- Which system (type of stakeholder) that Easterbrook identified did you find your own understanding of GMOs most aligned with? Why? What are some of the stakes of these stakeholders?
When I hear the acronym “GMO,” my mind immediately goes to the environmental/health arguments laid out in system 7. I am not well versed in the topic, and I believe this association is mainly due to media coverage and the increased advertising of the term “non-GMO.” The main stakes are for immune-compromised people, who may be more susceptible to allergic reactions, those who have reported health effects that are not taken seriously due to the lack of science behind the topic, the GMO/food production companies who want to not only keep consumers safe, but also ensure they are staying up to code, and the public; people like me who may not be as educated on the topic, but have preconceived notions due to the PR around GMO, organic, and natural foods.
- Using your own topic for research, can you Identify 3 stakeholders (groups or phenomenon) with different perspectives and then describe the system (the stakes) from which they are operating? For instance, if the subject is “Safari Parks”, 3 stakeholders could be (1) Animal Rights activists, (2) the region’s Board of Tourism, and (3) the local land itself. The first operates in a system of ethics around the treatment of animals; the second in a networked system of economic benefits for the community (hotels, food, and attractions), and the third, in an ecosystem that the safari park may put at risk, by introducing pollutants from animal waste and fertilizer, and ecological competitors such as escaped non-indigenous plant products used in the landscaping of the Safari Park.
My topic is Canals within the larger topic of borders. The 3 stakeholders I can identify using this ready as context are:
Governments – the people in power to determine Transportation committees and assess economic impact. They uphold border agreements and the governance around how and who uses these waterways.
Environmental Groups – Canals are man-made structures/waterways and have an impact on the wildlife and pollution in the area.
Traders/Business Logistics – Canals transport goods, and businesses depend economically on their successful operation. I am immediately reminded of when the Panama Canal was not operational for some time over the summer of 2021 and how that impacted the global supply chain for months.