Helen Thompson, South Golden Beach
I am writing in regards to your (The Echo’s) response to Theo Engelaer’s letter Human Gene Therapy (25 November).
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand that The Echo is extremely pro vaccination with regards to vaccine safety, as per your reply to the above letter to the editor.
In your response you quoted Mark Lynas, a visiting fellow at Cornell University’s Alliance for Science Group.
Considering the conflict of interest that Mark Lynas has regarding his alliance with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, can you provide other non-conflicted scientific studies to support your response? I have supplied a link from the US Right To Know site: Cornell Alliance for Science is a PR Campaign for the Agrichemical Industry. I’m hoping that your paper will be more open to investigative journalism, which I feel is lacking in this debate.
The Echo was once a voice for the alternative movement not just a ‘follow your Government’s instructions’ voice, which I think it is doing here.
OMG The Echo supports proven science & public health ??? AND seeks expert opinion to advise the ignorant who requested such input? Oh No! Despicable journalism!! What has the world come to?
Yes, The Echo is still considered a voice for the alternative movement but that does not mean it supports dangerous crackpot ideas & weirdo conspiracy theories, let alone the discredited Meryl & her gang of bullying fools from the Anti Vaccination Network.
Let me recap – Theo wrote to The Echo voicing his bizarre & totally unfounded fears that the current vaccines under development could somehow result in genetic mutations that change our genetic makeup. That alone demonstrates a basic misunderstanding of both how vaccines work & how genetics mutations occur.
Theo signs off by asking for the input of a knowledgeable person “who can explain in a clear way; the difference between classic vaccines & the DNA, RNA and Vector preparations that are coming….. as [he] would like to know more about that and hopefully other readers of The Echo will as well.” Even I know it’s just not possible.
The Echo obliged & an eminent expert explained Theo fears are, in fact, baseless & explained what vaccines do & that they do not work according to his theory. After all, he’s only devoted his life to the study & practice of gene technology that successfully saves lives & increases agricultural productivity & living standards for the world’s poorest, & that through the weight of evidence accumulated over time has proven nearly all conspiratorial fears unfounded!
Should The Echo have asked the lummox down the street who might have an answer you liked? Maybe Barrow can help?
Barrow! Not on my shift.