against everything?
Hal Hamilton (hhamilton@centerss.org)
Tue, 10 Feb 1998 11:48:33 -0500
I feel rather embarrassed by how many people seem to be
against "genetic manipulation" on principle-what about Wes
Jackson's plant breeding experiments in Kansas? And I'm
similarly embarrassed by those who seem against government
involvement in product regulation (Organic Standards)-are
you also against building highways and enforcing speed
limits? As a former dairy farmer, I think BST both stupid
and probably dangerous. Of course the USDA screwed up the
recommendations of the NOSB. Of course Monsanto etc. are
primarily interested in profits, and of course they have
considerable power to influence government. But our
"movement" will doom itself to permanent marginality if we
decide to 1) hold the line against history rather than 2)
blaze new trails and pull history along. The scientific
urge to discover new ways to increase yields, resist pests,
etc. can be symbiotic with sustainable ag. Similarly,
democratically accountable government is the only
institution that could (theoretically) be powerful enough
to restrain market forces for the public good.
Hal Hamilton
Center for Sustainable Systems
433 Chestnut St., Berea KY 40403
Phone: (606) 986-5336
Fax: (606) 986-1299
Hhamilton@centerss.org
To Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with "unsubscribe sanet-mg".
To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command
"subscribe sanet-mg-digest".