Linked Databases
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Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre Plus
This resource provides the largest collection of full text from leading regional and international newspapers and periodicals, full-text reference books, tens of thousands of full-text biographies, and a collection of images containing more than one million photos, maps, and flags.
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West Australian Digital Archive
The West Australia Archive Digital Editions provides full text searching of past issues of the West Australian. Each issue is searchable the day after publication.
Articles
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Lynas, M. (2014). Good Crops. Technology Review, 117(1), 12. Retrieved from Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre
The author states that crops that aid humanitarian causes may soften opposition to genetically modified organisms (GMO). He suggests that genetically modified crops can reduce the use of environmentally damaging agrochemicals. He cites the genetically modified eggplant variety known as Bt brinjal approved by the government of Bangladesh and the golden rice owned by an independent humanitarian board as examples of how GMOs can serve the values and political goals that motivate their opponents. -
Miller, S. (2004). Orwell once more. Sewanee Review, 112(4), 595-618. Retrieved from Literary Reference Centre.
Presents literary criticism which profiles English writer George Orwell. His essays are often found in freshman college readers and in anthologies of English writers, and two of his novels—"Animal Farm" and "1984"—have been translated into many languages. -
Oliver, R. (2014, February 18). No need for GM crop anxiety. The West Australian. Retrieved from The West Australian Archive Digital Editions.
Once again, genetically modified crops are in the news for all the wrong reasons. In the WA Supreme Court, organic farmer Steve Marsh is suing his neighbour Michael Baxter for allegedly ruining his crop by contaminating it with GM canola. Mr Marsh lost his organic certification as a result, and members of the green movement have rallied to his cause. But the case is just the latest episode in a saga that has left scientists bemused at the strength with which the public has been swept up by the anti-GM movement. -
Watts, K. (2008, April 23). GM fine food or Frankenstein? The West Australian. Retrieved from The West Australian Archive Digital Editions.
It’s a common gripe among genetic researchers. There seems to be widespread public acceptance of the need to modify genes to cure or reduce disease in humans but when you talk about genetically modified food, the response is outrage. Part of the problem seems to be that few lay people fully understand the process and, therefore, making a judgment call on it is difficult. Currently, the only genetically modified food produced in Australia is cotton oil but this is set to change as more States change their legislation to allow farmers to experiment with different genetically modified crops... -
Rotman, D. (2014). Why we will need genetically modified foods. Technology Review, 117(1), 28-37. Retrieved from Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre.
The article explains the reason why people will need genetically modified (GM) foods as climate change make crop production more difficult along with the growing population. It cites the advantage of using genetic engineering to help crops adopt to climate changes and the potential of bioengineered food crops to fulfill hopes for genetically modified organisms (GMO). It highlights efforts to develop transgenic potatoes and grains and looks into the effects of heat wave on agriculture. -
Hurley-Dépret, M. (2011). opinion pieces: Genetically modified organisms in agriculture--The arguments for & against. International Trade Forum, (3), 22-23. Retrieved from Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre.
The author shares her views on why she supports genetically modified organisms (GMOs). According to the author, GM crops are becoming popular worldwide, with 15.4 million farmers growing GM crops. She explains that plantings have risen following the introduction of GM crops. She further points that although there are questions over the benefits of GM crops, they have clear benefits in relation to farmers' income, efficiency and the environment.