What the World Needs Now Is DDT

[madape]

Just thought I'd post an interesting article I read today on DDT. I proposed a couple of weeks ago that banning DDT may have been the single costliest decision in terms of lives that human had made since Hitler decided to eradicate Jews from Germany. It's nice to see that a major left-leaning pubication like the New York Times agrees with me.



http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/11/magazine/11DDT.html
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It's a long article, but here's a relevant quote:

(on the 1960's best-seller "Silent Spring", which initiated the public outcry againt DDT, and indeed the modern ecological movement in the U.S.) In her 297 pages, Rachel Carson never mentioned the fact that by the time she was writing, DDT was responsible for saving tens of millions of lives, perhaps hundreds of millions.

DDT killed bald eagles because of its persistence in the environment. ''Silent Spring'' is now killing African children because of its persistence in the public mind. Public opinion is so firm on DDT that even officials who know it can be employed safely dare not recommend its use. ''The significant issue is whether or not it can be used even in ways that are probably not causing environmental, animal or human damage when there is a general feeling by the public and environmental community that this is a nasty product,'' said David Brandling-Bennett, the former deputy director of P.A.H.O.
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If you are interested, enjoy.