Debatepedia Completes Definitive Article on Labeling Genetically Modified Foods

Aug. 4, 2009 - PRLog -- Washington, DC,  -- Debatepedia's community of volunteer editors completed a major article outlining all the major arguments and quotations in the every-pressing international debate surrounding the mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods have been a concern for many people around the world for years, since their production began to rapidly expand during the 1990s. Europeans have been one of the most vocal peoples in their opposition to genetically modified foods, implementing strict labeling requirements for any GM foods sold in their stores. The European Commission has proposed mandatory labeling for genetically modified foods that contain even a single ingredient with one percent genetically modified material. Over two dozen countries outside of the EU have labeling requirements for GM foods. All other countries around the world, including in the United States, do not mandate labeling. As is made clear by differing policies internationaly, there remains significant uncertainty and Debate regarding the best approach.

Debatepedia's article is significant mainly because it is the only resource that brings the many critical arguments and quotations in this debate together into a single article, documents over 44 unique pro and con arguments, each with multiple supporting quotations drawn from over 32 pro and con editorials, opinion pieces, essays, speeches, and books. This makes it possible for readers, citizens, and leaders to fully weigh all the pros and cons, deliberate, develop a position, vote, and make policy. The article helps simplify the process of deliberation where the complexity and diversity of sources had previously been a constraint.

Debatepedia is a global wiki encyclopedia of public debates, pro and con arguments, and supporting quotations. A project of the International Debate Education Association (IDEA), Debatepedia is something like "the Wikipedia of pros and cons". It aims to engage citizen-editors in centralizing arguments and quotations found in millions of articles, essays, and books into a single pro/con encyclopedia. This helps citizens and leaders better weigh the pros and cons in important public debates, take positions, and make decisions.

Related links:
* Pro/con article on labeling of genetically modified foods: http://wiki.idebate.org/index.php/Debate:_Mandatory_label...
* Home page: http://wiki.idebate.org/index.php/Welcome_to_Debatepedia!
* Media kit: http://wiki.idebate.org/index.php/Debatepedia:Media_Kit

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