Re: Thought Police

Subject: Re: Thought Police
From: pollinator@aol.com (Pollinator)
Date: 28 Jun 1996 19:04:14 -0400
Article: 13258 of alt.sustainable.agriculture
Newsgroups: alt.sustainable.agriculture
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
References: <Pine.SUN.3.93.960624135835.8141A-100000@aces1>
Reply-To: pollinator@aol.com (Pollinator)
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 Subject: Re: Thought Police
From: jnovak@acenet.auburn.edu (James L. Novak)

>>Charles,

This is an interesting topic and one worthy of "research."  How about an
anonymous survey type instrument to conduct an unbiased type study of undo
influence on scientists at the land-grants?  I'm concerned about bias,
whether it be from the center, left or right. <<

   From my efforts to get education and enforcement of pesticide label
directions regarding bees, I am being forced into the conclusion that the
pesticide industry has the best Clemson Extension Service and enforcement
agency that money can buy.

   Cotton bloom is about to begin, and I can guarantee that a lot of
applications will be made in violation of the label instructions for bee
protection.

   There is even an officially sanctioned circumvention of label
directions:  ie call beekeepers and let it be their problem.  Of course
that does not protect alternative pollinators, as would label compliance. 
Nor does it really protect domestic honeybees, as, in my case, there may
be 20 - 30 applications affecting my bees over a 200 mile area on any
given day, this next month.

  Little effort is being made to teach applicators how to comply with
these label directions by monitoring the foraging hours of the bees,
whether domestic or feral honeybees, bumblebees, or solitary bees.

   I know all about salvaging honeybees after a pesticide hit.  I know how
it takes the profit out of beekeeping.    I don't know anything about
salvaging other pollinators.  And who would do it?

   The pesticide industry is a powerful group, that funds a lot of
research.  And they don't want to be bothered by "minor" details such as
bee protection.  --At least in cotton country.

Pollinator@aol.com                                   Dave Green
Practical Pollination Home Page    
http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html  
PO Box 1200, Hemingway, SC    29554