Redesigning Life?: The Worldwide Challenge to Genetic Engineering [Paperback]

Brian Tokar (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1856498352 | ISBN-13: 978-1856498357 | Publication Date: May 4, 2001

In today's world genetic engineering, animal cloning and new reproductive technologies are being promoted as the keys to a brighter future. But plenty of farmers, scientists, and concerned citizens disagree. Growing evidence shows that genetically engineered foods are hazardous to our health and the environment. Animal cloning and human genetic engineering raise troubling ethical questions. This book examines the hidden hazards, and controversy, of these new genetic technologies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“In this wide-ranging collection, scientists and activists discuss the pressing issues growing out of the wanton commercialization of the life sciences. With clear and up-to-date examples, the authors illustrate the dangers inherent in the unfettered manipulation of plant, animal and human biology for health and societal well-being.” —Ruth Hubbard, Professor Emerita of Biology at Harvard University, Board Member of the Council for Responsible Genetics, and author of Exploding the Gene Myth.

“The book is a superb collection of essays chronicling the development of biotechnology and the social reaction it has caused.” —Gene Watch

About the Author

Brian Tokar has been an activist since the 1970s, and is curently a faculty member at Goddard College and the Institute for Social Ecology in Vermont.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Zed Books (May 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856498352
• ISBN-13: 978-1856498357
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,733,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brian Tokar has been an activist, author and a leading critical voice for ecological activism since the 1980s, and is currently the Director of the Institute for Social Ecology and a lecturer in Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont. He is the author of The Green Alternative (1987, revised 1992) and Earth for Sale (1997), edited two books on the politics of biotechnology, Redesigning Life? and Gene Traders, and co-edited the collection, Crisis in Food and Agriculture: Conflict, Resistance and Renewal (Monthly Review Press, expected in November 2010). Brian received a Project Censored award for his investigative history of Monsanto Corporation (first published in The Ecologist) and is a founding member of the activist network Climate SOS (climatesos.org).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relief to the Brave New World, August 22, 2001

By 

The Analysts (USA, Latin America & Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Redesigning Life?: The Worldwide Challenge to Genetic Engineering (Paperback)

At our think tank we have watched a rather unfortuante level of triumphalism to the new genetic technologies. From Dolly to Rael to boistrous Italians and to "experts" at the American Academy for the "Advancement" of Science (AAAS) far too many individuals and institutions have staked a supportive claim for the new biotechnologies.

What these modern Huxley's fail to do, however, is locate biotechnology in a clear political-economic, and historical context. For most of these John-come-lately's (the antedeluvian, US President included) biotechnologies happen in the ever present now. Such experts provide little to no understanding of the deep historical relationship of the "new" technologies to their legacy with the global eugenics movement--that always includes Nazi racial-hygiene efforts.

Finally, Brian Tokar and his colleagues have arrived. Not with a venegenace, but with a calm, much needed, political-economic, historical and analytical insight, to be both appreciated and championed.

This book is important inasmuch as it contains a critical ad-mixture of prominent environmentalists from the North (e.g., a Director of the quasi-rightwing, xenophobic Sierra Club--that recently voted (unsuccesfully) to ban immigrants from the US) and the South (Vandana Shiva, acclaimed Indian scientists and activists for biosafety and much else) and many others that don't come out screaming.

Beyond the enviro-authors are many other scientists and activists many broadly published and read elsewhere.

The environmentalists contribution is notable and important inasmuch, despite the anti-GE-food movement they have spawned, environmentalists and other liberals would arguably be the first in line to receive the new genetic technologies, as few if any of these middle to upper-middle class liberals (Heller, Schmidt, Dorsey, et. al.) and global jet-setters (Shiva, Burrows, Von Weisacker, et. al.) would want to "produce" feeble-minded children to attend to the Harvard and Yale factories.

More importantly these folks make the point over and over again that biotechnology, as all technologies, just does NOT just happen out of some benevolent transnational ether, to "save the planet" or "cure diseases". Instead interested parties, Monsanto and its underlings, and a host of others, are out to make money.

Of course nothing is inherently wrong with making money (despite liberal angst against it), yet when we understand biotech in this light, we are forced to see it for what its worth and to whom.

So Redesigning Life is a very important contribution--especially in an age where anyone who dares tell the truth about the thuggery of Monsanto, the potential dangerous and unethical outcomes of Rael or the deadly consequence of GE food may face unwarranted attacks from those that would dare and be able to differ, if only with their huge budgets and fat pockets.

The books other bonus is that each chapter can be consumed one part at a time, in any order. Although overall the text is a terrifically coherent whole.

Its more than appropriate for reading groups, students (at all levels) and the curious citizen, interested in some solid research on the matter.

We highly recommend it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wide-ranging and effective critique of genetic engineering, March 5, 2002

By 

Malvin (Frederick, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Redesigning Life?: The Worldwide Challenge to Genetic Engineering (Paperback)

You may have heard the biotech industry's claims that genetic engineering (GE) is the key to eradicating hunger, improving the environment, and helping humans live healthier lives. Yet, many people have resisted the adoption of these technologies (mainly in Europe but increasingly in the U.S.). Do these protests have validity?

This excellent book convincingly argues that Yes, the public should be concerned about GE. Its 31 essays are written by an assortment of knowledgeable but concerned scientists and activists. Some of them are ex-industry insiders who clearly understand the technical issues involved. These writers resoundingly dispel the industry's usual claim that GE dissenters are uninformed neo-Luddites.

It is clear that the biotech industry exists principally to make money for its investors. Statements about making the world a better place are, in fact, little more than a public relations smoke screen but have been effective in that it gives cover for politicians and regulators who must approve much of what the industry does.

It is a bit surprising that most people are not more concerned about the ownership of life forms (including human DNA) by private companies. To date, this has mostly affected farmers who are impelled to buy patent-protected seed, but in the future it may have profound implications for most people too. Several essays drill into this particular topic in detail, and are eye-opening.

Other articles focus on the many serious technical concerns that exist, such as the threat of cross-pollination. It is alarming to learn that companies such as Monsanto push aggressively to get new products approved, despite evidence that they may be dangerous.

The book also suggests common sense solutions to many of the problems that the biotech industry claims to be solving. For example, instead of growing GE pigs to produce replacement human body parts, why not simply encourage more people to participate in organ donor programs? If participation rates were increased in the U.S. to levels comparable to some other places in the world, there would be no shortage.

If you want to be better informed about the vitally important topic of GE, I strongly encourage you to read this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and wideranging coverage of this complex subject, August 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Redesigning Life?: The Worldwide Challenge to Genetic Engineering (Paperback)

'The biotechnology industry has taken us beyond natural evolution into the unknown terrain of a never-to-be-natural-again world. We know nothing of the long-term biological, ecological, economic, public health and animal welfare impacts of this new technology. This book, with its excellent and wide-ranging coverage of this complex subject, will help us awaken to the costs and potentially harmful, even catastrophic, consequences.' - Dr. Michael W. Fox, Senior Scholar, Bioethics, The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, DC