Interesting that you bring up the DDT issue. I believe it was the WHO who just last year published a report on DDT and malaria. DDT was used extensively in the US to combat Malaria and that disease is now virtually non existent in this country. The level we sprayed were hundreds of times higher than were required. The 1960's mentality was if a little kills most of them tons will kill all of them. Anyway the conclusion was that several millions of lives could be saved in Africa alone by limited low dose DDT use in homes only. Not even spraying in any outdoor areas. This fairly simple act is not allowed under some treaties and so the Africans suffer. The levels required present no danger to birds because it is not general spraying and the levels are lower than those required to thin eggshells.
To make this fishing related, how would you like to know that every time you go to the stream to fish every bug bite could be fatal? Mike M -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jim Collins Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 7:55 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [VFB] Ginger Allen/What is an Environmentalist Article A very thoughtful and well written article (rant), Ginger. I agree generally with everything you've said. >From a preservationist view point, I bring to everyone's attention that the Bush administration is pushing for a change to the "National Park Service Management Policies" manual. Among other things, they don't think that "scenic views" should be considered a highly valued natural resource, nor "clear skies" a value. It also deletes preservation of "natural soundscapes." As the article in my paper says: "The draft removes language that refers to the 1916 law as beginning with a 'mandate to conserve park resources and values' and proceeds from there to reduce, remove or de-emphasize the duty to protect park resources for future generations as the primary purpose of the National Park Service." I don't get to our National Parks as much as I'd like but I really think the fishing, especially the fly-fishing, and the overall outdoor experience will only get worse if these changes is instituted. We are currently in a public comment period that ends Feb 18. You can read and make comments directly at this web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?projectId=13746&documentID=1282 5 Also, please write your representatives in congress. I don't consider myself an environmentalist and maybe not even a preservationist in some ways. For example, at the risk of being stoned to death, I consider the massive number of deaths in Africa and elsewhere from malaria and other mosquito/insect-carried disease to be justification for limited use of DDT. It works very well (better than anything else, I believe) and should be used carefully to reduce such death. Anyway, please consider taking action on the national park service manual change. Jim Collins
