More Than This by: Patrick Ness

     A boy drowns, very desperate, and lonely during his final moments of life. He dies being crushed by the rocks of the sea. Then, he wakes up disoriented, naked, thirsty, bruised, and alive in his old home in England. Is this end for Seth Wearings, or is there more to it all? In the book More Than This by Patrick Ness, Seth, like many others in the world, dares to hope as he finds his way around in this new life.     After Seth's awakening, he experiences painfully vivid memory relapses. He slowly begins to remember what life use to be, all the horrible times in his past, and good times which would sometimes end up being more painful for him to experience. Most importantly, Seth remembers his boyfriend, Gudmund, and his brother, Owen, and begins to miss them. Seth becomes lonely, depressed, and desperate for there to be anything good in what he thinks is some sort of hell. When he finally starts to give out, he finds food, water, decent clothes, and later actual people.     After Seth meets Regine and Tomasz, they seem to show somewhat of an understanding of the world. One theory was that everyone was hooked up to the internet, and “permanently” logged-on because their actual lives were horrible, or some other reason. They also thought that there were other people like them, from the area, still logged-on inside the big prison. But, Seth doesn't believe any of this, and just thinks it's all in his head which is why good things only happened when he really hoped for it. This idea ends up being proven wrong after he foolishly tries to put an end to the Driver, a deadly thing that patrols the prison.     Towards the ending of the book, Seth sets out for the prison to try and possibly develop a better understanding of everything, and to also see if there are others in the prison. He awfully finds people still online, and his parents, but no Owen. The Driver ends up being killed later on by Tomasz, and Seth is also later able to remember well enough the missing truth. The Driver was their caretaker, and the memories that they thought they had were actually from the simulation of the real world, which they made because they thought it would be a better life than their initial one. Owen wasn't hooked up to the Internet because he really died, and existed in the simulation. After seeing that Regine could go back to the fake world that she had died in, it becomes obvious that all the simulations are connected as one whole other world, and that they can alert others stuck online by also going back online. Seth then takes the privilege of entering the other world to try and help everyone find their way back to reality.     In conclusion, whenever Seth did dare to hope in the story, things got more better for him than when he would give up. Something many people tend to lack is the urge to hope, because they lack optimism. Dreams never end, but are only abandoned, and Seth really dwells on his dreams of finding the truth. Hope is something that is never truly lost, but found; something Seth truly demonstrates.

Why We Should Get GMO's Labeled

             We have been using GMO's (genetically modified organisms) in our everyday foods since the turn of the century. It is used to make goods such as eggs, meat, dairy, various packaged goods, and even fruits and vegetables; in short, just about all goods sold to the public. But, something we have failed to acknowledge is that we have only been using GMO's for such a relatively short time, as a matter of fact since the 1990’s, and have yet justified whether they are truly safe or hazardous. Hence why, GMO's should then be labeled on all products for the clarity and reassurance of the consumer, in which they have the right to know.

            Something that is very alarming is the fact that GMO’s were introduced to the world with the primary aim of addressing the global food issues, because we were at a time when food production in even the largest of food industries could not meet up with the demands of their consumers. But, rather than making their primary aim the well being of the consumers who were to be exposed to their plans, they continued on in creating the first genetically modified foods as quickly as possible. According to “Why We Should Accept GMO Labeling” by Dan Fagin “"GMO products... were introduced not because they were the best way to employ genetic engineering to address critical global food issues, but because they were thought to be the fastest, most reliable route to profits for... producers." GMO’s can and need to be considered a hazard to the public which we have yet to discover. Many things could have gone wrong due to the hasty decision’s lack of testing. Although we haven’t found that flaw yet, the chances become more likely as more time passes with us using these GMO’s. Moreover, what could possibly happen now or in the near future with GMO products, can and should be considered a great possibility because of this information. According to “Should GMO’s Be Labeled” by Amir Khan “‘When GMO’s are grown out in the environment, contamination happens and it's not possible to control it,’ Megan Westgate, executive director of the Non-GMO Project, said in a statement. ‘That’s a real liability to our food supply because these are experimental organisms [and] we don't know what the long-term impact is to human health or the environment.’” We are having too much faith in the people who make these foods to do the right things when it comes to the consumer and/or business ethics. We cannot assume that the food that we eat is absolutely safe just by the word of the major producers. The proper labeling of these genetically modified organisms and even genetically engineered crops is an appropriate precaution to take to properly inform customers what they are buying before they actually make the purchase.

            Concurrently, in being a consumer there is moral rights and laws in which you are entitled to as a person. Equally important, the consumer’s opinion is very important, and is what makes businesses successful. In the situation with GMO labeling, it is the consumers who are giving a reason to debate over this. According to an ABC News poll (06/19/15) “Nearly everyone --- 93 percent --- says the federal government should require labels on food saying whether it’s been genetically modified, or ‘bio-engineered’ (this poll uses both phrases). Such unanimity in public opinion is rare.” Speaking for a majority of us customers, we have been waiting and trying to encourage the crackdown on food labeling, mainly focusing on whether or not they are genetically modified or engineered. Why is it that it is taking so long for a law to be passed or for the producers and big businesses to give into this new demand by consumer? According to “Consumer Rights - Consumer Protection Laws” by www.hg.org "Consumer rights and consumer protection law provides a way for individuals to fight back against abusive business practices. These laws are designed to hold sellers of goods and services accountable when they seek to profit by taking advantage of a consumer’s lack of information or bargaining power." If GMO's aren't labeled in our foods, it is essentially an inaccuracy on the part of the producer, and in some cases can be a possibly active marketing strategy due to the lack of information. We should be able to extend our rights in order to prevent this unethical loophole violating the rights of customers. It is the best, being of our concerns, to get GMO's labeled on all food products as an extension and strengthening of our rights as customers.

            The main problem with GMO’s and the fight to get them labeled is the fact that neither side (buyers and sellers) can come to an agreement on what to do. If GMO's are "safe", why is it that we cannot still have products labeled properly? Assuming there is absolutely nothing to hide, why hide this important information from the people who are being sold these products? According to "American Medical Association: GMO Labeling Not Necessary" by the Huffington Post "The American Medical Association announced in a statement this week that they saw no health purpose for labeling genetically modified foods -- those made with GMO's (or genetically modified organisms) -- as such...'There is no scientific justification for special labeling of bioengineered foods, as a class, and that voluntary labeling is without value unless it is accompanied by focused consumer education,' the statement read in part." Consumers in the U.S are not uneducated; according to “The U.S. Education System Is Not Failing” by the National Association of State Boards of Education “The American education system — inasmuch as it's actually a system — is not failing.” But, a possible reason for the withholding of the information rightfully deserved by us all might be hidden in the possible dangers there are in genetically engineered foods which would become a concern because of our well educated consumers. According to "Assessment of the food safety issues related to genetically modified foods" by Harry A. Kuiper, Gjis A. Kleter, Hub P.J.M. Noteborn, and Esther J. Kok (Figure 2) "Safety issues of GM foods: (i) Genetic modification process, (ii) Safety of new proteins, (iii) Occurrence and implications of unintended effects, (iv) Gene transfer of microflora, (v) Allergenicity of new proteins, (vi) Role of new food in the diet, and (vii) Influence of food processing." Such various possible safety concerns could ruin the market strategy that some businesses are using in leaving out information, and would benefit the consumers if the labeling of these foods were made mandatory. This must occur for the enlightenment of the customers on what they are eating every day, which must be made know. We have to label these products to reveal what the food we eat everyday is really made from, and it is only ethical if the 93% of people were to have this information.

            In conclusion, the labeling of GMO food products is a necessity for all. We have a right to know what is in the food that we must eat, not only just because of the potential dangers and it degrading consumer rights with its insufficient facts, but mainly because a majority of consumers agree and should not be denied of their opinions and demands. All that's needed is a compromise, for the producers to give into the labeling, and laws to be made, as well as a change in policies. Our safety should no longer lie in the hands of businesses, but in our own by knowingly purchasing these foods.