where technological progress must be allowed to move forward. You just said we should avoid abstract philosophical perspectives in this debate. I couldn’t have put it better myself. What justification does your opposition to this technology have if not a vague naturalistic nostalgia? There is no—I will repeat— no data that shows Rijcore Company’s technology to be dangerous in any way.”
“First of all,” Ryan said. He turned his gaze from the audience to Alden Harris. “I would point out that what you contemptuously refer to as my naturalistic nostalgia is no less defensible than what I would in turn refer to as your reckless hunger for increased profits.”
“Now wait one—”
“Further,” Ryan raised a hand over him. “You mentioned data. Let’s discuss that data. Your salmon grow twice as fast as a natural salmon and become an adult size that is double the size of a natural salmon. Is that correct?”
Alden Harris nodded. “Yes. And that is with absolutely no negative effect to their nutritional properties.”
“I have no doubt when a company as immense as Rijcore undertakes a venture seeking only to validate its research in one single respect—in this case, nutritional value—it will succeed in that one respect. I’m not going to argue the nutritional value of your monster fish.”
“Well, if you aren’t going to present any actual data, what exactly is your point, Mr. Craig? And I hardly think monster is an appropriate word to be using in this forum.”
“Very well,” Ryan said, slowly with thought. “For the sake of argument, by an injection of mutative DNA into their genes, the fish grow double as fast, and reach twice normal adult size. That is correct? That’s what your data shows?”
“Yes, Mr. Craig, I just said that is correct.”
“Then you’re right, monster was the improper word. Giant mutated baby fish sounds much more appropriate. I believe that name fits with all of your classifications.”
That got a rise from the crowd, and Alden Harris gave Ryan an enraged smile. “Look. What we are dealing with here is a healthy method of producing larger quantities of farm-harvested fish without any detrimental side effect to wild fisheries. In fact, the larger production of farm salmon will put less of a strain on wild resources. If wildlife is not what you are seeking to protect with your position, I’m not entirely clear what is? The fact of the matter is that the Rijcore Company has created fish that are more efficient to produce with no excess risk or side effects.”
Ryan stared at Alden Harris for a silent moment, only a few distant coughs breaking the silence.
“This discussion isn’t about what people can have for dinner tonight. The argument comes down to a gratuitous exploitation of the very identity of a species for the cause of dollars and cents,” Ryan asserted firmly into the hush. “What happens if and when these fish inevitably escape from their farms? What happens when, with their doubled size and accelerated lifespan, they can outcompete wild fish? As long as these mutated salmon even exist , the ecology of our waterways are imperiled on a global scale. Beyond that, the ecological side of my argument doesn’t even bring into question the massive ethical concerns involved in this research. How long until pork, beef, and countless other food sources are mutated to the point of being unrecognizable? Your scientists at the Rijcore Company are ripping apart the natural world, and justifying their insatiable onslaught by stating their products are nutritional . It’s madness.”
“You’re throwing so wide a net here, Mr. Craig, that I don’t know where to contest.” Alden Harris shook his head and shrugged in exasperation as Julie Thorne began to walk to the center of the stage.
“Well, I’m afraid we’ll have to end that very appealing discussion there. Some interesting perspectives were brought up, and I thank you both for your time.”
Ryan
“First of all,” Ryan said. He turned his gaze from the audience to Alden Harris. “I would point out that what you contemptuously refer to as my naturalistic nostalgia is no less defensible than what I would in turn refer to as your reckless hunger for increased profits.”
“Now wait one—”
“Further,” Ryan raised a hand over him. “You mentioned data. Let’s discuss that data. Your salmon grow twice as fast as a natural salmon and become an adult size that is double the size of a natural salmon. Is that correct?”
Alden Harris nodded. “Yes. And that is with absolutely no negative effect to their nutritional properties.”
“I have no doubt when a company as immense as Rijcore undertakes a venture seeking only to validate its research in one single respect—in this case, nutritional value—it will succeed in that one respect. I’m not going to argue the nutritional value of your monster fish.”
“Well, if you aren’t going to present any actual data, what exactly is your point, Mr. Craig? And I hardly think monster is an appropriate word to be using in this forum.”
“Very well,” Ryan said, slowly with thought. “For the sake of argument, by an injection of mutative DNA into their genes, the fish grow double as fast, and reach twice normal adult size. That is correct? That’s what your data shows?”
“Yes, Mr. Craig, I just said that is correct.”
“Then you’re right, monster was the improper word. Giant mutated baby fish sounds much more appropriate. I believe that name fits with all of your classifications.”
That got a rise from the crowd, and Alden Harris gave Ryan an enraged smile. “Look. What we are dealing with here is a healthy method of producing larger quantities of farm-harvested fish without any detrimental side effect to wild fisheries. In fact, the larger production of farm salmon will put less of a strain on wild resources. If wildlife is not what you are seeking to protect with your position, I’m not entirely clear what is? The fact of the matter is that the Rijcore Company has created fish that are more efficient to produce with no excess risk or side effects.”
Ryan stared at Alden Harris for a silent moment, only a few distant coughs breaking the silence.
“This discussion isn’t about what people can have for dinner tonight. The argument comes down to a gratuitous exploitation of the very identity of a species for the cause of dollars and cents,” Ryan asserted firmly into the hush. “What happens if and when these fish inevitably escape from their farms? What happens when, with their doubled size and accelerated lifespan, they can outcompete wild fish? As long as these mutated salmon even exist , the ecology of our waterways are imperiled on a global scale. Beyond that, the ecological side of my argument doesn’t even bring into question the massive ethical concerns involved in this research. How long until pork, beef, and countless other food sources are mutated to the point of being unrecognizable? Your scientists at the Rijcore Company are ripping apart the natural world, and justifying their insatiable onslaught by stating their products are nutritional . It’s madness.”
“You’re throwing so wide a net here, Mr. Craig, that I don’t know where to contest.” Alden Harris shook his head and shrugged in exasperation as Julie Thorne began to walk to the center of the stage.
“Well, I’m afraid we’ll have to end that very appealing discussion there. Some interesting perspectives were brought up, and I thank you both for your time.”
Ryan
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