Please remove my name from this mail list.
William Rivera
wr11@umail.umd.edu
///////////////
On Wed, 15 Mar 2000 09:24:18 -0600 Douglas Hinds <dmhinds@acnet.net>
wrote:
>
> Hi Dale,
>
> Tuesday, March 14, 2000, 9:32:12 AM, you wrote:
>
> WD> Grace,
>
> >> IMHO, the division of materials into "synthetic" and "natural"
> >> is not only NOT useful, but is the root cause of most of the
> insanity >> that has dragged the organic discussion down the drain of
> debating >> materials lists as opposed to concentrating on assessing a
> holistic >> management system.
>
> I have to agree with Grace on this point, substituting "misdirected
> attention" for "insanity."
>
> WD> I think you are underestimating a main driving force behind the
> movement. WD> Most organic enthusiasts believe that there is a
> fundamental difference WD> between synthetic substances and "natural"
> things.
>
> Dale is not a spokesperson for the organic movement. This is his point
> of view and IMHO, more superficial than accurate. This is not to say
> there are no "fundamental differences between synthetic and
> biological substances derived through evolutionary (not surgical)
> processes.
>
> WD> IMO this stems from an essentialist (Platonic) and dualistic
> WD> worldview.
>
> A proprietary Procrustean Bed. If it were really that simple, Dale
> would not have to learn anything.
>
> WD> I suspect that the committed customer base really is
> WD> focused on substances and their essential qualities.
>
> In the end, yes - the results (on and after eating) count. But the
> market is label driven.
>
> >> The point is to establish principles for making distinctions that
> >> have some relationship to the ecological concepts on which organic
> >> was (once upon a time) founded.
>
> OPFA was designed to control the market, nothing more. And that is a
> serious flaw. (Grace may disagree).
>
> WD> I don't think we should view this as a scientific issue. There is
> WD> a divide between the scientific community and committed organics
> WD> people.
>
> Untrue. The scientific community itself is divided on this issue.
>
> WD> The divide reflects deep philosophical differences.
>
> True.
>
> >> Our goal, perhaps naively, was to develop uniform standards for a
> >> production process, not product quality--this is very compatible with
> >> environmentally minded food buyers.
>
> WD> I think most people buy organic food because they believe there is
> WD> a quality difference.
>
> It's a multi-level quality difference: It's in the product and in the
> biosphere, as well as in the social values - that drive the organic
> consumer.
>
> WD> There may not *really* be any difference in
> WD> quality, but the market behaves like there is. It seems like the
> WD> USDA was torn between serving the needs of the market, and
> WD> producing scientifically defensible recommendations.
>
> US folks seem to need that behind them.
>
> WD> The USDA finally decided to do what the organic farming community
> WD> desires rather than make scientific pronouncements. I think that
> WD> was the right decision.
>
> The USDA responded to demands from various interested sectors, not all
> of which have compatible interests.
>
> The results are as Bart says (dysfunctional).. Grace can speak more
> for her own motives than for the results, although I tend to share the
> goals she stated.
>
>
> Douglas
>
>
>
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----------------------
William M. Rivera
wr11@umail.umd.edu
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