Andrew Demeter

Last updated
Andrew Demeter
Andrew Demeter.jpg
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUSA
Known for TeenTake
Website www.andrewdemeter.com

Andrew Demeter is a young American political activist, amateur filmmaker, and journalist. His documentary We The People, Genetically Modified? won first prize in C-SPAN's 2014 StudentCam competition. [1] T [2]

Contents

Biography

Andrew Demeter was born in Cleveland, Ohio, where he currently lives with his family. He attends high school and is now in his Junior year. [1]

When he was in sixth grade, Demeter started experimenting with his father's video camera by interviewing relatives during family gatherings. [3]

We The People, Genetically Modified? Documentary

In tenth grade, Demeter was informed by his computer teacher — Vicki Eby — of StudentCam, an annual video competition that invites middle- and high-school students to produce short documentaries on an issue of national importance. [4] While at first Demeter juggled with ideas related to the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act or the implications of surveillance with military drones used in warfare, he eventually chose to document issues concerning genetically modified organisms, a topic that "transcends all sociopolitical boundaries." [3]

Assisted by one of his classmates, Andrew Wright, Demeter produced We The People, Genetically Modified?, a 7-minute documentary that explores several facets of the GMO controversy, such as testing, labeling, and impacts on both the environment and human health. [1] [4]

Demeter's documentary features C-SPAN programming (per contest requirements) and interviews with farmers, consumers, biologists, public health officials, and even investigative reporter Ben Swann. [5] In April 2014, the video was chosen as one of five "First Prize" winners in the StudentCam competition. [6] "That documentary was so clever," said C-SPAN's founder Brian Lamb. [7]

Later that month, Demeter visited Washington D.C. to participate in a roundtable discussion about his winning entry with Greta Brawner and the other top four winners. [8] He also met with U.S. Senator Rob Portman. [9]

Demeter, on the same trip, toured the U.S. Capitol and landed a meeting with Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi." [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biotechnology</span> Use of living systems and organisms to develop or make useful products

Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that involves the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetically modified organism</span> Organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering methods

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. The exact definition of a genetically modified organism and what constitutes genetic engineering varies, with the most common being an organism altered in a way that "does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination". A wide variety of organisms have been genetically modified (GM), including animals, plants, and microorganisms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetic engineering</span> Manipulation of an organisms genome

Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms. New DNA is obtained by either isolating and copying the genetic material of interest using recombinant DNA methods or by artificially synthesising the DNA. A construct is usually created and used to insert this DNA into the host organism. The first recombinant DNA molecule was made by Paul Berg in 1972 by combining DNA from the monkey virus SV40 with the lambda virus. As well as inserting genes, the process can be used to remove, or "knock out", genes. The new DNA can be inserted randomly, or targeted to a specific part of the genome.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetically modified food</span> Foods produced from organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA

Genetically modified foods, also known as genetically engineered foods, or bioengineered foods are foods produced from organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using various methods of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering techniques allow for the introduction of new traits as well as greater control over traits when compared to previous methods, such as selective breeding and mutation breeding.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetically modified crops</span> Plants used in agriculture

Genetically modified crops are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering methods. Plant genomes can be engineered by physical methods or by use of Agrobacterium for the delivery of sequences hosted in T-DNA binary vectors. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples in food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, resistance to chemical treatments, or improving the nutrient profile of the crop. Examples in non-food crops include production of pharmaceutical agents, biofuels, and other industrially useful goods, as well as for bioremediation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetically modified food controversies</span> Controversies over GMO food

Genetically modified food controversies are disputes over the use of foods and other goods derived from genetically modified crops instead of conventional crops, and other uses of genetic engineering in food production. The disputes involve consumers, farmers, biotechnology companies, governmental regulators, non-governmental organizations, and scientists. The key areas of controversy related to genetically modified food are whether such food should be labeled, the role of government regulators, the objectivity of scientific research and publication, the effect of genetically modified crops on health and the environment, the effect on pesticide resistance, the impact of such crops for farmers, and the role of the crops in feeding the world population. In addition, products derived from GMO organisms play a role in the production of ethanol fuels and pharmaceuticals.

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Genetic engineering in the European Union has varying degrees of regulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey M. Smith</span>

Jeffrey M. Smith is an American consumer activist, self-published author, and former politician. He is the author of two books on genetically engineered foods, Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, and Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives, which he made into a film in 2012. He has appeared twice on each of the shows -The Dr. Oz Show and The Doctors. Smith has worked with organic food marketers and alternative health product promoters to advocate against genetically modified food. Supporters identify Smith as an influential educator on the alleged risks associated with genetically modified foods, while others point out Smith's lack of formal scientific training. In 1998, Smith ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a candidate for the Natural Law Party. As of 2021, Smith is the executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, and executive director of the global campaign Protect Nature Now.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "We The People, Genetically Modified?". www.c-span.org. C-SPAN. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  2. Demeter, Andrew. "Teen Confronts @NancyPelosi on #NSA". Pastebin. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 Bonchak, Jean (March 13, 2014). "Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin student earns top honor in C-SPAN contest". The News-Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Andrew Demeter wins first prize out of 2,355 entries in C-SPAN documentary competition". NDCL. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  5. Blackmore, Willy (May 4, 2014). "This 10th Grader Is Jumping Into the GMO Debate". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  6. "C-SPAN ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2014 STUDENTCAM DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION" (PDF). C-SPAN Classroom. March 5, 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  7. Eaton, Sabrina (April 29, 2014). "Concord Township teenager wins C-SPAN award for video on genetically modified foods (video)". Plain Dealer. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  8. "StudentCam Winners Roundtable". www.c-span.org. C-SPAN. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  9. "Portman Meets with C-SPAN StudentCam Competition Winner Andrew Demeter". April 29, 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  10. Eaton, Sabrina (June 4, 2014). "Concord Township teen's Nancy Pelosi interview on NSA data collection goes viral (video)". Plain Dealer. Retrieved 31 July 2014.