Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives

Genetic Roulette - The Gamble of Our Lives
Directed by	Jeffrey M. Smith
Produced by	Jeffrey M. Smith
Narrated by	Lisa Oz
Release date	August 2012 (2012-08) (12)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English (Spanish version optional)

Genetic Roulette - The Gamble of Our Lives is a 2012 American documentary film directed by Jeffrey M. Smith. The film examines biotechnology & agriculture business, concluding that biotechnology and agribusiness produces genetically modified food that is unhealthy, unsafe, and in a way that is environmentally harmful and abusive of both animals and employees. The film is narrated by Lisa Oz.

Movie statement

""Never-Before-Seen-Evidence" points to "genetically engineered foods as a major contributor to rising disease rates in the US population, especially among children. Gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, inflammatory diseases, and infertility are just some of the problems implicated in humans, pets, livestock, and lab animals that eat genetically modified soybeans and corn.""

"Monsanto's "strong arm tactics", the FDA's "fraudulent policies", and how the USDA "ignores a growing health emergency are also laid bare".

Awards

2012 Movie of the Year by the Solari Report
Top Transformational Film of 2012 by AwareGuide!

Movie's website's posted testimonials

Genetic Roulette unveils a world most of us have never seen. It raises alarming questions about GMOs, and we deserve answers. For all that you love, hear this message and act now. - Frances Moore Lappé, author of Diet for a Small Planet and EcoMind

In exposing the bullying and deceit of of the biotech industry, Jeffrey Smith’s mesmerizing film shines a bright light of hope that we can reclaim our health and our food systems. Meticulously documented, thoroughly comprehensive, and rivetingly presented, this is more than an adventure story with intense drama and high stakes. It is in fact one of the most important stories ever told. Watch it and be galvanized, inspired, and engaged. Then tell everyone you know. - John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America, Founder and Board Chair Emeritus of EarthSave International

Genetic Roulette is a powerful, compelling indictment of the biotechnology industry’s genetically engineered food experiment that is being foisted on the American public. The film shows in disturbing detail the many health hazards of this potentially dangerous technology. Adding to the film’s power and hopeful message are the many testimonials from health professionals and individuals who describe the benefits of eating a non-GMO diet. All Americans who are concerned about the foods they eat should see this film. - Ken Roseboro, editor and publisher, The Organic & Non-GMO Report and The Non-GMO Sourcebook, and author of Genetically Altered Foods and Your Health.

Congratulations to Jeffrey Smith on this excellent, compelling and important documentary! - Martine Joseph, Film Critic Americans are sick—and getting sicker. Chronic diseases account for more than 70% of all deaths in the United States, a rate that has risen sharply over the last two decades and surpasses that of all other nations. Obesity, smoking, and environmental factors clearly play a role in this convergence of health crises. But what if a prime culprit were lurking in the very food we eat?

This is the question asked by Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives, a new documentary exploring the potential dangers posed by genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our food supply. Directed by outspoken GMO critic Jeffrey M. Smith, the film is an unsettling tour through a myriad of serious health conditions implicated with genetically altered crops, from allergies and intestinal disorders to diabetes and autism. Many explanations are offered for how these ailments could arise. For example, the haphazard process of genetic modification—which involves blasting foreign genes into cells—leads to “massive collateral damage” in the DNA sequence of the plant. Consuming this mutated DNA, the film argues, could present unpredicted effects such as inflammation, immune disorders, and allergic reactions.

Supported by references to research studies and interviews with a wide range of physicians, scientists and activists, these claims are compelling, even when admittedly speculative. But what is ultimately most persuasive is the story of collusion between the U.S. government and the biotech industry, which Genetic Roulette reveals with relish. Here unfolds a sordid tale of revolving-door politics starring key figures in the FDA, USDA, and top brass at the biotech giant Monsanto. When FDA scientists assessed GMO technology in the early 1990s, they warned of potential health hazards such as allergies and new diseases. But the person in charge of policy at the agency was former Monsanto attorney Michael Taylor, who today serves as Food Czar under Obama. The FDA scientists were ignored, and GMO foods were fast-tracked to our dinner plates without regulation.

Clearly the fox is watching the henhouse, and we can take no assurance from government claims that genetically engineered foods are proven safe. In a dense 80 minutes of information, Genetic Roulette makes a strong case to the contrary. Smith leaves no GMO stone unturned in his film, dispelling the myth about increased yields from genetically-modified crops and touching on Monsanto’s notorious patent lawsuits against small farmers. The documentary closes with an appeal to California voters to support Proposition 37 for mandatory GMO labeling, a people’s initiative which was narrowly defeated after a Monsanto-led lobby spent $46 million on attack ads to squash it. Supporters quickly affirmed that they would continue to educate the public on this vital issue. As the food fight rages on, films like Genetic Roulette wield the persuasive power to tip the balance and send GMOs to the compost heap of history. - ST Frequency

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