Comments on: Rachel Carson, Mass Murderer? http://www.rtfa.net/2007/10/16/rachel-carson-mass-murderer read the fucking article Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:08:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: fumf http://www.rtfa.net/2007/10/16/rachel-carson-mass-murderer/comment-page-1#comment-178 fumf Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:47:03 +0000 http://rtfa.net/2007/10/16/rachel-carson-mass-murderer/#comment-178 I haven't heard of mosquitos becoming resistant to DDT but I'll accept that as a true statement. However, wouldn't only certain mosquito populations become tolerant, populations exposed to DDT? I don't think Africa was using DDT in the 60s so it seems that this does not apply to them yet. This is all speculation though. If they do become resistant, then obviously DDT is only a short term solution. I think we should develop & unleash genetically enhanced spiders to solve the problem. I haven’t heard of mosquitos becoming resistant to DDT but I’ll accept that as a true statement. However, wouldn’t only certain mosquito populations become tolerant, populations exposed to DDT? I don’t think Africa was using DDT in the 60s so it seems that this does not apply to them yet. This is all speculation though. If they do become resistant, then obviously DDT is only a short term solution. I think we should develop & unleash genetically enhanced spiders to solve the problem.

]]> By: farkinga http://www.rtfa.net/2007/10/16/rachel-carson-mass-murderer/comment-page-1#comment-175 farkinga Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:38:33 +0000 http://rtfa.net/2007/10/16/rachel-carson-mass-murderer/#comment-175 If malarial mosquitos became resistant to DDT in the 60s, then it's arguable that there's any further benefit to using DDT. I guess that's just what it is: arguable. If it's a problem with measurement, then so be it. I guess society should trend towards the MOST probable defense against malaria, because it's obviously a major problem, even in 2007. I'm happy to leave it as "alternative solutions should be sought." However, there are two levels to the story. One is the surface issue: is DDT good or bad. The other is the meme, itself. Where did the "Carson DDT malaria" meme come from, and how is it that the journalists of the US are so united in echoing it? If malarial mosquitos became resistant to DDT in the 60s, then it’s arguable that there’s any further benefit to using DDT. I guess that’s just what it is: arguable. If it’s a problem with measurement, then so be it.

I guess society should trend towards the MOST probable defense against malaria, because it’s obviously a major problem, even in 2007. I’m happy to leave it as “alternative solutions should be sought.”

However, there are two levels to the story. One is the surface issue: is DDT good or bad. The other is the meme, itself. Where did the “Carson DDT malaria” meme come from, and how is it that the journalists of the US are so united in echoing it?

]]> By: fumf http://www.rtfa.net/2007/10/16/rachel-carson-mass-murderer/comment-page-1#comment-174 fumf Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:09:24 +0000 http://rtfa.net/2007/10/16/rachel-carson-mass-murderer/#comment-174 I recently read an article about this issue in DISCOVER magazine. In the article they mentioned the very difficult task of keeping track of malaria infections in Africa. The conclusion of the article is DDT probably helps fight malaria, but that's just an educated guess. There are well known negative consequences of DDT, so alternative solutions should be sought, but for now DDT is useful. The main benefit for using DDT is it's extremely cheap compared to other options. I recently read an article about this issue in DISCOVER magazine. In the article they mentioned the very difficult task of keeping track of malaria infections in Africa. The conclusion of the article is DDT probably helps fight malaria, but that’s just an educated guess. There are well known negative consequences of DDT, so alternative solutions should be sought, but for now DDT is useful. The main benefit for using DDT is it’s extremely cheap compared to other options.

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