[afro-nets] Fox and Wash Times on DDT

["Philip Coticelli" <pcoticelli@gmail.com>]

From: "Philip Coticelli" <pcoticelli@gmail.com>

Subject: U.S. takes new view on DDT in Africa (3)

 

 

U.S. takes new view on DDT in Africa (3)

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These three paragraphs excerpted from Steve Milloy tell you everything you need to know about the logic behind criminalization of DDT in 1972 - although its not "banned" outside the US, just severely restricted. Hopefully with USAID's announcement to use it that will change.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,194332,00.html

 

There never was any scientific evidence that DDT posed a risk to humans or wildlife. An EPA administrative law judge said as much after seven months and 9,000 pages of testimony about DDT in 1972. DDT wasn't responsible for the decline in bald eagle populations, didn't cause bird eggshell thinning and didn't cause cancer in humans, the judge determined.

 

DDT was nonetheless banned in the U.S. when then-EPA administrator William Ruckleshaus reversed without explanation the decision of the judge who actually heard all the DDT testimony - Ruckleshaus heard none of it and never read any of the transcripts. As it was later revealed, Ruckleshaus was a member of the Audubon Society and raised money for the Environmental Defence Fund - the two activist groups that led the charge for the DDT ban.

 

Also some coverage of the EU's threatened trade sanctions against

Uganda if it uses DDT:

http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20060504-090512-3865r.htm

 

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Philip Coticelli

mailto:pcoticelli@gmail.com