Artificial Intelligence and Genetic Engineering Emerge as a Modern Faith: A Warning Against Oblivious Devotion to the Untruth
In the heart of the global debate on biotechnology, New Zealand's Gene Technology Bill is causing a stir. The bill, currently under review by the parliamentary select committee, aims to modernise rules for gene technology and regulated organisms in the country.
The bill's acceptance is not due to totalitarian measures but rather a captivating narrative of a bright future if one complies. This narrative, as argued by Douglas Murray in his book "The Strange Death of Europe", reflects a gradual loss of faith in traditional religious and cultural values, replaced by a new faith in so-called miracle technology.
Critics of the bill worry about the coexistence of gene-edited/GM crops with conventional and organic production, potential market access impacts for exporters, and the adequacy of environmental and human-health safeguards. Proponents, on the other hand, argue that the bill would unlock agricultural and biomedical R&D that New Zealand has been excluded from for decades.
The bill's treatment of non-transformative gene-technology uses, such as RNA-sprayed crops and topical RNA applications, is central to the debate. If permitted, these technologies could blur regulatory boundaries, as they can confer trait effects without producing a genetically modified organism inside the plant.
The potential implications of the bill are far-reaching, extending to aerosolized vaccines and the delivery of RNA or biologics. These delivery methods, if allowed, raise questions about biosecurity, safety testing, consent, and liability under the new law.
The Health Select Committee report, rescheduled into August 2025, will be crucial in clarifying how the bill treats topical RNA applications, sprayed RNA for crops, and unconventional delivery mechanisms such as aerosols. The implementation timing will also determine when operational rules, approvals, and guidance are in force.
However, the bill's specific clauses and the exact classification and approval pathway for RNA sprays or aerosolized vaccines are yet to be fully detailed. These details will depend on the select committee’s recommendations and the regulator’s later rules.
Meanwhile, concerns are rising about the repackaging of failed mRNA technology for widespread exposure, whether through the food we eat or from the skies. Some argue that this new faith in technology involves the false idea that the origin and meaning of life are entirely contained in a sequence of genetic letters in a single molecule (DNA) which can be safely edited and manipulated to make all aspects of life better.
The risks to Western civilization should not be underestimated, as this new faith has assumed a central role in a dystopian vision of the wholly compliant technological societies described by Orwell and Huxley. The potential for unforeseen consequences, such as those seen in the PREP Act that empowers the US government to secretly administer drugs, vaccines, and medical devices to the public during a declared emergency without consent, geographic limits, legal accountability, or any obligation to disclose such actions, is a cause for concern.
As the debate continues, it is crucial to remain vigilant and informed about the potential implications of the Gene Technology Bill and the role of biotechnology in our society.
- The Gene Technology Bill, currently under review in New Zealand's parliament, promotes a vision of a brighter future through advancements in gene technology and regulated organisms, replacing traditional values with faith in technology.
- Proponents of the bill assert that it would open up untapped agricultural and biomedical research and development opportunities that New Zealand has missed out on for decades.
- A contentious issue in the bill is its treatment of non-transformative gene-technology uses, such as RNA-sprayed crops and topical applications, which could blur regulatory boundaries and affect biosecurity, safety testing, consent, and liability.
- The Health Select Committee report, rescheduled for August 2025, will provide clarity on how the bill will treat topical RNA applications, sprayed RNA for crops, and unconventional delivery mechanisms like aerosols, as well as the operational rules, approvals, and guidance.
- Critics worry about the risks of failed mRNA technology being repackaged for widespread exposure, whether through food or the air, questioning whether this new faith in technology overlooks potential unforeseen consequences or ethical issues.
- As the debate continues on the Gene Technology Bill, it is important for Western civilization to remain vigilant and informed about the potential implications of the bill and the role of biotechnology in society, considering the dystopian visions embodied by Orwell and Huxley.
