No Precision Breeding For UK Farm Animals?

Genetic Modification (GM) involves transfering whole genes from one organism to another. The recipient organism then becomes able to produce a new protein. Gene Editing is more subtle, as it only alters a few bases in an organism's existing gene. This still, however, essentially alters proteins. The UK is set to approve The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act. This will allow UK scientists to use Gene Editing to modify plant crops. The legislation is not, however, approving gene editing in domesticated animals (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/nov/02/scientists-dismayed-as-uk-ministers-clear-way-for-gene-editing-of-crops-but-not-animals). The failure to approve gene editing in animals may hold back the creation of healthier herds and flocks. If approved the technology could be used to create domesticated animals resistant to particular diseases. Gene Editing could also make animals more capable of coping with climate change. Cows could even be created, with reduced levels of methane burping. Methane is a very potent 'greenhouse gas'. Although welfare issues have been cited, the failure to allow Gene Editing in domesticated animals is rather odd. This technology has been repeatedly tested in humans in attempts to counter faulty genes. In some countries, Gene Editing has even been trialled to enable animal organs (liver and heart) to be transplanted to humans, without subsequent rejection. It would, in any case, be impossible to prevent Gene Edited stock animals being imported into the UK. You can't easily tell, if an organism has been Gene Edited. UK farmers will be tempted, if cows, pigs and sheep, with clearly beneficial attributes, become available from foreign laboratories. Perhaps the only folk being limited by the proposed legislation, are UK scientists?

BOGOF

BOGOF is the acronym for 'buy one, get one free'. The Food Foundation opines that UK supermarkets are currently 'actively incentivising citizens to buy more of those foods known to be bad for the health of people and the planet'. It points out that almost 20% of supermarket 'multibuy deals', like BOGOF, concern meat and dairy products. Red meat and dairy have known health risks. Their production techniques are also clearly linked to the production of 'greenhouse gases' and climate change. Even worse, 10% of supermarket 'multibuy deals' involve processed meats. Processed meats are even more strongly linked to cancers in humans (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/01/uk-supermarkets-using-multibuy-deals-to-encourage-sales-of-meat-study-finds). Supermarkets, of course, are in the business of maximising their profits. I suppose it must be down to governments to get them to apply their BOGOFs to healthier food choices. Unhealthy citizens cost money. Folk need more help in their choices of what and how much to eat. Supermarket 'multibuy deals' are also likely to increase food wastage. This is already a substantial problem in the UK and elsewhere.

Vapid?

Between 2012 and 2023, England's vape usage grew by more than 400%. Currently, almost 10% of the English public buy and use these products. Some of this use has been actively encouraged in cigarette smokers, to reduce their risk of lung cancer. A proportion, however, are young individuals, who have never previously smoked cigarettes. The tobacco companies clearly see vapes as a means of maintaining their profits. Single-use vapes, with child-friendly flavours and packaging, have been strongly marketed to encourage the next generation of nicotine addicts. The precise health effects of prolonged vaping are, as yet, uncharted. Single-use vapes also present a considerable environmental problem. They are rarely recycled. Their mixture of plastics, metals, chemicals and electronics, makes this difficult. Single-use vapes are generally simply dropped in the streets. These devices are fire risks. Vaping devices also waste enormous quantities of lithium (and other materials), that could be used to produce Electric Vehicle batteries etc. The UK government plans to introduce a disposable vapes ban 'before Christmas' 2024. Their Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) carried out a survey of vape-users. They claim that almost 30% might return to cigarette smoking, with 'health disbenefits' (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/01/disposable-vapes-ban-could-push-users-back-smoking-defra). It seems odd that DEFRA are apparently using their position to warn government ministers of a potential health 'danger' of a single-use vape ban. Their role ought have a focus on environmental impacts. Surely, it's the UK Health Security Agency that should be considering potential 'health disbenefits'. There must be ways of encouraging ex-cigarette smokers to stick to vaping. Single-use vapes shouldn't be part of this 'solution'. Only the tobacco companies 'need' a new generation of nicotine addicts.

Smog Log

Air pollution is a major global cause of ill-health and premature deaths. This is especially the case in India and Pakistan. Predictably, the Covid-19 pandemic had few benefits for humans. One, however, was its impact on air pollution (from industrial activities and vehicle exhausts) on the sub-continent. Reductions in polluting activities, resulted in some folk being able to glimpse for the first time, the Himalayas, from their cities. Post-pandemic the smog has returned with a vengence, in what's known as the 'pollution season' (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/01/lahore-delhi-choked-smog-pollution-season-india-pakistan). In Lahore, Delhi and elsewhere, death rates from cancers, as well as respiratory and cardio-vascular diseases will again be on the rise. Climate change isn't the only killing consequence of emissions!

Snow Saving

Climate change is making a number of established ski resorts economically nonviable. Natural snowfall now can't be relied on, especially at the beginning of a season. Artificial snow is a possibility but it's expensive to produce. In days gone by, before electric fridges and freezers, Finns used to cut blocks of unthawed ice from rivers or lakes. These blocks were then covered in a thick layer of sawdust. They were then stacked in a barn; a pit or an ice cellar. The ice blocks could then be used in the summer months. The Finnish company Snow Secure, have adapted this technique for the benefit of ski resorts. Rather than sawdust, they produce mats of extruded polystyrene. This same material is used in Finnish house insulation. These mats can actually last up to 20 years. They can help preserve the previous year's snow at a resort, for use at the start of the next season. These mats have been successfully used in Finnish ski resorts. Snow Secure has now/ will soon start exporting the mats to Norway, Switzerland and Spain, as well as Wisconsin and New Mexico in the USA (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/01/finland-exports-snow-saving-mats-ski-resorts-climate-crisis). The insulating mats may help marginal ski resorts for a short time. It's, however, not a cure for the impacts of climate change. Global heating is increasing and skiers flying to the resorts, exaccerbates the problem.