🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1984@inews.intel.com> bverreau@mipos2.UUCP (stargazer) writes:
>In article <1527@ac.dal.ca> bthill@ac.dal.ca writes:
>
>> 1. Is the fruit fly threat to citrus crop agreed to by both sides?
>
>If it becomes established in the central valley, it will be impossible
>to eradicate even with much more intensive methods than the current
>spraying program.  

It is a difficult situation politically isn't it, on one hand you have a 
very big and powerful lobby that stands to loose millions and millions of 
dollars, and on the other hand you have millions and million of people that 
are having this stuff sprayed of them and their children. 

So the millions of bucks say, 'were gonna spray this stuff on you, but 
don't worry, its OK and of course, its completely LEGAL, AND we got OUR 
data right here that says it SAFE too! And when were done, your won't
have to be SCARED anymore'

And the millions of people say, 'gee, I don't know, a bit more for fruit and 
vegetables or a twice daily douse of SAFE pesticide (remember they said it
was SAFE so it must be so, they have never lied before have they, and I
am SCARED...)' 

>Activists may be willing to trade some level of
>infestation and crop destruction for an end to spraying, but growers
>will find themselves in a less flexible position.  

Yup, whenever profits are involved, your likely to find in-flexibility.

>> 3. What would convince you that malthion is unsafe?  
>
>How does one prove a negative, i.e., that malathion is not harmful to
>humans in limited doses?  There is overwhelming evidence for the health
>risks from many other pesticides, but not for malathion.  No one is
>claiming that it is absolutely safe, but consider the exposure levels.

Oh, yes, I see now, as long as you don't get over X amount, your still
OK, I feel reassured now. May be we should feel lucky, I've been in the
Fla Keys when they spray for mosquitos, its really a totally helpless
feeling, your standing there and all of a sudden, you notice this huge
plane makeing a bomber run on you, your saying, shit, I'm too from the
car to get inside in time, so I'll hold my breath as long as possible
and hpoe its long enough that you don't have to breathe any of it. Of 
course you do breathe it, and you shower off after their done. Yucko.

>That sickly sweet fog they pump through the air conditioning before
>landing is a concentrated malathion spray designed to kill on contact.

I've been on a few flights to Hawaii, and don't recall this, is it
carrier dependent or required by law, or just recently since the 
SCARE? 

>> If you have conceded that the scientific evidence on harmful effects of
>> malathion are mixed then it seems appropriate to wait before using it.
>
>Waiting makes the problem intractable.  It has been demonstrated on
>more than one occasion (:-( that eradiction is possible if pursued
>vigorously while the infestation is limited.  "Waiting for more
>scientific evidence" sounds like an open-ended delaying tactic.

People probably agree that this is indeed a serious problem agriculturally, 
but I would argue that it is a completely separate issue from someone being 
able to go up to you and hose you off with pesticide.

The organic produce at my grocery may not look as pretty or be as cheap as 
the fumigated, irridated, deinfestated stuff, but....

>> 2.  Malathion should not be used as a pesticide until it is determined to be
>> safe 
>
>I believe that greater health risks will result from the fumigation
>of produce and spraying on commercial flights that would follow an
>unchecked spread of the fruit fly.  I don't have any statistics, but
>I can attest from personal experience that any discomfort I have
>suffered from outdoor nighttime spraying is miniscule compared to what

Some people smoke 2 packs of cigarettes every day and feel no discomfort.
Some will die of cancer and some will not, but it was THEIR choice to
smoke, not someone elses.

Bob