| Archive for NEEPS North East Eco-friendly People's Site |
| Martin |
"Costing the earth" Radio 4 1.30pm Jan 8thhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/costingtheearth.shtml"But now the EU has proposed that several pesticides be banned and so this week’s Costing The Earth investigates how crop yields and food prices could be affected should a ban be implemented. Could yields be maintained without a full arsenal of chemicals up the sleeves if farmers? Join Tom Heap to find out" -probably worth a listen, but I am suspicious of the timing - particularly following a spate of "pro GM" broadcasts by the BBC just before christmas....... The EU are to ban several deeply noxious toxic chemicals (without which proper farmers can easily cope), but the agrochemical industry, and their lapdogs DEFRA and the NFU are weaselling that it will be "the end of certain crops", and propagating lies such as it's impossible to grow carrots without chemical inputs........ 
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| Martin |
moderately balanced, but what hope is there for mankind? - on one hand we have a scientist gently explaining that it is incredibly complex to try to ascertain the "cocktail effect" of 2 chemicals, virtually impossible to assess three, the fact that often half a dozen are mixed and sprayed.......... and on the other side we have the completely lobotomised Hilary Benn bleating "they're safe, fully tested,......." - come the revolution, I have a lamppost in view for that one! 
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| Ina |
I listened to that, too - and I agree with you. At least they did let both sides of the argument on air. But I prefer the cautious view - as, really, any scientist worth their money should! I have been involved in some research on endocrine disruptors (not specifically pesticides, but similar effects), and it's a bit frightening. | ||
| Martin |
the companies involved have virtually bottomless budgets to hush up any ill-effects - many people are "paid off" in return for signing "gagging agreements" - reputable researchers will find themselves ousted from their posts, and their work villified if they dare utter a word against the chemical forces of darkness....... Add to that the fact that DEFRA and the NFU are wholly owned subsidiaries, we have a chemical stranglehold......... 
I wonder how many people crippled by organophosphate sheep dips are still waiting for compensation (the government would NEVER admit they were at fault, or they would have been held liable.....) |
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| Maria |
...of who? Is this general knowledge or am totally green (in the not very bright way) ?? |
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| Martin |
of the agrochemical companies - Bayer and their ilk! 
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