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The Citizen, 2000-09-06, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2000. PAGE 11. Speaker’s stand on Fighting the Green War surprising By Janice Becker Citizen staff For those in agriculture or involved in groups focused on pro­ tecting the environment, the approach of Pat Tigges, a guest speaker at a beef update meeting held at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, Aug, 29, to Fighting the Green War was some­ what surprising. Billed as a fact-based proactive environmentalist, Tigges, from Washington State, did not reiterate the standard enviro-crisis talk, refut­ ing many of the widely-held beliefs about agriculture poisoning the envi­ ronment. Though an activist, she says she is pro-environment, pro-agriculture, pro-people and pro-technology. Tigges admitted we do have pollu­ tion in the form of “toxic informa­ tion”. “Ten-second sound bytes are sub­ stituted for knowledge. All that bad news is wrong. The U.S. and Canadian environment has been get­ ting better for the past 40 years. Things are better, forest growth is exploding and the animal popula­ tions are increasing. Every measure of the environment has been getting better.” Tigges discussed at length why North Americans have so many envi­ ronmental concerns. She said affluence brings the time to worry about other things rather than where the next meal will come from. Environmental activism has also become a business for the organiza­ tions which speak out on issues, politicians who respond, as well as the media which hypes the incidents. If there is no crisis, there is no work and no paycheque for all those in the business of environmental awareness, she said. Environmentalists have been replaced by zealots, lawyers and politicians. “It is about money, political and social change, not environmental protection.” Quoting from another source, Tigges said, “There is not a problem until a government agency has been created to solve it.” Tigges stated that there are 70,000 American companies employing over 1,000,000 paid workers who deal with environmental matters. “They have $150 billion in income.” She also questioned the research being done, stating most is political­ ly motivated. “They can’t say there is no prob­ lem if they expect to get more money for research.” In terms of agriculturalists, Tigges said they are “getting hammered” by politicians. “We don’t have overpro­ duction, but under-distribution. We have to get that message to the urban public.” Tigges pointed out how the improved technology has allowed North American farmers to produce high yields on relatively small amounts of land and chemical addi­ tives have helped maintain the soils productivity. Using her home state as an exam- said that if chemical to fertilize the just two of s Pat Tigges e encompass­ es would be needed to feed the cattle. There would be no land left for crops. Food production As part of her mandate with the EAT First project (Environment- Agriculture-Technology), she edu­ cates people on the benefits of high- yield agriculture. With the rapidly growing popula­ tion, in the next 35 years the world will have to produce as much food as it has in the last 12,000 years to feed everyone, she said. “Land use is the biggest crisis,” she said, as she asked where more arable land could be found. “Only one-quarter of the earth is land, one- eighth is hospitable, and we don’t grow food on 3/32 of it because of cities, rock, parks, too wet, too dry or rainforests. Then the top soil from just 1/32 is used for agriculture.” Tigges said there are four alterna­ tives to look at when considering increased food production. The first is to use more land. However, she said it could only come from habitats which have been set aside. The second option would be to stop the population growth. The best way to slow an exploding population is to increase the standard of living through quality of food. If children live to adulthood, there is no social need for multi-births in a family. While the birth rate is below replacement in 77 countries, stabiliz- *- ing the death rate in developing countries would allow the birth rate to drop eventually, she said. The third solution would be to ignore the problem. “We can do (food production) better here she said. “Seventy-five per cent of the world does slash and burn or will take their last animal to feed the fam­ ily.” Tigges said North America also has most of the good land here with one acre producing as much as 2,000 would in the tropics. Though she noted there are always cases of mismanagment, she said it costs less here to produce the food than to leave it to the Third World to fend for themselves. In the fourth scenario, Tigges said the world needs to produce more food on the land now in use. She believes production can be increased three-fold on the 5.8 mil­ lion square miles of arable land. It would save 6.4 billion square miles of poorer quality land through high- yield agriculture. Her support of technology comes with the need for increased produc­ tion. “As the Third World continues to gain a desire for meat, milk, eggs and cotton jeans, we cannot produce enough for nine billion people (a projected stabilized population) on today’s technology.” If questioned why it is North America’s responsibility to produce the food, Tigges said, “The best land should be used for food as it disturbs the least number of species. The best land has the least bio-diversity as it allows only a few species to domi­ nate.” Green Revolution Tigges said the keys to the green revolution are all under attack. “Plant breeding technology, improved fertilizers, improved irri­ gation and synthetic pesticides are needed to feed nine billion affluent people.” Pharmaceuticals and “farm” aceu- ticals have created miracles, she Lava Lamps(all very reasonably priced) Boyds Bears Other new items include • Digital hand-held recorders • Beautiful reproduction shortwave radios • Palm - mini computers Bradford Exchange Collector Plates, Frames, Dolls, Figurines Hew Entertainment Systems & Stereos by JVC & Panasonic is our specialty Giftware including • picture frames • crystal home accessories • cookbooks . I ® RadioSMck Where personal sei Jim & Darlene just got back from a huge shopping spree. Look what’s new! ■ MW said. During the 50 years of use, life expectancy continues to increase. “We can clean out water-born con­ taminants, eat fruits and vegetables all year and prevent molds and mildews on stored foods.” Noting that activists say pesticides are not worth the risk, Tigges said there has been no documented case of a death from pesticide with prop­ er use. “The risks are estimated” she said, “as there are no bodies to count. Animals are force-fed. They think a minute dose over a life time is the same as one large dose. One hundred aspirins at one time is lethal, but one aspirin a week for 100 weeks is not." She stated that 80 per cent of American food does not have any residue (from pesticides) and 10 per cent is so minute it could be consid­ ered organic. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, pesticide use has been dropping since 1979, she said. Insecticides are down 50 per cent. Herbicides, which account for 80 per cent of what is used, don’t leave a residue. She also extended the argument to pesticides causing cancer. No cases have been proven, she said, and age- adjusted cancer rates have dropped 16 per cent in 40 years (not including lifestyle cancers). She attributes the apparently increasing number of cancer deaths to longer life-expectancy. “More people are dying of cancer because they haven’t died of something else first.” While disputing the fact that our waters are becoming more contami­ nated, she said science is now able to find smaller and smaller particulates in the water. Of course the water can become contaminated, she said. Why do you think we have water treat­ ment plants? To catch the rare occur­ rences. People have been dying from contaminated water for centuries. We forget cholera and influenza. Much of Tigges' philosophy could be understood through that one state­ ment. Doon hosts , fall fair The villagers and farmers at Doon Heritage Crossroads invite you to take part in a 1914 Fall Fair on Sunday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Set in the autumn amidst the blaz­ ing colours and cool, crisp air, fall fairs were an impportant even to the rural community. It was the culmi­ nation of a year’s worth of effort - the best of the best was ready for competition. Musical entertainment, the penny carnival and the livestock displays made the fair a special event for everyone in the communi­ ty Call 748-1914 for entry rules for competitions in baking, produce and crafts. Doon will be accepting entries on Saturday, Sept. 16, between 1 and 4 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 17, between 9 and 10 a.m. Brussels Minor Hockey Late Registration One Night Only Tues., Sept. 12 B.M.G. Arena 7-9 p.m.