3 ms·

As far as I know we don't see a lot of this in ecosystem management. The best example, at least in terms of the millions it kills every year, is the jihad again

by whyenot 16y ago

As far as I know we don't see a lot of this in ecosystem management. The best example, at least in terms of the millions it kills every year, is the jihad against DDT extending to preventing twice yearly spraying of the interiors of dwellings to limit malaria infections. What a bizarre statement. First, that is more an issue of public health and toxicology than an issue of ecosystem level management. Second, the people involved did admit they made a mistake, and the WHO has endorsed DDT spraying in areas with high malaria incidence since 2006. Its use in such areas has increased every year since. There is continued concern that increased spraying may breed resistance and that overuse in the home may lead to its own health problems, so the current strategy is to try other options first where possible.

hga 16y ago
The emphasis here is on "the jihad extending". As in while there are ecosystem level management issues with its use, these have nothing to do with vector control inside the home. Which was prevented anyway in the general hysteria, which also extends to trying to stamp out all production of DDT; from what I've read, in the free world one plant in India makes it and there are fierce efforts to shut that one down. It's very nice, I'm sure, that the WHO and company admitted their mistake ... 3 decades later and how many 10s of millions needlessly dead in what is easily one of the 20th century's biggest genocides? Color me unimpressed. This is not an example of the paradigm you introduced in your top level posting, unless you also meant "very slowly and cautiously" fixing one's mistakes. ADDED: And good luck getting anyone in the First World to donate money for its use. As I read this section in Wikipedia, that's just not happened outside of one unit of the US government starting in 2006/7 ... and does anyone want to make a bet that that's still happening?
- whyenot 16y ago
  I think we are talking past each other, and that part of the problem may be that you are unfamiliar with what ecosystem management actually is[1]. I agree with you about malaria and spraying DDT. I caught and endured through malaria when I was doing field work in Tanzania. But, the WHO also agrees with you about spraying, and I personally feel this is a much less controversial issue than you make it out to be. Spraying continues to be funded by USAID, and I have found no indication that the current administration plans to change that. It's very nice, I'm sure, that the WHO and company admitted their mistake ... 3 decades later and how many 10s of millions needlessly dead in what is easily one of the 20th century's biggest genocides? It's not that simple and if you have read the Wikipedia articles on DDT, which you say you have, you know it. If you want to engage in a rational, reasoned discussion, I am happy to do so, but if you want to spout hyperbole like this, go fly a kite because I am done. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_management http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_management

by whyenot 16y ago

hga 16y ago

The emphasis here is on "the jihad extending". As in while there are ecosystem level management issues with its use, these have nothing to do with vector control inside the home. Which was prevented anyway in the general hysteria, which also extends to trying to stamp out all production of DDT; from what I've read, in the free world one plant in India makes it and there are fierce efforts to shut that one down. It's very nice, I'm sure, that the WHO and company admitted their mistake ... 3 decades later and how many 10s of millions needlessly dead in what is easily one of the 20th century's biggest genocides? Color me unimpressed. This is not an example of the paradigm you introduced in your top level posting, unless you also meant "very slowly and cautiously" fixing one's mistakes. ADDED: And good luck getting anyone in the First World to donate money for its use. As I read this section in Wikipedia, that's just not happened outside of one unit of the US government starting in 2006/7 ... and does anyone want to make a bet that that's still happening?

whyenot 16y ago
I think we are talking past each other, and that part of the problem may be that you are unfamiliar with what ecosystem management actually is[1]. I agree with you about malaria and spraying DDT. I caught and endured through malaria when I was doing field work in Tanzania. But, the WHO also agrees with you about spraying, and I personally feel this is a much less controversial issue than you make it out to be. Spraying continues to be funded by USAID, and I have found no indication that the current administration plans to change that. It's very nice, I'm sure, that the WHO and company admitted their mistake ... 3 decades later and how many 10s of millions needlessly dead in what is easily one of the 20th century's biggest genocides? It's not that simple and if you have read the Wikipedia articles on DDT, which you say you have, you know it. If you want to engage in a rational, reasoned discussion, I am happy to do so, but if you want to spout hyperbole like this, go fly a kite because I am done. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_management http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_management