Do you know who Norman Borlaug is? If you do the odds are you don't live in the US. Outside the US he is quite popular where he saved millions or perhaps billions of lives by doing something that environmentalist often do not like. He developed disease resistant crops and was an advocate of doing whatever was necessary to increase the crop production including the use of chemicals. His efforts changed the world, but went against a commonly held belief that organic and "sustainable" is better.
"There has been great progress, and food is more equitably distributed. But hunger is a commonplace, and famine appears all too often." - Norman Borlaug
He was took a strong stance that the lives of the many who would die without the food was worth the risk of the few who may get sick being exposed to agricultural chemicals. He traveled the world saving lives in Mexico, India, Africa and many other places. In those places his efforts are remembered, but here in the world of fast food and easy lunches we do not celebrate his accomplishments as we should. We are too easily swayed by the concept of organic and "sustainable" agriculture and feel that everyone should do it without realizing something he did back in the 1940s. Those methods do not produce enough food to support our population, and if we keep growing as we are we will continue to have food shortages.
Borlaug "saved more lives than any man in human history," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.
In 95 years this one man changed over one billion lives. Who else can claim that, and yet very few know his name.
-Uncle Walter
Very nice. I like your blog, as you know, but rarely do I feel like saying something terribly trite like "you go on with your bad self" -- you rock.
Posted by: The Wife | September 15, 2009 at 10:59 AM
I like your blogs as well :) One of the Leyland brothers died yesterday. Who are they, just a memory from my childhood, one of the few nice one I have.
Posted by: Olivia | September 16, 2009 at 07:04 AM
Who are the Leyland brothers?
Posted by: The Wife | September 16, 2009 at 07:24 AM
They were a pair of Australian explorers and documentary film-makers who rose to fame with numerous TV shows and created a theme park. They park went bankrupt, lost everything, and they had worked to rebuild in the aftermath, with limited success, but never rose to their former prominence.
Posted by: Uncle Walter | September 16, 2009 at 07:34 AM
Sounds... sad.
Posted by: The Wife | September 16, 2009 at 09:23 AM