COLD WAR AND POST-MODERN PERIOD

OBJECTIVES:
After you have finished this theme you Should be able to:
Explain what the term “Iron Curtain” means and tell how the Cold War started
Define the terms Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO, Berlin Blockade
Pick any of the “hot spots” of the Cold War and explain the crisis there: Korea, Cuba, Vietnam
Trace the demise of Colonialism after 1945
Explain the events leading to the sudden end of the Cold War in 1989
Choose examples of developments in art, literature, and drama of the Post-Modern period and discuss them
Choose examples of 60’s protest movements and discuss them: Peace Corps, Civil Rights Movement, Feminist
Movement, Anti-War Demonstrations, Student Protests
Trace developments in robotics and genetic engineering and their implications for post-Modern society
COLD WAR

Europe in Shambles

After the war Europe lay prostrate in shambles. 50 million refugees drifted across the land. Countless people faced
starvation and homelessness. 13 million ethnic Germans were driven out of their homes in Eastern Europe toward the
west. Western Europe looked to the United States for leadership. Eastern Europe in even worse shambles falling under
the dominance of the Soviet Union. In 1945 Winston Churchill speaking at a small college in Missouri warned the world
of an “iron curtain” descending to divide Europe into communist east and capitalist west. The Cold war had begun.

Germany and the Berlin Blockade

Peace settlement had divided Germany into 4 occupation zones: American, Soviet, British, and French. City of Berlin also
divided into 4 sectors. Soon sharp disagreements. May 1949 Soviets stopped all land traffic across their zone to Berlin —
Berlin blockade. Western powers mounted a massive airlift to feed the city. 277,000 flights carried supplies during a 6
months period. Soviets eventually backed down. Western powers then merged their 3 western zones to create the
German Federal Republic (free). The Soviet Union established the German Democratic Republic (communist) in the
eastern zone. In 1961 relations between east and west hit a new low. Under orders from Russia, the East German
government erected a 100 mile heavily armed wall in Berlin to keep its citizens from fleeing west. Berlin had served as
an escape route for 2.6 million people.

Cold War Spreads

As the Cold war chill spread, President Harry Truman initiated the “Truman Doctrine”—offered military and economic
aid to countries threatened by a communist takeover. Idea to “contain” the spread of communism. Key part was
“Marshall Plan”. Gave massive economic aid to European nations to rebuild economies destroyed by the war. In 1949
set up NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), a military alliance of the US, Canada and Western Europe against the
Soviet Union. Now thousands of troops backed by the two superpowers faced each other along a line dividing east and
west Europe.

Everyday Life in Cold War

Cold War would color everyday life for more than four decades. Both superpowers had the atomic bomb and by 1953
the hydrogen bomb. Each stockpiled huge caches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) that could carry nuclear
warheads. Everybody afraid that World War III on the horizon – a nuclear war. Atomic bomb drills held in American
schools; people even built bomb shelters in their backyards. Novels, movies (James Bond) and television shows
featuring spies and international intrigue all the rage. Sen. Joseph McCarthy led a massive campaign to “uncover”
communists in America (Ronald Regan turned in a lot of his fellow actors).

Cold War in Asia

Cold War quickly spread around the globe. In Japan US promoted democracy and helped Japan rebuild its economy.
Strategy paid off handsomely. Japan made an astonishing recovery that made it the second largest economy in the
world and a firm ally of the US.

China not so lucky. Civil war raged between communists and conservative nationalists forces. US supported the
nationalists. Communists under Mao Zedong won and nationalists fled to island of Taiwan under protection of the US
navy. Mao promptly proclaimed the People’s Republic of China and allied with the Soviet Union. But during the 1950’s
China set overly ambitious goals in agriculture and industry (“Great Leap Forward”). Huge displacement of population to
build steel mills, factories railroads, schools hospitals, irrigation canals. In 1959 dislocation of population combined with
alternating droughts and floods produced one of the deadliest famines in history – some 20 million Chinese may have
died over the next 3 years of starvation and malnutrition. Set off power struggle in Communist Party between radicals
and moderates. In 1966 Mao tried to reignite the revolutionary spirit by launching the Great Proletarian Cultural
Revolution, turning youthful zealots loose on the population. Millions of people suffered humiliation or death. Also
relations with the Soviet Union began to sour. Mao accused Russia of abandoning strict Marxism. USSR cut off economic
aid. In 1960 China exploded its first atomic bomb and two communist nations moved further apart. Oddly enough this
brought improved relations with the West. Mao died in 976 and China moved toward a free market economy.

Korean War

Cold War broke out into a hot war in Korea. At the end of World War II Russian troops occupied Korea north of the 38th
parallel while the US controlled the south. In 1950 Soviet armed North Korean troops invaded the south overrunning
Seoul and pushing South Korean troops to extreme south to Pusan. US and UN sent forces and Gen. McArthur given
command. Made daring landing at Inchon and pushed North Korean troops across 38th parallel and up to Chinese
border. At this point China entered war and pushed Un and American forces back to 38th parallel. Armistice declared at
38th parallel. No one gained anything. War had cost 1.5 million casualties and left much of Korea in ruins.

Vietnam War

Vietnam had been a French colony before World War II. After war Vietnam Communists Party launched revolt for
independence, led by Ho Chi Minh. France suffered several defeats and withdrew in 1954. Country divided into
communist north and anticommunist (but authoritarian) south. Viet Cong communists from north infiltrated south and
US sent economic and military aid. Soon full war raging with US trying to prop up south.. During 1960’s US sent more
than 500,000 troops to Vietnam and US planes dropped more explosives than had been used by all combatants in World
War II. US drew harsh criticism abroad and antiwar demonstrators at home. The futility and unpopularity of the war
caused the US to withdraw in 1973. The Civil War in Vietnam continued for two more years before the communists
swept to victory. The communist insurgency spilled over into Laos and Cambodia.

Afghanistan Invasion

In Central Asia, Soviet Union had its own version of the Vietnam War. In 1979 Russia invaded Afghanistan to support a
communist coup. Became locked in a ten-year struggle against guerrilla forces backed by the US. In 1989 Russia
withdrew leaving Afghanistan in shambles and wracked by internal violence.

Cold War in Latin America

Many of the Latin American countries ruled by right-wing dictators, backed by well-to- do bourgeoisie, landowner class
and the military. Often supported by the Catholic Church and the US. But poor in Latin America increasingly restless and
turning to communism encouraged by the Soviet Union.

Crisis in Cuba

In 1959, Marxist rebel leader Fidel Castro ousted the American-supported dictatorship in Cuba. Launched a sweeping
program of social and economic reforms including the seizure of property owned by American citizens and business. The
US promptly terminated aid to the island . Castro turned to the Soviets for help. Communism had suddenly gained a
beachhead 90 miles from the US mainland. Three years later the US sponsored the Bay of Pigs invasion, an ill-fated
attempt by Cuban refugees to topple the Castro regime.

In 1962 a US spy plane discovered Soviet missiles being installed in Cuba. Although the US had missiles on Russia’s
Turkish border, the Americans decided that Soviet missiles in Cuba were intolerable. While USSR ships steamed toward
the Caribbean people around the world people around the world braced themselves for possible nuclear war. USSR
leader Khrushchev backed down and an agreement ended the crisis.

THE TWILIGHT OF COLONIALISM

Colonialism Weakened

Three main reasons: 1) World War II – Germany defeated France and Holland; England in life-or-death struggle. Europe’s
control over its colonies weakened 2) US urged imperial powers to dismantle their empires 3) Soviet Union denounced
imperialism throughout world.

Revolts in Asia

After World War II national liberation movements broke out in British, Dutch and French colonies. US spared by granting
independence to the Philippines in 1946. In India, world’s second most populous country, Mohandas Gandhi led the
independence movement. Educated in Great Britain, this middle class Hindu used passive resistance and civil
disobedience to pressure British officials to grant Indian independence. In 1947, Britain’s Labor government freed India,
partitioning it into the separate states of India and Pakistan because of division between Hindus and Muslims. Religious
strife broke out anyway and Gandhi was assassinated by a fanatical Hindu nationalist in 1948. Later open war broke out
over state of Kashmir. UN stepped in but dispute continues to this day.

In South Asia Great Britain also relinquished control Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Burma (Myanmar) and Malaya.

In Dutch East Indies, nationalist leaders declared independence after Japanese left. Dutch resisted and fierce four year
war followed. In 1949 finally recognized the Republic of Indonesia as an independent nation.

Similar but more painful pattern followed in French Southeast Asia. French defeated but led to Vietnam War and
conflicts in Laos and Cambodia.

Conflicts in the Middle East

Britain had been the dominate imperial power in the Middle East since World War I. But made a mess of things. In World
War I made conflicting promises to Palestinians and Jews in Balfour Doctrine of 1917 – both expected an independent
state for themselves. Zionism and later Nazi persecutions poured thousands of Jewish refugees into Palestine. British
caught between rising Arab nationalism and Jewish settlers.

In 1948 beleaguered British turned Palestine over to the United Nations. Jews immediately proclaimed the State of
Israel. Arabs protested and fighting broke out. During the conflict, Israel expelled more than half-million Palestinian
Arabs. UN brokered an uneasy truce.

In meantime 1952 military coup in Egypt brought dynamic nationalist leader Nasser to power. In 1956 he seized Suez
Canal. Immediately attacked by Israel, Britain and France. Soviet Union threatened to on the side of Egypt. US pressured
the three invading powers to retreat. Britain lost the canal. The Soviets gained influence with the Arab world. War broke
out again in 1967 and 1973 between Israel and Egypt. Both the US and the Soviet Union rushed billions of dollars in
military aid to their respective allies.

French in North Africa

Islamic population seething with nationalistic unrest in North Africa. France granted independence to Morocco and
Tunisia but drew the line at Algeria. More than a million French settlers lived there and France considered it a part of the
nation rather than a colony. Also the French military determined to hold Algeria so as to repair the damage their
reputation had sustained in Vietnam. A long bloody stalemate resulted. French government on the verge of collapse or
military coup. Retired World War II hero Charles de Gaulle recalled to power. He alone had the prestige to negotiate
independence for Algeria in 1962.

Britain Dismantles its African Empire

Experience with Nasser in Egypt and a rebellion in Kenya from 1951-1956 persuaded British to dismantle its African
empire. By 1965 all its former colonies independent. But the white minorities clung to power in Rhodesia and South
Africa enforcing apartheid (racial segregation) in the face of world condemnation. Not until 1990’s did Africans assume
leadership (Nelson Mandela).

But end of Western influence did not necessarily bring peace or prosperity. Bloody civil war broke out in Nigeria where
Ibos tried to secede. In huge sub-Sahara region droughts in 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s brought famine and death to tens
of thousands.

END OF COLD WAR AND 20TH CENTURY

Introduction

Cold War ended in 1989 with the collapse of communism in Europe. But in broader sense it marks the end of the 20th
century – that 75 year period of turmoil, war, and violence that began in 1914.

Problems in the Soviet Union

During the 1970’s and 1980’s central planning and collectivization failed to match consumer demands. Workers had little
incentive to work hard or even show up. Agricultural collectivization discouraged decision-making and hard work.
Military expenditures increasingly burdened Soviet economy. By watching television, Russian people saw material
wealth of the west and exciting cultural and intellectual developments. Faith in the Communist system, even among
Party members began to evaporate. Dissident movements grew.

Gorbachev Reforms

In 1985 a new leader, Mikhail Gorbachev appointed head of Soviet Union. Born into a peasant family he studied at the
University of Moscow and moved up through the Communist Party ranks. He shared the views of the reformers who
recognized the fundamental economic problems facing the Soviet Union. In 1985 he embarked on a three-pronged
policy: perestroika (restructuring), glasnost (openness) and military disarmament. Under perestroika planning
decentralized allowing market forces to work. Agriculture and land put in hands of families and cooperatives rather than
large state farms. Result was a mixed economy featuring a blend of socialist planning and a capitalist free market. At
same time initiated arms reduction talks with the US. Both sides agreed to limit nuclear weapons. To get political
backing for his reforms he initiated glasnost. Censorship curtailed encouraging free discussion of everything from culture
to politics. Partial democratization of the communist Party and the Soviet political system followed. In spring of 1989
first open elections since 1917 held, resulting in the defeat of numerous communist candidates.

Revolt of Eastern Europe

Reforms had unexpected consequences. National and ethnic groups within Soviet Union demanded right to reforms.
Agitation for freedom of expression and national autonomy arose. Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia led way in Baltic area.
Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and East Germany close behind. Gorbachev decided to let events in Eastern Europe
unfold without Soviet intervention. In Poland ship workers organized non-communist union, Solidarity. In 1989 Solidarity
won stunning victory at polls. Communist leaders stepped down and new democratic government formed. In the fall of
1989 Hungary established a multiparty system, initiated economic reforms and held democratic elections. Result? Fall of
communism in Hungary. In fall of 1989 student demonstrators took to the streets in Czechoslovakia. Workers joined
them and called for a general strike. Hard-line Communist government resigned. Fall of communism bloodless (the
“velvet revolution”). Most dramatic developments in Eastern Germany. Antigovernment demonstrations spreading. In
November 1989 Communists ordered Berlin Wall torn down. Millions of East Germans crossed the border. Communist
government soon fell and within a year East and West Germany reunified. Communist regimes in Bulgaria, Rumania, and
Albania soon fell. Freeing of Eastern Europe took less than a year: 1989 – the year the 21stcentury began.

Disintegration of the Soviet Union

Gorbachev had now lost control of reform movement. Power of the Communist Party undermined. Boris Yeltsin, newly
elected president of the Russian Republic, resigned from the Communist Party and declared Russia an independent
republic in 1990. In 1991 Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and other groups followed suit. Soviet Union disintegrating. In late
1991 compromise Confederation proposed, but with all of former republics independent. In August hard-line
communists with aid of KGB tried to oust Gorbachev but Yeltsin rallied support and saved him.

POSTINDUSTRIAL ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

Introduction

After World War II there was a fundamental change in the economies and societies of the industrial West. They were
being transformed into “postindustrial” societies. Traditional manufacturing industries declined in importance. Plants
employing cheap labor opened outside of Europe and North America. In place of manufacturing the demand was now in
services: health, finance, education, information and consumer services. Well-educated professionals rose to high
positions in corporations and government. The middle class, who had always held white-collar jobs, also grew in number
and wealth. Industrial workers saw their jobs disappearing. Growing numbers of married women entered the work force
to maintain or improve their family’s standard of living. Minority and immigrant groups occupied the poorly paid jobs.

The Baby Boom and Booming Cities

Skyrocketing birth rates after the war years (all those returning veterans) led to the so-called baby. An increase in life
expectancy and the influx of immigrants added to the population growth. Wealthy northern European cities absorbed
waves of newcomers from southern Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Africa. North America took in Latin Americans and Asians.
More and more people lived and worked in the cities. Rural areas and small towns declined. The suburbs mushroomed
as people commuted on crowded trains or by cars through traffic jams.

Changing Family Values

The structure and values of the postindustrial family began to change. Work outside of the home became both a
necessity and a sign of emancipation for women. Some homes became zones of domestic cooperation; others a
battlefield between couples over household chores and child rearing. Divorce became more common. Many people
decided to put off or avoid marriage altogether. The number of single parent and same sex partner households
increased.

Child rearing practices changed. Children spent more years in school to acquire the skills needed in the postindustrial
society. Nursery schools became standard and children started school at the age of three instead of six. More than ever
the socialization, training and career choices of children and youth were taking place outside the home. Families now
lived in larger apartments and houses. Family members spent more time in separate rooms, coming together only for
meals. Home life became more private with individuals spending more time apart.

CULTURE OF THE POST-INDUSTRIAL ERA

Introduction

Decolonization, Cold War, threat of nuclear annihilation, accelerated change – no wonder people struggled to
understand the post-war world in which they lived. Increasingly intellectuals, scholars, writers stressed shifting meanings
rather than certainties. The idea of universal truths gave way to a growing sense that truth was relative.

Literature and Theater: Existentialism

Philosophy of existentialism caught on in 1950’s and 1960’s. Jean-Paul Sartre in novels, plays and philosophical works
argued that there is no meaning to existence, no universal right or wrong. Individuals are born and simply exist. They
must make their own decisions, define their own purpose and values, and take responsibility for their actions. In the
end, one simply dies without there being any philosophical meaning to life or death. French writer Albert Camus
popularized existentialism in novels and plays such as The Stranger and The Plague. The Theater of the Absurd
showcased existential despair, doing away with plots, sets and costumes. Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot is a good
example. Two tramps wait for someone who never arrives (God?). There is no purpose in what they do, as if people no
longer shared a sense of meaning.

Art and Music: Abstraction

Art became puzzling and/or incomprehensible to many people. The American artist Jackson Pollock dripped paint onto
canvases carefully avoiding realistic representation of objects (critics called him “Jack the Dripper”). On the other
extreme, Andy Warhol bewildered audiences with his images of everyday objects such as rows of soup cans,
hamburgers, etc. (“Pop Art”). In music Arnold Schoenberg created dissonant, atonal music that to many sounded much
like noise.

SOCIAL PROTESTS AND MOVEMENTS

Introduction

After Cuban missile crisis, anxiety of nuclear war lessened. Many people turned to idealism and trying to better the
world in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Most of these movements were peaceful but some were strident protests that
demanded change.

The Peace Corps

Started by John F Kennedy in 1961. Idea was to help developing countries meet their needs for educated, skilled
manpower and counter communist propaganda in these areas. Also to correct image of “Ugly American” abroad. Had
an enormous appeal to idealistic youth. By 1990’s 140,000 volunteers had served in 128 countries

The Civil Rights Movement

Started in 1950’s when the US Supreme Court outlawed racial segregation in public schools. But South slow in
complying. Year later a black civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, took a seat in the white-only section of a bus in
Montgomery, Alabama, and was arrested. Sparked a boycott of public transportation that forced desegregation. During
early 1960’s there were sit-ins, bus-ins, and marches demanding more change. Federal troops had to be sent into South
to protect protesters. In 1965 Congress passed a civil rights act guaranteeing voting rights and outlawing discrimination.
In 1968 DR. Martin Luther King was murdered, setting off violent race riots in several major cities. Although the civil
rights movement weakened in the 1970’s it had accomplished enormous change in a short period of time and inspired
other groups including Hispanics, Native Americans, and women to organize and press for reform.

Student Movements

During 1950’s and 1960’s the number of college students tripled. Idealistic and energetic they participated in the Peace
Corps, civil rights movement, and protest against the Vietnam War. It was natural that they would turn their attention
eventually to university and educational reform. Starting in 1964 at Berkeley, student strikes closed down campus after
campus in the 1960’s. Sometimes the protest turned into riots and violence (Kent State). The movement spread to
campuses around the world: Tokyo, Mexico City and Paris where a student strike almost toppled the government of
Charles de Gaulle. Both in the US and abroad the movement forced major reforms in higher education such as
curriculum reform, teaching practices and student participation in governance.

The Women’s Liberation Movement

Through women’s participation in other movements there was a growing awareness of their own second-class status.
Also several books raised awareness: Simone de Beauvoir”s the Second Sex and Betty Friedan's The Femine Mystique
which urged women to escape the home, go back to school, get a career and become more independent. More women
did enroll in universities, pursue careers and found organization to promote women’s rights. Their accomplishments
were impressive: child day care, maternal leave, women’s studies programs in universities, liberalized divorce and
abortion. Lesbians also demanded and received wide recognition of their rights.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Rise of Big Science

Before World War II most scientific research was carried out by individuals or small groups of scientists in a university
setting. The application of their discoveries by engineers and technicians came later. After the war, funds for scientific
research poured in from government and big business. The number of scoentists jumped fivefold. Scientific fields
divided into subspecialities. Organized teams of scientists, technicians and managers worked in large research labs, using
expensive equipment. The results were stunning. We will look at only a few examples and their implications.

Robotics

Dec. 14, 1981, the Associated Press wire service flashed a story around the world that was truly a shocker. In a Japanese
factory a first had occurred in an industrial accident. A worker was crushed to death by a robot in the plant he was
working in. The AP immediately labeled the story (guess what?) “Killer Robot”. Is this what our future technology has in
store for us? Well, killer robots may belong to science fiction but robots are definitely here to stay. This may be the
ultimate extension of the Industrial Revolution – the manless factory. Let’s take a tour (Yamazaki Machinery Works).

What is a robot? Don’t imagine something from Star Wars. They don’t look like humans. They are machines. The
Industrial Revolution invented machines and hooked them up to Steam engines and later other sources of non-human
power. The Industrial revolution replaced human muscle. The robot is a machine hooked up to a computer – it replaces
the human brain. This gives it many advantages over humans in industrial production. (Class exercise – name as many
reasons as you can for using robots instead of humans).

Robots do a lot of things already. But for them to make it big in our lives they have to develop a sense of touch, vision
and locomotion – in short they have to become more human! But they are making a lot of progress. Which raises an
interesting question. Will they replace us? Will they take our jobs? Will there be mass unemployment? If so, what should
we do?

The answer in the Industrial Revolution was the Luddite Movement. Broke out in England in 1811-1818. Machines were
replacing skilled weavers in the factories. So one worker in Leicestershire, Ned Ludd, a half-wit. Grabbed a club and in a
fit of passion demolished two stocking frames. Riots spread all over England and then to the continent – workers
attacking machinery. Did it work? Of course not. The police were sent in, the workers ejected, and the machines
repaired. People today who are anti-technology are still called Luddites (the Unabomber is a good example).

Will machines take our jobs? Of course they will. The experts say not to worry. Let ém have them and do all the work for
us. The answer is to restructure our society so no one has to work – the government sends a check every week. Humans
can then use their time for what they are beast at – leisure, education, etc.

But what if robots get smarter and smarter? Even become more intelligent than us? (Artificial Intelligence) A computer
can already beat our best chess players. Then will man become obsolete and be replaced. Some experts say not to worry
it’s simply the next step in evolution on our globe!(shades of Matrix)

Science Frontiers

Just as technology is forging ahead, pure science is leading us to new (and some would say freightening) frontiers. Let’s
look at two examples: 1) in-vitro fertilization 2) genetic engineering
Test Tube Babies

Sperm and egg are mixed in a glass petri dish (hence in-vitro fertilization), and then the fertilized egg is implanted in a
woman (not necessarily the mother). Nine months later a healthy baby is born. It started with animals. Thorough
racehorse embryos were implanted in normally infertile mules and they produced beautiful colts. Then at a Louisville
zoo a horse implanted with a fertilized egg gave birth to a zebra. Humans obviously were next.

The first human test tube baby was born in England in 1978 (she is now in her twenties). Since then thousands have
been born. It’s routine today. Any in Puerto Rico? Sure. The Centro de Fertilidad del Caribe in Santurce will be glade to
do it. But each implant costs about $5,000 and you usually have to do 3 or 4 before one is successful.

But some worrisome ethical problems here:

What happens if woman carrying the baby (surrogate mother) decides to keep the baby?

What if couple goes through all of the steps to build sperm bank and then get divorced. Who has custody of the frozen
embryos?

Or how about orphaned embryos? Elsa and Mario Rios were both killed in a plane crash in Australia leaving behind
several frozen embryos and a multi-million dollar estate. Should the embryos inherit?

And what about the Church? If either the sperm or egg is not from the partner of the marriage, the church considers the
in-vitro fertilization adultery.

Genetic Engineering

One of the hottest fields in science and one of the most disturbing. What would you think of?

A cow that produces skim milk?

A naturally decaffeinated coffee bean?

Tomatoes with flounder genes to resist freezing?

Wow! Can carrots with fur be far behind? Well, it’s not science fiction (although some call it sci-fi food). Scientists are
busy splicing in genes from corn, cotton, mice, pigs and all kinds of insects and bacteria. Is all this good or bad? Some
people are worried – what if experiment goes awry? Scientists have genetically altered bacteria so that it can’t freeze.
Then they are sprayed on Idaho potato fields so that they won’t freeze in the fall. But what if the bacteria escape into
the atmosphere? It could prevent ice formation in the clouds and reduce rain over wide areas. Some are already calling
this Frankenfood. Peanut genes are being spliced into tomatoes to give them more protein. But many people are allergic
to peanuts!

And what about animal and plant rights? Cows are being genetically engineered to produce more milk. But look what it’s
done to their bodies. They are nothing more than milk producing machines with spindly legs and huge udders that spend
their whole life in milk stalls. Jeremy Rifkin, head of the Humane Society has brought suit to stop gene engineering. He
says it violates the “biological rights” of animals and plants “to exist as separate, identifiable creatures” (do you agree
with Jeremy Rifkin?)

But genetic engineering holds a lot of potential for good. Consider this:

Genetically altered pigs produce Protein C, a valuable anti-clotting substance used to treat heart disease (they call the
product “transgenic pigs milk”).

Genetically altered sheep produce a protein used in treating emphysema, a life-threatening disease. Twenty thousand
people in the US need 200 grams a year, but it is very hard to extract from human blood. One genetically altered sheep
can produce 70 grams a day ( 1/3 of the yearly needs of a patient).
For the future unraveling the genetic code of humans may produce cures for hemophilia, sickle-cell anemia and Lou
Gerig’s disease.

So should we stop genetic engineering? Hard to know what to do. We don’t want to stop scientific progress… but
tomatoes with flounder genes? What’s next – Killer Tomatoes?