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Anti-pesticide policies violate human rights and condemn millions to needless death
CFP ^ | May 20, 2005 | Paul Driessen

Posted on 05/20/2005 8:19:11 AM PDT by MikeEdwards

Human rights issues continue to dominate the world stage.

Ending "degrading treatment" of terrorists, the death penalty for murderers, family violence against women and policies against indigenous languages top the list at the UN Human Rights Commission, European Court of Human Rights, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The Euro Court alone has 78,000 rights cases on its docket.

This February, President Bush met with the heroic, real-life manager of "Hotel Rwanda." He later went to Latvia, to recall the millions who died in wars, concentration camps, killing fields and genocidal conflicts over the past 65 years. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress and media devoted endless hours to the tragic plight of one woman, Terri Schiavo, and Cameron Diaz raved about how "awesome" it is to live in poverty.

But conspicuously absent from all these discussions is a fundamental human right: access to modern weapons — insecticides — that can effectively combat a disease that has killed over 50 million people since 1972.

Last year, malaria sent more African children to shallow graves than any other infectious disease — three times as many as HIV/AIDS, according to UNICEF. Year after year, this silent, vicious executioner infects 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, kills up to 2 million (half of them children), leaves tens of thousands with permanent brain damage, and costs the region $12 billion in lost economic production. It sickens 100 million more in Asian and Latin American nations. . . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at canadafreepress.com ...


TOPICS: Agriculture; Society
KEYWORDS: ddt; disease; environment; pesticides

1 posted on 05/20/2005 8:19:14 AM PDT by MikeEdwards
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To: MikeEdwards

No DDT = malaria = death.

I hate mosquitos.


2 posted on 05/20/2005 8:27:52 AM PDT by garyhope
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To: garyhope

DDT=cancer=death

you could look at it from many perspectives. the truth is the misquitoes are becoming immuned to the toxin and we are not.


3 posted on 05/20/2005 9:57:59 AM PDT by mistress_of_tantra (There are two sides to every story then there is the truth...I fight for the truth)
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To: mistress_of_tantra
the truth is the misquitoes are becoming immuned to the toxin and we are not.

Do you have any documentations that mosquitos are developing a resistance to "the toxin" as you put it, and I'm assuming you mean DDT, although you didn't specify? Since DDT isn't being used, how are they developing an "immunity", or resistance to the pesticide? Thanks in advance. From the Article:

But we apply a vastly different standard when it comes to poor developing countries that are still wracked by malaria. Indeed, these human rights champions’ own institutions and allies — the European Union, World Health Organization, World Bank, U.S. Agency for International Development, UNICEF and dozens of ideological environmental groups like Greenpeace, Beyond Pesticides and the Natural Resource Defense Council — are at the forefront of lethal campaigns and policies. They prevent the most malaria-ridden nations from using the same insecticides that help make us disease-free, healthy and prosperous. For this, they are all but canonized by the "corporate social responsibility" and "sustainable development" industry.

These organizations will not support, advocate, fund or permit the use of pesticides in any anti-malaria programs. And amid all their interminable accusations and deliberations, the human rights champions never even mention this deadly human-rights abuse.

The next paragraph states that 100,000 Ugandans die each year from malaria. I find that to be horrific. The article states that 150,000 Ethiopians die from malaria each year. Even more horrific. But God forbid they should be allowed to use insecticides to prevent these deaths.

4 posted on 05/20/2005 10:12:34 AM PDT by .38sw
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To: .38sw
i am sorry i was thinking deet and my brain ran off on a tangent. thank you for bringing that to my attention. i do apologize for the incorrect response.
5 posted on 05/20/2005 10:15:27 AM PDT by mistress_of_tantra (There are two sides to every story then there is the truth...I fight for the truth)
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To: mistress_of_tantra

The connection between DDT and Cancer was disproven nearly 30 years ago. You need newer books. :)

BTW, studies have continued since then. The latest one I know of disproving it was released in 1997.


6 posted on 05/20/2005 10:17:27 AM PDT by syberghost
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To: mistress_of_tantra

So you were talking about the DEET in mosquito repellents? OK. That's something I'd have to look up. Seems I'd read something about that a few years ago. I don't worry about it, since we don't have much of a problem with mosquitos where we live, and i don't use the repellents.


7 posted on 05/20/2005 10:18:40 AM PDT by .38sw
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To: syberghost

indeed i do hahahah once again i do apologize for that...thank you again for that :)


8 posted on 05/20/2005 10:24:57 AM PDT by mistress_of_tantra (There are two sides to every story then there is the truth...I fight for the truth)
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To: mistress_of_tantra
Well, this is interesting. From the EPA's website, regarding registration of DEET for use in insect repellents:

2. What recent decision did EPA make concerning the use of DEET? EPA recently issued a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the chemical DEET. After completing a comprehensive re- assessment of DEET, EPA concluded that, as long as consumers follow label directions and take proper precautions, insect repellents containing DEET do not present a health concern. Human exposure is expected to be brief, and long-term exposure is not expected. Based on extensive toxicity testing, the Agency believes that the normal use of DEET does not present a health concern to the general population.

Link

9 posted on 05/20/2005 10:28:41 AM PDT by .38sw
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To: .38sw

well that is curious...i am going to have to look at the info i have and post it, it may take a day or two


10 posted on 05/25/2005 6:48:10 AM PDT by mistress_of_tantra (There are two sides to every story then there is the truth...I fight for the truth)
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