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THE
TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING
(part three)
According
to this study, measureable amounts of pesticide were found everywhere
they tested. Alarming amounts were found in food, water, air, our homes,
schools and businesses, even in newborn infants. One of the things
we've learned in this age of information is to consider the source.
So what do a group of physicians stand to gain from bashing the chemical
industry? Maybe less patients?
At the turn of the present century the EPA announced that products containing
dursban (chlorpyrifos) and diazinon the two most popular pesticides on the market
were to be banned from indoor use immediately. This was done to keep people from
living in close contact with these neurotoxins. Furthermore these same pesticides
were to be phased out from outdoor use and removed from the shelf entirely by
2005. Dursban and diazinon are part of a group of pesticides known as organophosphates.
The American public had been using these and other related products in good faith
for as long as 50 years. Finally, after extensive research, the EPA concluded
that these pesticides did in fact pose a threat to human health (especially small
children) and the environment itself. Meanwhile a large number of pesticides
considered neurotoxins by the EPA remain in circulation. As more of these come
under the same scrutinization they will undoubtedly be banned as well. The EPA
welcomes your opinion as a consumer. To learn more or to give testimony, go to
epa.gov on the web.
 So why doesn't the EPA just go ahead and remove all the neurotoxins instead of
just the two mentioned. Part of the problem lies in the fact that most of these
chemicals do the job they were intended to do quite well. Once a farmer, rancher,
or landscape professional finds a product that will kill insects, weeds, and/or
control disease, they are reluctant to give it up. Furthermore, most of the agriculture
based universities who are hired to test these products have extension agents
whose job is to recomend these products to the public. Combine this with big
companies who maintain powerful lobbies in Washington and you have a system that
is hard to beat. Naturally the universities want to report positive results so
they may receive more grants, the extension agent wants to keep his job, and
the politician is told what he must do to re-elect. Yet with all this amassed
power the wall is beginning to crack and the bricks tumble. The educated consumer
has made a big difference and when good research is applied to natural products
the results have proven that not only do they work, but in most cases they work
better. Of course big business is well aware of this, but it takes time to develop
new products.
As we find ourselves in the first decade of this new era, it has become obvious
to most of us that things will have to change in order to sustain our soils,
water rescources, and our very quality of life. Today the general public opinions
and discussions you hear will likely run along these lines:
1. Given the choice we would rather not eat foods that contain residues of synthetic
chemicals, steroids, foreign enzymes, or that has been genetically modified in
any way. We understand that foods grown on sterile, lifeless soils will not contain
near the protiens, vitamins, and minerals that organically grown food does. We
want good healthy food and we have proven this point by paying extra to aquire
it.
2.
In response to this we see the number of organic products aimed at
fertilization and pest controls has increased dramatically with literally
hundreds of new products
and vendors each year. We also see that the fastest growing segments of the
agriculture industry are our certified organic programs. Estimated
growth has been around
200% per year. Compare this to GMO's (genetically modified organisms) where
the growth rate has been much slower and you see where public opinion
is. In fact
the vast majority of the world market is refusing to import GMO's from the
U.S., Canada, or South America.
3. Given the health issues and poor track record of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides,
and herbicides, our average citizen would rather not expose themselves by continued
use in the home and landscape. Given the choice, we would prefer that the least
toxic or non-toxic solutions be used. Astute pest control and landscape services
have become acutely aware of this. Some are a offering clients a choice of synthetic
or organic methods while more progressive companies have gone totally organic.
4.
The idea of applying compost to rebuild healthy soils is now unanimously
accpted by all factions of the gardening industry although there are
many that are reluctant
(perhaps stubborn in some cases) to give up synthetic chemicals. Organic
gardeners, farmers, and ranchers are revealing that in truth better
results are had by feeding
the soil rather than feeding the plant. Scientific research has provided
data to support this beyond any reasonable doubt.
 5. Ask any homeowner if they would rather have a low maintenance landscape
and nearly every one will say "Certainly!" However the nursery
industry continues to offer the one-size-fits -all type of plant selection
a good part
of which really can't survive a hot, dry, Texas summer without copious irrigation.
In the 1980's, the nurseries in Texas that specialized in native or xeriscape
(dry landscape) plants were a meager handful. Today that number has increased
to over a hundred and is rising.
6. When faced with droughts and the resulting water shortage the general public
will acknowledge the need for water conservation, but when water supply is adequate
they quickly forget. The number one criteria among most consumers when purchasing
landscape plants is aesthetic as opposed to sustainability, or put simply, how
it looks compared to how much water it will need. Although this too is changing
among a growing number of educated consumers there is still much to be done.
7. Most citizens view water as a public resource rather than a commodity that
can be bought and sold by cities, the government, or private enterprise. We unanimously
agree that each and every household should have the right to clean drinking water
at a fair and equitable cost.
Legislation regarding water rights at the national, state, and local levels is
being introduced and voted on right now. Now is the time to educate yourself
and get active. Let your voice be heard. In the good old U.S. of A., we are especially
proud of our inividual freedoms and the right to vote. There is another power
which some of us don't think of as often and that is our purchasing power as
consumers. The power of the dollar is awesome. In reality we cast votes every
time we spend money. Politics aside, the industries mentioned here are well aware
of what we as consumers really want by watching our trends in spending. Words
like nature, natural, bio, herbal, organic, and the like are showing up on all
sorts of products (whether or not these products actually contain natural ingredients
is beside the point) simply because marketing experts realize that today's consumer
wants a healthier lifestyle. So, whether you are interested in seeing more competitve
prices on organic meats and produce or you'd like to help bring about change
in the use of pesticides, spend your money accordingly. Refusing to buy unhealthy
foods or products will also send a positive message. As election time rolls around
again you can rest assured big business and the politicians will already have
a pretty good idea what we want. Change is expected and indeed necessary for
the advancement of our society so let's make certain that the changes we make
affirm a secure future for us all.
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