“…and the far more tragic result of stripping African nations of the most effective weapon they had against malaria. The real silent spring is heard every year in playgrounds across countries like Uganda, where children fall victim to the disease in heart-rending numbers. That’s the human price of the moral fervor over DDT.”
DDT was not withdrawn from use in Africa, but the agricultural use was discouraged because of ecological concerns AND, perhaps more importantly, because resistance had developed in mosquitoes. Agricultural use of DDT is devastating to DDT’s effectiveness as a vector control because mosquitoes come into contact with more diffuse amounts of DDT and resistance is gained more easily and rapidly.
DDT was never banned for insect vector control, though it was highly restricted because of its abuse in agriculture.
To blame the deaths of African children on environmentalism is a typical smear tactic not borne out by the facts. DDT should be used in appropriate ways, but there are many other pesticides that can be used at about the same cost. Many environmental groups support the phase out of DDT, but not if it is needed for disease control.
I encourage those who still believe environmentalists are evil to put their money where their distrust is and donate some money to purchase bed nets for malaria control. One good place is:
https://give.malarianomore.org/NETCOMMUNITY/SSLPage.aspx?pid=184&srcid=184
Malaria No More is a venture that was organized at the 2006 White House summit on Malaria.
Let’s stop the myths about environmentalists and Rachel Carson and let’s start actually helping. If you sincerely believe the environmentalists won’t do it, then I guess it’s up to you.
