I came across an article on the Greenpeace site that got me
wondering...(www.greenpeace.org/~ozone/greenfreeze/ ) (see below for an
extract). The subject itself doesn’t matter and I’m not trying to start a
debate on the ozone layer or on the greens. What impressed me is the way
they went about it, i.e. in a positive, proactive -dare I say it?- extropian
sort of way. But that’s not the point of this message either. The idea I got
from the article has to do with genetically modified crops: could it be
feasible to organise the production of, say, a cereal bar made with
genetically modified rice (the one with extra vitamin A), maybe in
collaboration with a charity involved in bringing it to third world
countries? The fact that it contains GM rice would be flaunted, rather than
hidden and it could foster a change in the general public’s perception of
GM foods. Any ideas, comments, suggestions on how to proceed? Could
(should?) the Extropy Institute itself become involved in this, with a
similar role as the one taken by Greenpeace in the refrigerants story?
>>THE STORY OF "GREENFREEZE"
In the spring of 1992 Greenpeace brought together scientists who had
extensively researched the use of propane and butane as refrigerants, with
an East German company DKK Scharfenstein. The company had been producing
refrigerators for 50 years and was the leading household appliance
manufacturer in the former East Germany. After reunification, however, it
faced severe economic problems and was due to be closed down.
The meeting between the scientists and DKK Scharfenstein resulted in the
birth of 'Greenfreeze' technology for domestic refrigeration. Greenfreeze
refrigerators use hydrocarbons for both the blowing of the insulation foam
and the refrigerant and they are entirely free of ozone destroying and
global warming chemicals.
When DKK Scharfenstein announced their intention to mass produce
"Greenfreeze", Greenpeace successfully campaigned to gather tens of
thousands of pre-orders for the yet-to-be-produced new refrigerator from
environmentally conscious consumers in Germany. This overwhelming support
from the public secured the capital investment needed for the new
'Greenfreeze' product, and at the same time, salvaged the company and saved
the jobs of its workers. <<
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