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WORLD AFFAIRS GLOBALISATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT Dr Matthew Reed, University of Plymouth, on 20 July 2001. The speaker began by reminding us that every modern decade has faced ecological problems of one kind or another, from concerns over a new ice-age, loss of rain forests, pollution, to food shortages, etc. While each fear succeeds its predecessor, the dangers become cumulative, until today the Bonn discussions take place against fears of a climate out of control. Despite global anxieties, the speaker believes that positive action is possible. Dr Reed reviewed some lessons from history. Between the World Wars, when the British Empire supplied us with food, soil degradation, which effectively caused peasant deaths in India, was researched through comparative studies, which revealed that survival and health depended essentially upon the quality of soil rather than plants. In Britain, farmers were impoverished through cheap food imports, historic tithe demands, etc. and small farmers were being dispossessed. Lady Eve Balfour, Sir Stafford Cripps and Oswald Mosley, in particular, campaigned against such practices. Model farms were set up. Dustbowls in the U.S., India, Australia, South Africa, etc. prompted concern by some for the condition of the soil, as well as preservation of rural customs, crafts and markets, against general skepticism. Composting was then a controversial farming practice. Although the Second World War stopped such developments, rationing and attention to diet brought attention to food and health. In 1946 Lady Balfour wrote The Living Soil and founded the Soil Association. Her influential contacts and her model farm did not, however, convince her critics. She was ridiculed and food was produced through the use of fertilisers and pesticides. As early as 1948 some were warning against the use of DDT, helping to inspire Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring. In 1964 Ruth Harrison warned against intensive animal farming and opposed the use of antibiotics. Two years later voluntary contracts to meet basic soil husbandry standards were agreed between the Soil Association and some farmers. Between then and now successive anxieties, arising from BSE, salmonella poisoning, etc. have brought increasing public concern in Britain and elsewhere about farming methods. Over the last few decades publicised anxieties have helped to produce new approaches to animal and soil husbandry. Thus, global problems of agriculture have been addressed, by protest against hostile practices, through research, local example and public concern. The speaker believes that alliances between those who put forward practical solutions and those who wish to apply science appropriately, can produce solutions to complex problems.
The ensuing discussion focused first on issues concerning farming and agriculture. After considering the relative history and values of hunter-gathering and of farming, the discussion turned to issues of choice and quality of life. Some argued that specialization entailed by free trade is essentially distorting and destructive. Others saw agricultural history as global self-sufficiency being overthrown by agricultural revolutions, which produced dependency cultures. The speaker agreed that people generally may have been happier in the past, but he thought the situation today is an inevitable compromise for feeding the world, preferably organically. The pioneers he had mentioned had begun the necessary reflections on farming practices through plant, then soil, now genetic issues. Interests and effects vary. While cash crops became associated with the postwar `green revolution', which conflicted with traditional practices, some incomes benefited while others were lost. While population growth may be of great concern it is recognized that affluence tends to reduce such growth. The underlying problems may stem not simply from food production but rather from its distribution. In addressing basic problems of global equity we should consider the inequitable usage of world resources and while local production for local markets may benefit localities, links with other peoples around the world suffer and livelihoods are threatened. There are always winners and losers and answers are not simple. The meeting concluded with a brief consideration of events in Genoa at the current meeting of G8 heads of government on global issues. Views showed division on degrees of centralisation and decentralisation as evidenced in Europe, for example. Similarly, there were generational differences of view on the effectiveness and modes of protest. Overall the situation then developing would require further study later. Geoffrey Catchpole
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