Perspectives on GMOs Grow from ‘Sacred Seed’

After meditating with the upcoming book Sacred Seed, I envisioned hundreds of copies of the beautifully illustrated paperback showing up on Hillary Clinton's doorstep.

October 14, 2014 | Source: National Catholic Reporter | by Sharon Abercrombie

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After meditating with the upcoming book
Sacred Seed, I envisioned hundreds of copies of the beautifully illustrated paperback showing up on Hillary Clinton’s doorstep.

The copies would be gifts from organic farmers and members of the spiritual ecology community.

The book, published by the Global Peace Initiative of Women and due for release Nov. 1, features essays by teachers from a wide spectrum of spiritual traditions regarding the significance of seeds and their mistreatment and loss by the biotech industry, from ecological and mystical perspectives.

Among the well-known contributors are Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the Eastern Orthodox church, and Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva, who inspired the series of essays.

But of course, the next immediate thought in my vision was far more sobering: Would Clinton have the time and inclination to read Sacred Seed? Would she donate the rest of her copies to GMO corporations for their edification? Would CEOs opt to read the book, and have collective changes of heart, or at least terrible pangs of conscience keeping them awake at night? One would truly hope so.

Here’s why: In June, Clinton, whose early career as an attorney included representing Monsanto, upset hosts of environmentalists when she reiterated her support for genetically modified organisms at the 2014 Biotechnology Industry Organization International Convention in San Diego.

As a keynote speaker she observed that the biotech industry needs to come up with “a better vocabulary” to change negative public perception about GMO agriculture.

Katherine Paul, communications director for the Organic Consumers’ Association, has since initiated a Moveon.org petition, urging the former secretary of state and potential presidential candidate to “do what’s right, not what the biotech industry lobbyists want you to do.”