Pressure groups try to influence the law by informing legislators of its member’s preferences and why it is opposed to the changes being considered and implemented. Pressure groups also give money or time to help with an election campaign thus helping increase their chances of getting their point across. In extreme cases pressure groups encourages its members to lobby to oppose against decisions their voice heard. (www.historylearningsite.co.uk/pressure_groups.htm)
Pressure groups play an essential and important role in the way in which decisions are made and what the effects are of those resultant decisions. Political parties such as Labour cannot possibly provide adequate representation for the full range of diverse interests and ethical arguments to be heard in a modern day society. The main aim of a Pressure group is to enable particular interests, opinions and causes to be heard, thus helping influence decisions that are being made. However many people feel threatened against the methods used to achieve objectives and get their point across, which is resultant of particular lobbies.
Pressure groups help improve the quality and acceptability of government decisions and the resultant implications of those decisions. They view consultation as the only rational way to make decisions in a free society with diverse interests. This makes government decisions more efficient, effective and thus helps improve the quality of government policy and legislation. The quality of the decision making process is therefore improved thus reducing the level of rejection by opposing parties. Genetically modified foods, are food products made from genetically modified organisms, which belong to a category of crops (GM crops)(ww.aber.ac.uk)
Genetically modified (GM) foods have been involved in much controversy and concern. There are a number of Issues surrounding the production and availability and safety of GM foods, which has led to a world wide campaign against GM foods. It started in Britain, sixteen years ago when John Gummer (minister of Agriculture) gave support for the production and thus the resultant introduction of GM foods onto the market. After the BSC outbreak concern spread to what the implication would be regarding GM foods. This campaign against GM foods grew in force to increase awareness of the possible implications. Pressure groups such as the friends of the earth, Green peace, and the soil association campaigned against the production of GM foods .As a result of this twenty-four of the biggest food producers moved to ensure products were non GM. This stance encouraged the government to issue new regulations, which require all catering establishments to tell potential customers whether or not food contained GM content. Pressure groups have had a significant effect of influencing and shaping the GM debate in Britain. This has positively led to governments introducing new regulations and labeling regulations. A public debate has also been authorsied by the government to identify the issues surrounding Gm foods. The results of this report are still pending and will be released in late 2003.We can not determine exactly how effective pressure groups have been in shaping the GM debate without knowing the full results of the report. But without the intervention and lobbying of pressure groups new regulations would not have been considered or even introduced without intense lobbying by pressure groups.
Conclusion
Pressure groups such as Friends of the Earth and Green Peace have helped increase the awareness of the possible implication of GM technology. This has mainly been due to the intense lobbying, and protests carried out. It is due to these activities by these pressure groups that Governments have taken notice and thus introduced labeling regulation and proposed a detailed investigation. Pressure groups have been effective and thus helped increase the GM debate in Britain. Many large food producers have also issued packaging regulations. Had it not been for the involvement of pressure groups, the GM debate would not have gone as far is has gone, thus preventing the general public and major firms being aware of the implications of GM foods and GM technology. (Course handouts)
What is meant by Globalization? Has Globalization shifted power from nations states to organizations such as Monsanto? Evaluate ho globalization has shaped the development of GM technology and the GM debate?
Globalization can be defined as the "process enabling financial and investment markets to operate internationally, largely as a result of deregulation and improved communications. (www.guardian .com)
Because of Globalization, improved communications has made it possible, for e.g. the British service sector to deal with its customers through a call centre in Malaysia. A sportswear manufacturer could be used to create and design its products in central Europe, produce them in Southeast Asia and then sell them in North America.
Globalization is the emergence of a borderless global economy. It helps reduce boundaries between states thus reducing the significance of distance. This concept however is not new, as it has been in existence for at least the past twenty-five years. However, it is only in the past fifteen years it has evolved at an accelerating rate. This is primarily due to the advances in communications and transportation technology and easier access to the international global market. Statistics show that daily foreign exchange transactions now amount to $1,200bn per day; this compared to international trade is up to 65 times more. (www.guardian .com)
A number of problems have however arisen due to Globalization, which more than outweigh the benefits experienced. The main concern surrounding Globalization is that if Globalized practices replace existing domestic economic life with an economy that is heavily influenced, directed and controlled from overseas, then the idea of Globalization can be seen as more of a surrender of power to corporate organizations such as Monsanto. This argument has reiterated the concept that Globalization will just keep poorer nations in their place and strengthen corporate organization hence increasing their profits.( www.newcastle.edu.)
Globalization has resulted in power shifting from nations to corporate organizations. In contrast to being an unstoppable force for increased development, Globalization has generated increased profits for the rich and not the poor. An example of this is Monsanto, a 12 billion a year leader in GM foods. Due to its rapid growth and large size it is Monsanto is considering using technical muscle to form relationships with the government in the hope of increasing better relations. A large majority of people however believe Monsanto was threatening a price war to the poor by developing GM seeds which farmers were forced to buy because their crops were not producing, mainly because they were to poor to buy new seeds. (Course handouts)
Monsanto argued this by claiming their GM seeds produced enhanced crops, which have the added benefit of carrying edible vaccines for killer diseases. Many people remain skeptical however about the benefits of Monsanto’s GM products, as their motives are commercial and not
providing aid to the poor. This example shows that Globalization has shifted power from nations where , the primary aim was to help those who needed help such as farmers and help boost the economy. This however has not been the case as Globalization has not brought increased power to nations but has shifted power from nations to larger organizations such as Monsanto who have used the benefits of Globalization to their advantage in order to maximize their profit for commercial success. (course handouts) and ()
The main question that can be asked is, how has globalization shaped the development GM Technology and the GM debate?
The advancement of Globalization at an accelerated pace over the last fifteen years has meant that commercial organizations, firms and nations are able operate internationally, due improved communications. This has meant that organizations such as Monsanto have used to this to thier advantage, thus increasing its ability to utilize technology, and communication to research and produce GM products. Globalization has helped increase communications, by allowing firms to operates internationally thus helping increase the development of GM technology and GM products. The impact of Globalization on GM technology has brought mixed reactions to society. Some view the spread of Globalization, as creating free markets and free trade as the best way to beat poverty. However a large majority of society does not view Globalization and its consequent benefits to GM technology with the same appreciation. This has led to a worldwide campaign against GM foods and GM technology from major pressure groups such as friends of the earth and Green peace. Many people believe that had it not been for Globalization the level of GM foods and technology would not have advanced as far as they have and greater measures would have been in place to monitor and test GM advancements. This however has not been the case, as a number of problems have occurred. An example of this was when Monsanto was fined for failing to control its genetic modification trials. Pressure groups such as Friends of the earth, and Green peace have been lobbying the World Health organization, to raise awareness and prevent GM foods to be categorized in the same way as organic foods. Other groups have also joined this campaign e.g. the Environment Minister have raised the issue that their crops are at risk from cross contamination from GM trial crops. This can occur when pollen is transported and carried by birds, bees and the wind thus contaminating other crops. () and (course handouts)
Conclusion
Globalization has had a large impact on the development of GM technology and GM foods. Without the advantage of Globalization many GM companies would not have grown and expanded so rapidly e.g. Monsanto .GM companies like Monsanto have only grown in size and technological advancement due to the increase in communication brought about due to Globalization. Many companies may feel that Globalization has benefited them enormously but, it may be these benefits that lead to their eventual downfall e.g. Monsanto’s economic strength and GM technology has brought a worldwide campaign against them, from major pressure groups thus causing increasing the GM debate in worldwide and in Britain. (course handouts)
Bibliography
1.()
2.(www.historylearningsite.co.uk/pressure_groups.htm)
3.(ww.aber.ac.uk)
4.(www.guardian .com)
5.( .)
6.()
7.course handouts
Word count for first essay: 1123
Word count for second essay: 1100
total word count :2223
