WHOA

[Captain Galaxy]

I don't know if this is true or not but if it is, I say its pretty messed up. www.organicconsumers.org/epa6.cfm

In fact it's hella messed up! STUPID EPA. If it's true, it's really scary. It almost could be, considering this country allows things as messed up as Traquility Bay. Down with CORRUPTION!

[Kuat]

It's still under the provision of an IRB, which is under other restraints. The site makes it seems that it goes consent ===> testing. However the experiment goes, as said under the article, under scrutiny, being tested for ethical, safety, and necessity concerns. Human tests are the last barrier, and before they can even be merely thought of, much less proposed, extensive animal and theoretical modeling has to be done.

In short, the kids really aren't facing much of a danger, and the experiments are by and large completely safe. Also, these experiments are probably only done in case there is a supreme benefit, not on a whim. Experiments are expensive to run, and if there isn't a large cost benefit, it will not be funded. The fact that human subjects would be merited for research pretty much means that it's not just some random chemical, but something that has been highly tested.

That said, they are still doing testing, and the point of testing is seeing "what if" something goes wrong that wasn't covered. It's a moral gray area that basically boils down to gain versus risk. Human testing will always, always be needed. Imagine instead that it was released without human testing; the effects that would have affected a handful now affect many more. It's a necessary evil, and one that you can't really avoid.

In addition, look at who is publishing this article. Hmm, Organic Consumers Association? Of course they aren't incredibly partial to what they say. There is no bias here, like there is no bias in Fox News. No, this article is text book case of sensationalism.

Also, Tranquility Bay is in Jamaica, not in the United States. They serve an international community, ect, ect. In effect, our government has little or nothing to do with them.

But I have to add, you can't neglect though that mistakes can, and will, be made. A few skewed tests, a neglected variable. In the case of pesticide testing... I don't see what the human gain from it can be that would be worth a single human life. There are numerous concerns that circle around pesticides and other farm practices, mainly saying how horrible they are and that they are screwing us in the future.

On a very superficial level I agree with the OCA, but I felt like being a devil's advocate because that brand of article makes it's rounds on other issues. In the case of genetic medicine, it really, REALLY has stopped a great deal of progress, and public uneducated reaction has, in my opinion, been indirect causes of deaths that could have been cured by genetic treatment. This also goes for stem cell use. Decisions being made by Joe Average on important issues through twisted and/or false information is rather aggravating.

So, my post in summary:

The article is sensationalist, and you should critically read their statements, as well as the source article. Human testing is a necessary evil. Pesticides however are of questionable use, especially the "arms race" bugs and chemicals have. However, they still are needed, and their effects need to be ascertained.

[Captain Galaxy]

Al...right! yeah!

[SneakyPete]

damn...

[Captain Galaxy]

Ok. Tranquility bay may not be in the U.S. But those other institutions were.

[Kuat]

vampyreheathen said:

Ok. Tranquility bay may not be in the U.S. But those other institutions were.

Technically they are in Utah. Utah's government...

Well...

Let's just not consider Utah a US state. I'd tell you why but... yeah, they don't count.