Allow me to shatter your conception of teenagers by introducing you to Rachel Parent. At age 14, Parent has become an activist for the cause of GMO (genetically modified organisms) food labeling, founding the fundraiser Kids Right to Know GMO Walk. Most recently, Parent gained Internet fame – and international respect – for cooly debating the issue of GMOs with merciless talk show host Kevin O’Leary on his popular Canadian show.
O’Leary didn’t cut Parent any slack as he grilled her on her GMO viewpoints – but then again, Parent didn’t need him to. O’Leary steered the conversation away from Parent’s chief cause – a demand for GMO food labeling – to an ideological debate of the merits of GMOs in themselves. As the talk show host accused Parent of supporting widespread famine and disease, Parent in her calm, collected manner offered well-researched rebuttals regarding the failure of GMO golden rice, the devastating environmental effects of GMOs, and the lack of long-term health studies – all the while exhibiting the composure, elegance, and wisdom of someone twice her age.
GMOs have been a hot issue in health, environmental, agricultural, and political circles in recent years, and I applaud Parent for tackling such an important cause with such passion. GMOs certainly have the potential to be highly beneficial and detrimental, and they deserve critical examination in both domestic and global contexts (though hopefully future conversations model Parent’s poise rather than O’Leary’s attacks). How do you feel about genetically modified food?
Watch the debate here:
Think people should hear about this?