Elizabeth Lerman-Kling

I am a human being living on and from this shared Earth of ours. In December of 2008, I went to a talk about the power and control behind genetically modified organisms (GMOs) presented by a local nutritionist. I considered myself environmentally and nutritionally aware with experiences ranging from cavassing for the PIRGs to attending lectures on a wide range of topics. I've stayed abridged of the soy debate and am aware of glycemic loads for different foods. I've been an avid reader of ingredient lists since I was 9 years old. Yet,  I was completely unaware of the extent that GMOs--or bio-engineered crops-- had influxed into our food system.

I naively thought they comprised a very small portion and were mostly experimental. It turns out that between 85% and 92% of all of the soy, corn, cotton and canola crops planted in the US in recent years were--are--GMO crops. Upwards of 70% of our packaged foods contain GMO ingredients. The risks to our health, our environment, even our future sustenance are many.  And to top it off, the novel  DNA combinations of these genetically manipulated plants are owned by corporations and protected under patent laws. Biotech companies can sue farmers for growing crops that unwittingly become contaminated.  GMOs frequently cross-pollinate with  traditional and organic non-GMO crops via wind, insects, seed spills, etc.  I decided then and there that this was the most important and urgent area to put my efforts towards.

I've spent a large portion of my time since then researching and learning. In the process of this, I have made many connections with others working toward protecting our food supply and have co-created GMO Truth Alliance on Facebook. I plan to share the knowledge and awareness I've gained with you, through my blogs here.
______________________________________________________________

More background on me so you know what experiences and perspectives I bring to my lens:  As an undergrad, I studied cultural and biological Anthropology with additional emphases on Indigenous Rights and Nutrition. I interned at Cultural Survival in Cambridge, MA for about 1 year, worked in various education, child care and holistic health related positions for several years. My work of 5 years plus as an educational therapist teaching reading to students with learning disabilities led me to my current professional field of Speech and Language Pathology.

I earned my Master's of Science Degree in Communication Disorders in January of 2004 and have worked providing early intervention services to children under 3 years of age and  in a special hospital / school setting providing services to those with multiple and severe disabilities. Many of my students have been non-verbal and non-ambulatory. I helped them communicate through augmentative alternate communication systems. The higher functioning students were able to use electronic speech-generating devices which I programmed, while the more cognitively impaired may have worked on eye gaze to picture symbols or even on developing a yes and no response through movements that they were physically capable of making.