I love DDT

For once, I agree with New York Times columnist Nick Kristof: In the 1950’s, 60’s and early 70’s, DDT was used to reduce malaria around the world, even eliminating it in places like Taiwan. But then the growing recognition of the harm DDT can cause in the environment – threatening the extinction of the bald … Continue reading “I love DDT”

For once, I agree with New York Times columnist Nick Kristof:

In the 1950’s, 60’s and early 70’s, DDT was used to reduce malaria around the world, even eliminating it in places like Taiwan. But then the growing recognition of the harm DDT can cause in the environment – threatening the extinction of the bald eagle, for example – led DDT to be banned in the West and stigmatized worldwide. Ever since, malaria has been on the rise.

The poor countries that were able to keep malaria in check tend to be the same few that continued to use DDT, like Ecuador. Similarly, in Mexico, malaria rose and fell with the use of DDT. South Africa brought back DDT in 2000, after a switch to other pesticides had led to a surge in malaria, and now the disease is under control again. The evidence is overwhelming: DDT saves lives.

DDT sensitivity is a classic example of Western environmentalism killing people around the world, with Good Intentions, of course.

3 thoughts on “I love DDT”

  1. Amen. In September I caught a terrific C-SPAN broadast of Paul Driessen who was discussing his booked called Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death. He goes into great detail about this issue much to the offense of some of the students who want to insist that AIDS is a far greater epidemic in Africa. (I guess if they had never heard that malaria was a far greater threat then it couldn’t be true.) I’d give you the C-SPAN link for the DVD ? but their store is down right now.

Comments are closed.