What do you think will happen when the world also acknowledges the far-reaching risks posed by GM microbes? What laws and restrictions will be put into place when experts and citizens understand the clear, irrefutable evidence of potential catastrophes? Do you suppose genetic components that could inadvertently wipe out an ecosystem or create a bioweapon will still be available by mail order?
The
One silver lining of the pandemic is that it is now exceedingly easy to convey the dangers of GM microbes.
Everyone knows that microbes travel, mutate, and can wreak havoc. Irrespective of the origins of the COVID virus, everyone also knows that creating new pandemic pathogens in laboratories is possible. And everyone wants to prevent new pandemics.
Protect Nature Now helps meet this need. First, the campaign calls for a ban on gain-of-function research.
Given that hundreds of dangerous accidents have been reported at high security bio-labs, it’s way too risky to have them enhance and then store potentially pandemic pathogens.
But if we are to truly implement the lessons from the pandemic—combined with the lessons learned from tens of thousands of research studies on the microbiome—we must also block outdoor release of any GM microbe.
Protect Nature Now has built an
Members of the US Congress have already expressed a desire to help. To expand and solidify our backing on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, we need to demonstrate more widespread support. To be a part of this effort, please visit the
Passing laws in one country is not enough. Protect Nature Now is working towards international treaty restrictions, as well as new national and regional laws worldwide.
For long-term security, however, we need to do more. Policies can reverse with new administrations. Governments can be manipulated by special interests. It is therefore necessary for a global education campaign to embed a new understanding into the fabric of society.
Through films, books, articles, social media, school curriculum, TV, thought leaders, celebrities, and popular culture, we will mainstream the message that this new technology requires a new responsibility. Humanity must understand that we have arrived at a time where we can easily alter billions of years of natural selection by reordering the code of life, redirecting the streams of evolution forever.
As understanding of the danger is assimilated, a new role for humanity will emerge. To protect ourselves and future generations, we must safeguard biological evolution. And that starts with protecting the smallest among us; the microbiome!