I appreciate Andy for stepping in to return our attention to the many
problems at hand that face those of us striving for a sustainable
agriculture and those of us striving to sustain agriculture in general.
With farms being
swallowed-up by subdivisions and paved-over by development, we need
to be discussing the cures for the problems and not attacking each
other. (see below....) I also agree with Dr. Reetz (message also
attached, below) that there are many, including Dr. Reetz,
in both Extension and Industry who are working toward a truly
sustainable agriculture. The USDA-CSREES SARE program, that
sponsors and pays for this particular newsgroup is evidence of a
continuing USDA commitment to sustainability.
That SAN (Sustainable Agriculture Network) that, initially, recommended
the establishment of this newsgroup, was comprised of members of
industry (CENEX), extension, research, USDA agencies, and various
non-profit groups who, in spite of individual differences, resolved to,
unitedly,
endeavor to enhance the sustainability of U.S. agriculture. Let's keep
that spirit alive. If we have considerable concerns about a "post", let's
handle it via DIRECT email. It seems to me that we need to get back
to the exchange of ideas regarding the principles and practices of
sustainability.
Thanks to Andy Clark and Harold Reetz for bringing us back to the
task at hand....and suggesting that we work TOGETHER on the
problems.
Phil Rasmussen
>Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 08:58:03 -0400
>From: Andy Clark <aclark@nal.usda.gov>
>Subject: REALLY time out: Religion and sanetiquette
>Colleagues,
>
>I rarely have occasion to step in and play referee. Sadly, I do so now. I
>have received e-mails and phone calls asking me to intervene.
>
>First order of business is to maintain civility. Please do so.
>
>Secondly, let's keep on topic. This is a list for discussions of
>sustainable agriculture. Please focus on sustainable agriculture in your
>discussions. If you want to take the discussion off the list and continue
>it privately, that's standard practice if the content is not of interest to
>all subscribers.
>
SECOND ATTACHED MESSAGE...
>
>
>Subject: RE: sanet-mg-digest V1 #1253
>
>This kind of ranting really destroys the credibility of this forum. I have
>tried to be tolerant of most of what I read here, but attacks such as this
>one on USDA and industry and scientists in general go too far. I can assume
>this is personal opinion, which you are certainly entitled to, but in my
>career in Extension and in industry, I have felt an obligation to avoid
>public comments of personal opinion like the ones posted in this message. I
>think it destroys your credibility, but more important undermines the
>credibility of Extension as an unbiased source of information. (Since this
>is an Extension forum.) That credibility was established by many years of
>hard working people who took that credibility seriously as a trust from the
>public to be protected. Maybe the electronic medium makes it less important
>to watch what you "say", but I hope not. I do not think you will find
>either USDA or industry to be full of non-caring, non-religious people who
>intentionally poison and injure the public. Most of us work very hard to do
>just the opposite. I am sorry you felt a need to make such comments on this
>forum and undermine what is generally a useful exchange of ideas. I hope I
>am not the only one who is offended by this.
>
>Dr. Harold F. Reetz, Jr.
Dr. V. Philip Rasmussen, Professor & Head
Internet EMAIL: soilcomp@cc.usu.edu
SARE Project Internet WWW-page: http://wsare.usu.edu
*************************************************************
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