Message-ID: <4ker2a$2f88@acs6.acs.ucalgary.ca> Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 17:15:22 -0600 From: Warren Climenhaga <mailto:wclimenh@ACS.UCALGARY.CA> Subject: Re: Sustainability Award To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Mr. Gutierrez makes a good point that should be obvious to all with even a basic understanding of agriculture. This "sustainability award" is beyond ironic, and is indeed a supremely cynical public relations manouever by a member of an industry which is coming under increasing public scrutiny for the adverse impacts of its products on the environment. Truly "sustainable" agriculture is organic and chemical free -- the antithesis of what Monsanto promotes. The organic farming movement, which is growing rapidly, represents a threat to chemical farming promoters which must resort to such transparent gestures as this in a vain attempt to polish up an increasingly tarnished image. The very fact that such a step is being taken by Monsanto should be an encouragement to those working to promote responsible and sustainable organic farming methods: the chemical industry is starting to feel the heat...W.S.Climenhaga University of Calgary