Challenge Match: titorite vs TheWayISeeIt : "Codex Alimentarius: TEOTWAKI or Safe at Last?"

The topic for this debate is "Codex Alimentarius: TEOTWAKI or Safe at Last?"

titorite will be arguing the pro position.
TheWayISeeIt will argue the con position and will open the debate.

Each debater will have one opening statement each. This will be followed by 3 alternating replies each. There will then be one closing statement each and no rebuttal.

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Thanks to MemoryShock for shepherding me to a basic understanding of how to issue and execute on a debate challenge, Semperfortis for moderating and to titorite for accepting my challenge. Special thanks to the Judges who, by taking the time out of their lives to render a verdict, will also be helping me in my quest to become Educated in the Art of Debate.


OPENING STATEMENT

The Codex Alimentarius – The End Of The World As We Know It

"If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." — Thomas Jefferson

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) was created in 1963 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) – an adjunct of the UN -- to develop food standards and guidelines with the ostensible purpose of ensuring fair trade practices, promoting coordination of food standards and protecting the health of consumers.

The CAC is currently comprised of a 171 countries -- 97% of the world -- and uses consensus to set the rules for the world’s international trade in food. It has more than twenty active committees and task forces deciding on anything from animal feed to fisheries, genetic modification of plants and animals, to dosage amounts in nutritional supplements, to acceptable pesticides and their residues.

The creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on January 1, 1995 made the Codex Alimentarius internationally binding as the WTO has accepted the CAC as the standard by which international trade disputes will be handled. Any nation that has entered into trade agreements through the WTO and/or its various adjunctive treaties will eventually be forced, by necessity of trade, to adopt Codex the standards.


TO POINT:

For the first time in the history of mankind, organizations that are global in their structure and goals are attempting to – and have nearly succeeded at – taking control of the world’s food supply, the result being control over every individual’s access to nutrition from “farm to fork”.

The implications of this are vast and damning to the future health of our species and the planet as a whole as –

THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS WILL CONTROL every legal consumable substance for humans and food animals in every country that trades in said substances.

The CAC’s oversight, when fully extended to include the details that will actually and truly affect everyone’s very-own-personal ‘You-And-Yours-Reality’, includes:

1. Genetically modified organisms
2. Toxic residues of all manner
3. Vitamins, minerals and nutrients
4. Antibiotics, drugs, growth stimulants, and other hormones in food animals,
5. Organic foods
6. Irradiation of food

By dint of that alone, if the CAC succeeds, one could argue that Codex Alimentarius represents The End Of The World As We Know It, but I have no intention of stopping there as there is a much larger case to be made.


THE CASE:

I will show by reason of how the CAC convenes, legislates, researches and arbitrates that a the primary reason for its existence, in its current incarnation, is to exert control over the global population and to promote ‘Big Agro/Pharma/Chemical and GMO’ interests in a globalized marketplace.

I will demonstrate time and again how the CAC gives clear priority to those interests over the consumer’s health, safety and freedom.

The implementation of this nefarious agreement on a global scale will indeed change the world, but not for the betterment of mankind, as my opponent will state, but to its great detriment.

I intend to demonstrate how virtually every man, woman and child will be negatively affected by the Codex Alimentarius due to:

1. Global inundation of food laden with known toxins and carcinogens
2. Food that will have dramatically diminished nutritional capacity due to the unfettered use of toxic pesticides, irradiation and genetically modified seed
3. Loss of access to adequate supplemental nutrition
4. A radically degraded environment and the likely loss of multitudinous ‘heirloom’ seed lines due to large-scale planting of GM
5. Countries losing their true sovereignty as their economies and, in turn, their entire populations will find themselves at the mercy of the WTO’s enforcement of the Codex standards

As my esteemed opponent has taken the Pro position he is sure to argue – and to make trivial examples to prove -- the simple-minded delusion that the Codex is being put in place to keep us safe. What other motivating factor could there be for these many decades of wrangling other than the safety and good of the consumer, he will ask.

Global control for the WTO/FAO and the enrichment of these Global Corporations will be my response to that query, and I hope at the end of this debate it will be yours as well.

reply to post by TheWayISeeIt

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MY thanks to all involved for your contributions. For I only contribute this part and the rest of the debate is the readers , the judges, the mods, and my opponent and so to all of you I say: Thank you.

I would like to aly fears that the Codex Alimentarius is part of any grand conspiracy to take over all that you eat and drink. Its true purpose is merely as a sub committee of the WTO to help regulate standards, food safety , and other miscellaneous details related to the food industry. In an age of global trade in cow meat and fresh herbs it is important to build entities such as the Codex Alimentarius to ensure both safe and fair food trade.

FIRST STATEMENT

In May 2005 the Stockholm Convention was signed by 176 countries, the U.S. included, where they committed to eliminating from the environment and the food supply 12 of the most toxic pesticides 9 of the 12 are considered Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP’s). POP’s are defined as such because they remain in the environment for extended periods of time which allows them to move



The CAC allows for 7 of 9 of these poisons, they are:

Aldrin
Chorldane
Dieldrin
Endrin
Heptachlor
Hexachlorobenzene
Mirex

I cite this as my first example of The End Of The World as We Know It and a point in case for many of the prongs of my argument.

Here we see a loss of sovereignty of a 176 nations that have committed themselves to a completely different course of action. The poisoning of the food supply with known biological toxins and carcinogens and policy that surely leads to a blanket contamination of our environment on a global scale

This is also a clear example of the CAC acting to benefit Corporate Interests over that of the consumers , as surely these 176 countries would not be banning these chemicals if they were essential to food production or considered them harmless to their populations even with the consideration of a cost-benefit ratio.

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My opponent is entirely incorrect in his/her statement that the CAC is a ‘sub-committee’ of the WTO. As I stated in my opening, the CAC is:


Source 2: Ref. 1

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I have chosen to be brief in this post as I am unclear from my opponents Opening Statement whether or not they intend to go forward with this debate. If so, I am looking forward to making up for lost time.

Edited by Semperfortis to fix link

[edit on 10/20/2008 by semperfortis]

reply to post by TheWayISeeIt

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Yes my opening statement was brief. You have nailed most of the points right away. But can you tell me how many farmers has the Codex prevented from planting whatever seeds they like for personal food production? Surely me and you are able to cut out any middle man and plant our own gardens to grow and eat our own food with fear of the CAC police detaining us right?

And just because the Codex Alimentarius, allows for a certain percentage of harmful pollutants to pass for third world nations to trade with one another this does not mean that any developed nation is forbidden to have higher than CAC standards does it? Just because one is allowed to do something does not mean one rushes out to start doing it. And I fail to see how the Codex Alimentarius poses a risk to my personal sovereignty. I am still as free and sovereign regardless of any choice the UN or any governmental body for that matter, makes. Wouldn't you agree?


So in short closing can you show me any direct proof ,that the actions of the
Codex Alimentarius has forcibly controlled what a farmer grew and sold?

I will accept anything from military intervention to trade tariffs But I would like to see DIRECT EVIDENCE that this evil organization prevents farmers from organically growing legacy seeds if they so choose.

SECOND STATEMENT

You cannot grow food if you do not have access to:

Arable land
Water supply
Knowledge of agricultural practices

I would point out that the vast majority of the world’s population does not have access to all three of these required elements. For starters 51% of the global populous resides in urban areas.

Source 1: Ref. 1

And the worst hunger is currently in the world’s rural areas where the landless poor make up, by far, the biggest segment of those suffering from malnutrition. Source 2: Ref. 1

GMO/LMO and the Cartagena Protocol slight-of-hand

The CAC policy on GMO is all out no restriction on GMO foods in international trade. The primary driving countries behind the CAC, with the exception of the EU, are adamantly opposed to even the labeling of GMO food. There is so much feinting, dodging and obfuscation around its policy that one has to look closely at what the CAC is doing as opposed to what it is saying, so let me make this very clear:

In 2000 an international agreement called The Cartagena Protocol was signed by every member country of the CAC where the term Living Modified Organism (LMO) was introduced as an alternate phrase for GMO. The CAC is using the reference to the Cartagena Protocol as their position on LMO (which is simply GMO by another name).

Source 3: Ref. 1


As to you and I being able to personally plant our own gardens with heirloom seeds – and in this instance assuming you I currently reside in either the live in the U.S.or E.U. – it seems the answer is going to be NO!

Allow me to explain, using some conjecture as the CAC has not been implemented in its entirety yet, so the WTO is not fully enforcing its standards.

But if we look at the “harmonization act” which states that the FDA intends to fall fully in line with Codex Standards Source 4: Ref. 1

And what the European Commission – which has also agreed on “harmonizing” and is already employing CAC standards in many cases – is doing:


Source 5: Ref. 1

We have a clear example of a farmer being forbidden aka NOT FREE TO plant/sell/harvest clean seed lines. I think it is safe to say that while the EU is taking a stance against the U.S. in regards GMO labeling, they have no issue handing the seed supply over to, and then legislating on behalf of, corporate interests.
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In regards to the CAC and pesticides, I’d also like to point out that the CAC is out right removing Maximum Residue Levels (MRL’s) on many of the POP’s I referenced in my earlier post.

So this is not remotely a situation that can be characterized as :



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I feel that I have fully addressed my Opponents points, but would like to make a few more of my own as I believe this is the most urgent issue facing mankind to date and there is very little undersatnding or even conversation on the topic.

As I have used my allotted limit for Sources, I would like to expand this debate by asking my opponent:

1. Do you believe that there is parity, fairness and democracy in how the CAC is legislated?

2. Do you agree with the Risk Assessment model as an approach to dietary supplements?

3. Do you believe that countries will be allowed to set their own, higher, Reccommended Daily Intake levels when the CAC finalizes its maximum level limits for vitamins and minerals?



[edit on 10/20/2008 by semperfortis]

reply to post by TheWayISeeIt

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To get back at it with Statement Number two?



Humans are imperfect, and as such ,everything we make will have its kinks and quarks but I believe that if we strive to better ourselves and our work we can make the CAC a more Democratic and fair for all whom it serves.





Sorda... I mean Do you what happens when you take high doses of Niacin?
I can testify from experience that it will burn your skin blotchy for awhile. Their should be regulations about the amounts of supplements. You can overdose on some of this stuff but it is not commonly reported on.




Yes, if they are full of the right people making the right decisions, then they most certainly will accommodate regions by the humankinds' different and distinct supplemental needs. Northpole folk need more fat and equator folks don't have the same kinds of needs as those that live in arctic climates so I am sure the CAC will recognize the needs of the many peoples they represent.




TO continue now:
So I see how the CAC might economically Challenge commercial farmers as they work out more balanced methods of interaction but I still fail to see how it is the end of the world as we know it. People can still grow food for themselves. You might be surprised to see what you can harvest from a five gallon bucket and a little love. In more under-developed nations I often see problem between food and people but I often wonder what it is that keeps them from getting better. But I bet it has less to do with the CAC and alot more to do with war and local politics.



The act of planting any plant on your own property for your own consumption is pretty well protected everywhere that I know of. And even if it was still prohibited unilaterally one can still plant whatever plants they like for ascetic purposes. I know I find Moa Hung, Salvia ,Carrots, and roses to all be beautiful plants and all legal to grow and all are edible. Rose is a good source of vitamins.

Questions I would like answered please,

So, How does the Codex Alimentarius truly represent a Threat to the end of the world as we know it?

Would you let them to choose for you what you can and can not plant if this were only an A or B , yes or no, sort of choice?

Does the CAC currently impede you from growing the plants you desire?

THIRD STATEMENT




I fail to see how my opponent and I bettering ourselves is going to make the CAC more democratic or fair for ‘all whom it serves’, when the very process by which it is legislated is CAC defined consensus and the CAC’s definition is absence of sustained opposition to a proposal or text.

Add to that equation that the Chairperson of any CAC committee in session is in entire control of when, and if, any delegation gets time to discuss the agenda and can arbitrarily deny any further discussion without being in violation of any of the meeting standards.

That same Chairperson can, at any time, decide that consensus has been reached and move to the next point of discussion. Their power is absolute. This scenario more often than not leaves the various member nation delegations amendments, or opposition, entirely unheard, discussed or addressed.

The whole process is inherently undemocratic as is the Codex itself because it is designed to supersede and bypass all laws and governmental process of the 171 countries (97% of the world) that will be dramatically altered by its implementation.

One might even go so far as to say that it will be The End Of the World As We Know It .

As to my opponent’s response to my question of :


“2. Do you agree with the Risk Assessment model as an approach to dietary supplements?”





The risk assessment model is designed to, and defined as, the evaluation of the risk posed to human health and/or the environment by the actual, or potential, presence and/or use of specific pollutants. It is used as a toxicological evaluation of chemical poisons and other contaminants.

Meaning the CAC’s position on vitamins and minerals, naturally occurring or supplemental, is that they are toxic.

This is the first time in the history of mankind that nutrition is deemed as a pollutant, and this historic precedent is being set by the very body that intends to regulate the entire human population’s access to it.

Furthermore, it is simply untrue that overdose by nutritional supplement is under, or less, reported than any other cause of death in this country. And, in fact, is so rare that it is statistically insignificant measuring at 0.0001% as the reason of cause of death in the U.S. population. Source 1: Ref. 1

While properly prescribed and used FDA approved pharmaceuticals is fourth on the list at 5.18%.

And let us keep in mind that you can overdose on just about anything that is, and will remain, commonly available in a post-Codex world; aspirin, alcohol, olive oil, etc. So the point that regulating upper limits on vitamins and minerals serves solely as consumer protection is patently moot. The only entity being served and protected by these insidious standards is the Pharmaceutical and Health Industries.

To further make the points of:

a) the essential benefits of supplemental nutrition -- and research that keeps bearing out the positive significance of it

b) the Health Industry’s attempts to squelch it

Let’s look at the following examples:



Source 2: Ref. 1

John Hopkins's board member Benjamin Caballero, a pediatrician and director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the School of Public Health then went on to say that they don’t recommend people take supplements, but that we all eat a balanced diet including 5 servings of fruits and vegetables.

Source 3: Ref. 1

The link above is an in depth interview with Caballero from 1998, and while the topic is not the Codex, his comments serve as the perfect example of the CAC’s position on required nutrition and how they intend to determine new nutritional levels. I urge my opponent and judges to read it carefully.

There is no discussion, however, about the ever decreasing amount of nutrition that is available to us from our food supply due to production of GMO, escalating pesticide use, and our food animals eating nutrient deficient diets. Bear in mind that each of those causes of nutrient deficiency will be infinitely more prevalent throughout the world when the Codex Alimentarius is fully implemented and enforced by the WTO.

So, even if one could manage to eat five servings, etc. -- based on the current nutrient levels in the common food supply that is produced by standard farming practices -- one would still need to have the choice of access to supplementary nutrition in order not to fall ill with preventable diseases and maladies.

Ladies, Gentlemen and Judges let us take a moment to ponder that impending loss of personal freedom that not only deters us from our natural course, but shackles us to dependency on the Agro/Pharma and Health Industries.

I would cite this as yet another arrow in my quiver that demonstrates the Codex Alimentarius is far from making us safe at last, but truly represents The End Of The World As We Know It.




See above Statement.



I would not like to let them choose for me, but if I cannot access the requirements articulated in my second statement hten it is a moot point what I would like to plant. But if I could access those requirements and there was only GM seed available the CAC will control my planting options.

Does the CAC currently impede you from growing the plants you desire?

As I have pointed out, the Codex Alimentarius has not been fully implemented yet and it will be enforced on a national level by the WTO when it is.

I am gonna ask for more time... I gotta think about how to better articulate my position. I shall post my reply later tonight.

CLOSING STATMENT


"Control the oil and you control entire nations; control the food and you control the people." - Henry Kissinger


It seems my opponent has taken a powder, so I will be brief in my closing as I fear I am in danger of relentlessly expounding my position in lieu of debating my opponent’s.

I believe I have clearly exampled each and every point raised in my opening and shown that the more educated one becomes about the Codex Alimentarius, the more one realizes that it is not designed to make us ‘Safe at Last’, but to benefit Big Agro/Pharma/Chemical/Health Industries at every opportunity and at a great cost to the global population and environment.

When one further takes into consideration that in 2005 the Chairman of the CAC’s Nutrition Committee, Rolf Grossklaus, and the representative of the EU Basil Mathioudakis, agreed that nutrition has nothing to do with prevention of illness as that is the exclusive province of medicine, I believe the point is tragically driven home.

Source 1 Ref: 1

I have also shown that the Codex Alimentarius will allow the WTO/FAO to exert a level of absolute, and undemocratic control, over sovereign states by completely bypassing their legislative process and prerogatives. This shadowy group will further control every man, woman and child's rights to access food that is not tainted by genetic modification and unlimited anounts of carcinogenic pestisides as well as adequate nutrition that is required to maintain good health.

Ladies, Gentlemen and Judges, there is no question in my mind that the Codex Alimentarius, if implemented, represents The End Of The World As We Know It and it is my great hope that there is no longer any question in yours.

Thread Closed Pending Judgment

Semper

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen...

The results are in...

And the winner is..........................

By Unanimous Decision............

TheWayISeeIt!!!!!!!







Congratulations!!!

The thread is now open for comments

Semper

My sincere thanks to those of you who took the time and effort to render a judgement, and I hope to be part of a more satisfying spectacle in the near-future.

Cheers!
TWISI