Martin Brown wrote in message ...

I am no fan of Monsanto, but glyphosate is as close to an
enviro-friendly weedkiller as we are ever likely to get.

Well that is your opinion. Are you right? Well the only means I have
of determining it is to see if you understand to subject well enough
for me to know if what you are saying is valid.


It is extremely
specific to green plants that are conducting photosynthesis.

In this instance you are not right at all. Glyphosate or
N-phosphonomethylglycine does not have a direct effect on
photosynthesis and also affects other non-photosynthetic organisms.

N-phosphonomethylglycine works by blocking the action of an anzyme
called

5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase which catalyses an
imporant step in the production of Amino Acids.

This metabolic pathway is NOT exclusive to photosythetic organisms and
occurs in a wide range of other creatures. For example it does occur
in the bug that causes malaria.


I certainly cannot judge the validity of whether Glyphosate is safe or
not on what you are saying.

Use some
own brand glyphosate containing weedkiller and not Roundup though unless
you really want to actively support Monsanto and its GM hegemony.

Regards,

If you believe that Monsanto is as bad as you say. Then why are you
encouraging people to buy a produce which most people will get from
them since they are the major producers.

--
Neil Jones- http://www.butterflyguy.com/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn
Bog National Nature Reserve