michigan farm news april 30 p.11
article about 'lowe's pesticide ban questioned'
after lowe's announced plans to phase out the sale of products containing neonicotinoid pesticides, 4 of nation's hort organization were quick to respond --- americanhort, society of american florists, the hort research institute and the american floral endowment question the decision. a joint statement was issued:
"consumers want plants that are healthy, beautiful and pest free, and neonicotinoids have proven to be among the most effective pest management tools available. neo also are among the safest products we have for both our employees and the environment
lowe's position is surprising, considering the most recent and positive reports on the state of honeybee health (NASS honey report) and recent peer reviewed research. this is an issue for which sound science must take priority"
Barron's may 11 2015 p. 42 mail bag
the editorial explained clearly the environmental trade-offs associated w/the use of ddt. it did not, however, provide enough perspective on the high price that humanity pays for abandonment of that amazingly effective chemical
the johns hopkins malaria research institute estimates that over 1 million people die annually from malaria, a preventable disease. the world health organ says that 90% of the victims are children under 5 yrs of age. this has been going on for decades.
yes, eagles, ospreys, and pelicans are thriving. but children in poor countries? not so much frederick a lehrer, jupiter FL
june 1 2015 the washington spectator
why free trade treaties destroy am. jobs p 2 editorial
since korus took effect in '12, exports to korea have increased by less than 1 billion. meanwhile us imports have surged more than 12 bil, resulting in a net loss of 75,000 jobs
..between 93 (before nafta) and '12, the us trade deficit w/mexico and canada increased from 17 to 177.2 billion, displacing more than 850,000 us jobs
the leading cause of growing us trade deficits is currency manipulation, which distorts trade flows by artificially lowering the cost of us imports and raising the cost of us exports. more than 20 countries, led by china, have been spending about 1 tril per year buying foreign assets to artificially suppress the value of their currencies.
well known manipulators = japan, malaysia, singapore (members of proposed tpp) and korea, taiwan china
may 30 '15 mi farm news p4
"the baseless, superstitious fear of chemicals has certainly gripped our supposedly advanced population in a haze of inchoate panic akin to the residents of 17th century Salem, or Europeans of the Dark Ages " begins a Science 2.0 opinion piece by gil ross md
ross goes on to point out that science ignorance is pervasive mainly because the common perception is who care? or how do i know what to believe? and perhaps even more important, he writes: do I really need to know that? yes you do according to ross
his reasoning is simple: when charismatic charlatans and quacks and there is hardly a shortage of them purvey miracle cures and 'nutritional supplement' to supposedly support healthy bodily functions, only those w/a modicum of scientific insight will be armed to distinguish salesmanship from factual information. those without become easy marks"
