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Re: The Limits To Growth
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Subject: Re: The Limits To Growth
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From: brshears@whale.st.usm.edu (Harold Brashears)
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Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 17:14:13 GMT
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Article: 15854 of alt.sustainable.agriculture
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Newsgroups: alt.agriculture.misc, alt.org.earth-first, alt.politics.economics, alt.politics.greens, alt.save.the.earth, alt.sustainable.agriculture, sci.agriculture, sci.econ, sci.energy, sci.environment, talk.environment
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Organization: University of Southern Mississippi
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References: <542t7d$iep@rainbow.rmii.com> <32665F05.112@ilhawaii.net> <JMC.96Nov10090026@Steam.stanford.edu> <565ehv$qm9@agate.berkeley.edu> <01bbcf5b$bd8e1700$89d0d6cc@masher> <5692t9$5uf@news.telusplanet.net> <l.mcfadden-1211961031380001@dreamer-dog.pai.utexas.edu> <3288c92b.433092570@nntp.st.usm.edu> <l.mcfadden-1311961000390001@dreamer-dog.pai.utexas.edu>
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Xref: newz.oit.unc.edu alt.agriculture.misc:6339 alt.org.earth-first:6438 alt.politics.economics:92297 alt.politics.greens:23292 alt.save.the.earth:25392 alt.sustainable.agriculture:15854 sci.agriculture:15741 sci.econ:60042 sci.energy:57794 sci.environment:111276 talk.environment:76556
l.mcfadden@mail.utexas.edu (Loretta McFadden) wrote for all to see:
>Harold wrote:
>> USDA has been studying soil erosion for years, and would like nothing
>> more than to prove it to be a large problem, and hence generator of
>> programs for them to administer. Their survey found the average loss
>> to be 7 tons a year per acre of farmland, while natural regeneration
>> runs at 5 tons a year/acre. Call it a net loss of 2 tons per acre.
>> Two tons an acre is 1/65 of an inch. Thus, in 65 years, the average
>> farmland will lose 1 inch of topsoil. Assuming it has been farmed the
>> entire 65 years. Some fallow years will make up for this loss.
>>
>Harold - "natural regeneration?" And how many conventional farmers add
>anything but petroleum-derived fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to
>their soil? Tell me, what do you know about farming and the pressures
>conventional farmers are under to strip-mine the soil? "Fallow years?"
>You're sticking your head in that denatured soil and closing your eyes to
>reality.
I am sorry you are unaware of the use of modern conservation tillage.
Few farmers wish to "strip mine" the soil, though I am sure that this
situation does occur.
Are you actually Shiela, better known as the Word Warrior? She had a
similar debating style; attack character and intelligence, make
assertions, present no references.
>You make assertions, present no references, state that even the press agrees
>> with you (like that's a good reference!), then question the motive of
>> the character of the previous poster.
>
>You're right - other than name some publications, I couldn't be specific
>about studies, stats, numbers - so I'll butt out and leave you to be
>refuted by the people who've got the information at their fingertips. Of
>which there are many, I see. My point about the mainstream press is that
>they're generally unimaginative, unquestioning and not interested in any
>new information unless they're cudgeled over the head with it - like alot
>of people who prefer not to face the damage we've done to our world.
Same methods exactly!
"We have to offer up scary scenarios, make simplified dramatic
statements, and make little mention of the doubts we may have.
Each of us has to find a balance between being effective and
being honest."
- Steven Schneider, proponent of CFC-banning.
"Our Fragile Earth", Discover, Oct. 1987. pg 47
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