likely was collaborating with OSU researchers. See
http://www.soilfoodweb.com/ingham.html

You can debate the merits of her conclusions, but please spare us this
"hoax" stuff since even the most rudimentary inquiry would have turned up
this information.

Wil Burns, Chair
American Society of International Law - Wildlife Interest Group
1210 Floribunda Ave. #7
Burlingame, CA 94010 USA
Phone:  650.703.3280
Fax:      801.838.4710
[log in to unmask]
http://www.eelink.net/~asilwildlife





----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Perley <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2001 11:23 PM
Subject: FW: [Biomonitor] [WILD_GENES] GM bug 'could end all life' - A hoax?


> This looks suspiciously like a reference to the message sent by John
Foster.
> I am no fan of the fringe of genetic engineering (mixing genes across
> families, even kingdoms, for short term motives, and without hubris), but
> the Chicken Little (the sky is falling) approach is extremely counter
> productive to getting constructive outcomes and meaningful debate, and
ought
> to be exposed wherever possible.  It is not only unethical, it is
damaging
> to the search for pragmatic solutions.  There are some, of course, who
don't
> gives a tinker's damn for any solutions, because this will stymie the fun
> they have playing chicken little.
>
> Chris Perley
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rsjones [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Sunday, 11 February 2001 15:38
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [Biomonitor] [WILD_GENES] GM bug 'could end all life'
>
>
> Hi folks:
>
> Don't despair.  The GM bug that "could end all life" is a hoax.  The
Oregon
> State faculty member to whom the information is attributed (Elaine Ingham)
> doens't exist!!!!  A quick check of the faculty lists at Oregon State (you
> can do this easily on line at www.orst.edu) shows that there is no Elaine
> Ingham at Oregon State.  This is just another scare tactic from the fringe
> "anti-biotech" crowd.
>