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Tren R and Bate R. Malaria and the DDT Story. IEA London. 2001 £10.00Many of the collectivist type of environmentalist portray their opponents as apologists for big business, and by implication for selfish rich people. In truth, it is concern for the poor that makes iGreens wary of policies that delay economic development, the main engine for the relief of poverty. The malaria and DDT story is a good example. DDT, a highly effective pesticide was widely used in the 1950s to control and often eliminate malaria. In the 1960s it became clear that it persisted in the environment and damaged the eggs of certain bird species. This probably did not concern people who were dying from malaria too much, but it worried rich bird lovers. The modern environmental movement was more or less founded on the back of Rachel Carson’s attack on DDT in her best seller Silent Spring. The result is now history. The birds came back but malaria control slowed or went into reverse, millions of people died unnecessarily, and development was delayed in those countries where malaria remained. There could be no clearer example of rich people’s concerns causing poor people to die. The numbers of avoidable deaths dwarf those from nuclear power accidents. Unfortunately the message has not yet got through to Greenpeace, WWF or Physicians for Social Responsibility all of whom still campaign for DDT to be subject to a worldwide ban. The story is told and the evidence presented in this brief pamphlet. Even if you’re not involved in DDT regulation or malaria control it is worth becoming familiar with it. The message that the poor often pay heavily for rich people’s environmental concerns is important, and this book is a good way to get it across. Jim Thornton. Leeds 25 May 2001
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