Madam, - Nick Cullen requests a scholarly response to Jeffrey Smith's book, Genetic Roulette(Letters, June 28th). However, I fear he maybe waiting some time considering the book is not scientifically peer reviewed and is riddled with misinformation. In addition the publisher, Yes Books, is run by Jeffrey Smith himself and is a vanity publisher that has only ever published two books, both by Mr Smith.
Jeffrey Smith has never published a peer-reviewed scientific article and as a member of the Natural Law Party his past so-called "scientific" statements include "the minds of yogic flyers act like radio transmitters that radiate a positive influence, resonating through the surrounding mental environment. . . Smith presented charts with evidence of a correlation between the presence of yogic flyers and an increase in the quality of life and a decrease in crime. . . Smith said more than 500 studies have shown transcendental meditation has its benefits including more creativity, intelligence and energy, better health and higher IQ over the long term" ( Daily Illini, Oct 28th, 1996).
Mr Cullen also fails to point out that Jeffrey Smith was up to recently the vice-president of marketing communications for Genetic ID, a US company that has strong links to the Natural Law Party that tests for the presence of genetically engineered products, with contracts in the past with Greenpeace. The New York Times (October 11th, 2000) stated "Genetic ID, many in the industry say, is trying to create a biotech scare to increase demand for testing". Clearly, it still pays Jeffrey Smith to scaremonger on genetically engineered foods in terms of book sales. Personally, I prefer to rely on the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the European Food Safety Authority and the large number of peer-reviewed scientific publications that agree that approved genetically engineered foods are safe. - Yours, etc,
SHANE MORRIS B.Sc,
Coolkill,
Sandyford,
Dublin 18.