Lindsey Crawford
Library 201
GMOs
All the sites were clear, easy to navigate through and current, but that tells me only that they are aware that packaging is important. However, I do believe that in order to get any message across one must present themselves as professional, which all the sites do. Content is the most important thing to me in evaluating websites. The content in the three varied, but here’s what I thought:
The Monsanto site confirmed my initial suspicions about them: they are out to make a profit and nothing else. Leading me to this idea is the lack of fair and balanced information about GMOs in their site. They clearly document the process and benefits of GMOs but offer no information to the other side: GMOs are not natural and there have been documented cases of their danger. Furthermore, they do not go into detail about how GMOs are made. To alter the DNA of a plant cell, viruses, such as ecoli, are used to get into the cellular wall. This information is not on their site. Just because they offer scientific definitions, videos and graphs and charts does not mean that they are experts on the subject. Also disquieting was the lack of because and therefore to their claims. I believe that credibility relies on things like warrants and impacts. Scitable seems more credible because they offer the pros and cons of GMOs. There purpose seems to be to inform and not to sell. I am also more inclined to trust their information because they have there references listed. The Say No To GMOs site, like the Monsanto one, also has a clear agenda. And while I agree with their information, I am inclined to distrust their site because of this clear slant. There purpose is to inform, but also to call to action.
I do have qualms and fears about GMOs. The process of breaking into the cellular wall, described above, does make me hesitant about trusting them. Furthermore, the fact that those in the food industry are opposed to labeling GMOs makes me distrust them because it leads me to believe that they are aware of a danger and are afraid of lawsuits.
Haugen, David M. and Musser, Susan, Genetic Engineering. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009
