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== Biography == |
== Biography == |
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Smith is a native of New York.<ref name="Reuters 2008"/> He attended the [[Maharishi University of Management]] from 1983–1986, where he studied business. Smith is a professional dance instructor and taught a dance workshop at [[University of Iowa]] as "Swingsmith" in 2002. He is one of the founding directors of a [[Fairfield, Iowa]] dance troupe called Swingphoria.<ref>Unknown author (Feb 2002) [http://www.public.iastate.edu/~mehl/archives/ballroom-dance/announcement.02feb Ballroom Dance Announcement] Iowa State Education archives, accessed 12/14/12</ref><ref>[http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1999/di1999-01-26.pdf U. Iowa: Is swing dancing coming or going? Depends who you ask], Reinstein, Leah, The daily Iowan (U. Iowa), pg. 5A, January 26, 1999.</ref>{{quotation needed|date=December 2012}} Smith was a |
Smith is a native of New York.<ref name="Reuters 2008"/> He attended the [[Maharishi University of Management]] from 1983–1986, where he studied business. Smith is a professional dance instructor and taught a dance workshop at [[University of Iowa]] as "Swingsmith" in 2002. He is one of the founding directors of a [[Fairfield, Iowa]] dance troupe called Swingphoria.<ref>Unknown author (Feb 2002) [http://www.public.iastate.edu/~mehl/archives/ballroom-dance/announcement.02feb Ballroom Dance Announcement] Iowa State Education archives, accessed 12/14/12</ref><ref>[http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1999/di1999-01-26.pdf U. Iowa: Is swing dancing coming or going? Depends who you ask], Reinstein, Leah, The daily Iowan (U. Iowa), pg. 5A, January 26, 1999.</ref>{{quotation needed|date=December 2012}} Smith was a Natural Law Party member in 1996 and participated in a [[TM-Sidhi program]] yogic flying demonstration in [[Des Moines, Iowa]].<ref>'Yogic flying,' third-party candidates promoted, Bush, Bill, The Illinois State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL), October 23, 1996.</ref> In 1998 he became the party's candidate for [[U.S. Congress]] in Iowa’s First District.<ref name="JC Auditor"/> Smith received less than 1% of the vote, losing to Republican Jim Leach.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electioninfo/1998election.pdf Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998], House of Representatives, January 3, 1999, page 16</ref> At campaign events, Smith presented charts which purported to demonstrate the effect of mass meditation and yogic flying on the crime rate in Washington, D.C..<ref>Fringe Candidate's Gimmick: `Flying' Yogis, Associated Press, October 24, 1996.</ref>{{quotation needed|date=December 2012}} |
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===Consumer advocate=== |
===Consumer advocate=== |
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====Reception==== |
====Reception==== |
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A variety of American organic food companies see Smith "as a champion for their interests" and his activities are "funded by speaking fees, book sales and donations to his institute."<ref name="Reuters 2008">{{cite news | url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/03/07/environment-biotech-crops-activist-dc-idUKN0750723920080307 | title = U.S. activist circles globe to fight biotech crops| last = Gillam | first = Carey | publisher = Reuters UK | date = March 7, 2008}}</ref> |
A variety of American organic food companies see Smith "as a champion for their interests" and his activities are "funded by speaking fees, book sales and donations to his institute."<ref name="Reuters 2008">{{cite news | url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/03/07/environment-biotech-crops-activist-dc-idUKN0750723920080307 | title = U.S. activist circles globe to fight biotech crops| last = Gillam | first = Carey | publisher = Reuters UK | date = March 7, 2008}}</ref> An 2011 article in the [[News & Review]] described him as "arguably the world's foremost expert on the topic of genetically modified foods".<ref name "ChicoNews">{{cite news | url = http://www.newsreview.com/chico/interview-with-gmo-expert/content?oid=3702536 | title = An interview with GMO expert Jeffrey M. Smith | publisher = Chico (CA) News Enterprise | date = September 15, 2011}}</ref> However, journalist [[Michael Specter]] wrote in the ''[[New Yorker]]'' that Smith, who was presented as a "scientist" in his television appearances, "has no experience in genetics or agriculture, and has no scientific degree from any institution". Specter cites academics who assert that Smith is unqualified to impart health information about GMOs, as "his only professional experience prior to taking up his crusade against biotechnology is as a ballroom-dance teacher, yogic flying instructor, and political candidate for the Maharishi cult’s natural-law party."<ref name="new-yorker">{{cite news | url = http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/02/04/130204fa_fact_specter| title = The Operator | first = Michael | last = Specter | authorlink = Michael Specter | work = [[New Yorker]] | date = February 4, 2013}}</ref> The director of the Organic Consumers Association says Smith is "respected as a public educator on GMOs" while "supporters of biotechnology" have described him as "misinformed and misleading"<ref name="Reuters 2008"/> and as "an activist with no scientific or medical background" who is known for his "near-hysterical criticism of biotech foods".<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web | last = Entine | first = John | date = October 19, 2012 | url = http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2012/10/19/malpractice-on-dr-oz-pop-health-expert-hosts-anti-gm-food-rant-scientists-push-back/ | title = Malpractice on Dr. Oz: Pop Health Expert Hosts Anti-GM Food Rant; Scientists Push Back | work = [[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]] | accessdate = December 16, 2012}}</ref> |
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==Bibliography== |
==Bibliography== |
Revision as of 18:56, 13 February 2013
Jeffrey M. Smith | |
---|---|
Born | 1956 |
Nationality | American |
Education | Maharishi University of Management (formerly Maharishi International University) |
Occupation(s) | Consumer advocate, Author, politician |
Website | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/ |
Jeffrey M. Smith (born 1956) is an American consumer advocate,[2] author and politician. He is the author of three books on genetically engineered foods and has appeared twice on The Dr. Oz Show.[3] Smith has worked closely with organic food growers to advocate against genetically modified food, although his arguments have been criticized by supporters of biotechnology as relying on inaccurate or discredited scientific data.[1][3] In 1998, Smith ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a candidate for the Natural Law Party, which was closely associated with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Transcendental Meditation movement.[4]
Biography
Smith is a native of New York.[1] He attended the Maharishi University of Management from 1983–1986, where he studied business. Smith is a professional dance instructor and taught a dance workshop at University of Iowa as "Swingsmith" in 2002. He is one of the founding directors of a Fairfield, Iowa dance troupe called Swingphoria.[5][6][need quotation to verify] Smith was a Natural Law Party member in 1996 and participated in a TM-Sidhi program yogic flying demonstration in Des Moines, Iowa.[7] In 1998 he became the party's candidate for U.S. Congress in Iowa’s First District.[4] Smith received less than 1% of the vote, losing to Republican Jim Leach.[8] At campaign events, Smith presented charts which purported to demonstrate the effect of mass meditation and yogic flying on the crime rate in Washington, D.C..[9][need quotation to verify]
Consumer advocate
Before becoming an activist Smith was a marketing consultant.[1] In 1996 Smith began traveling around the world "preaching against genetically modified crops."[1] Smith has appeared in more than two dozen countries" to address political, physician and consumer groups. [1] In 2012 The Washington Post cited Smith's criticism of Michael Taylor's 2009 appointment as a senior adviser for the FDA.[2]
Reception
A variety of American organic food companies see Smith "as a champion for their interests" and his activities are "funded by speaking fees, book sales and donations to his institute."[1] An 2011 article in the News & Review described him as "arguably the world's foremost expert on the topic of genetically modified foods".[10] However, journalist Michael Specter wrote in the New Yorker that Smith, who was presented as a "scientist" in his television appearances, "has no experience in genetics or agriculture, and has no scientific degree from any institution". Specter cites academics who assert that Smith is unqualified to impart health information about GMOs, as "his only professional experience prior to taking up his crusade against biotechnology is as a ballroom-dance teacher, yogic flying instructor, and political candidate for the Maharishi cult’s natural-law party."[3] The director of the Organic Consumers Association says Smith is "respected as a public educator on GMOs" while "supporters of biotechnology" have described him as "misinformed and misleading"[1] and as "an activist with no scientific or medical background" who is known for his "near-hysterical criticism of biotech foods".[11]
Bibliography
Books
- Smith, Jeffrey M. (1981) Preventing legal malpractice, West Pub. Co, St. Paul, Minn.
- Smith, Jeffrey M (2003). Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating. Fairfield, IA: YES! Books. ISBN 9780972966504.
- Smith, Jeffrey M (2003). Hard to Swallow: The Dangers of GE Food – An International Expose. Nelson, New Zealand: Craig Potton. ISBN 978-1877333118.
- Smith, Jeffrey M (2007). Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods. Fairfield, IA: YES! Books. ISBN 978-0972966528.
Filmography
- Smith, Jeffrey M. (2005) Dangers in Kids' Meals and Your Milk on Drugs —Just Say No! a DVD, Institute for Responsible Technology, Fairfield, ASIN= 0972966560
- Smith, Jeffrey M. (2012) Genetic Roulette the Movie, Institute for Responsible Technology, Fairfield, IA, ASIN= B0096DP4CG
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Gillam, Carey (March 7, 2008). "U.S. activist circles globe to fight biotech crops". Reuters UK.
- ^ a b "Monsanto petition tells Obama: 'Cease FDA ties to Monsanto'". Washington Post. January 30, 2012.
- ^ a b c Specter, Michael (February 4, 2013). "The Operator". New Yorker.
- ^ a b Slockett, Tom (November 3, 1998). "November 3, 1998 General Election". Johnson County Auditor Commissioner of Elections and Voter Registration. Retrieved Dec 16, 2012.
- ^ Unknown author (Feb 2002) Ballroom Dance Announcement Iowa State Education archives, accessed 12/14/12
- ^ U. Iowa: Is swing dancing coming or going? Depends who you ask, Reinstein, Leah, The daily Iowan (U. Iowa), pg. 5A, January 26, 1999.
- ^ 'Yogic flying,' third-party candidates promoted, Bush, Bill, The Illinois State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL), October 23, 1996.
- ^ Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998, House of Representatives, January 3, 1999, page 16
- ^ Fringe Candidate's Gimmick: `Flying' Yogis, Associated Press, October 24, 1996.
- ^ "An interview with GMO expert Jeffrey M. Smith". Chico (CA) News Enterprise. September 15, 2011.
- ^ Entine, John (October 19, 2012). "Malpractice on Dr. Oz: Pop Health Expert Hosts Anti-GM Food Rant; Scientists Push Back". Forbes. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
External links
- Jeffrey Smith bio at the Institute for Responsible Technology
- Jeffrey Smith bio at the Seeds of Deception