Continuously looking for a good balance between natural life in and with the 21st century, I like to use both traditional methods and modern techniques. That includes controlling pests in and around our environment. Each year, we have the nuisance of flies; besides being very annoyingly attacking our food while trying to eat it, our dog prefers to jump on top of the furniture to catch them and worse, flies are spreaders of disease. After having used all kinds of natural repellents such as lemon candles, bowls filled with water and cloves, cleaning with vinegar, etc., we started to use the ugly adhesive ribbon which many of you probably remember from his or her grandparents.
A sticky strip like that is effective but rather lugubrious. Once a fly is sitting down, it’s stuck and will not be able to get away anymore. Well, I don’t like to consider myself as a murderer and certainly not as a sadist; a few times a day I look at the ribbon and when I notice a fly frantically attempting to get away, I will relieve it from suffering with the back of a spoon or something similar. A bug invading my territory polluting it and, more importantly, infect us with diseases will have flown his last flight.
So I’m a murderer, apparently at the same time animal-friendly. The fly-strip, first put on the market in the last century, is nowadays made with natural ingredients, no longer with insecticide. “Great!” many opponents of the use of pesticides will think. Personally, I am especially pleased with the evidence that ancient knowledge can be combined with modern technology.
I’m not as pleased regarding the mud throwing at large companies which produce pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides), by people who do not bother to inform themselves well about this topic. We hear or read “pesticide is poison”, poison is bad, therefore the company is bad. Then we follow blindly organizations which state the same, feeling we’re doing well for our globe. I’m getting cranky whenever I read such statements. I wrote it before and I will continue to write this:
“It is not all black and white !!!”
Every morning I eat a banana with our dog, conveniently forgetting (and how many of you with me), that banana is sprayed all over with awful scary substances. Pesticides are indeed categorized as poison and yes, you should not want those applied anywhere. At the same time, I am also realistic and I fully realize, we can’t feed over 7 billion people with vegetables cultivated by my simple house-kitchen-garden-method.
What’s also conveniently forgotten by many people: cultivating fruit and vegetables (as well as meat, fish, seeds) can’t be done without money, food doesn’t miraculously grow anywhere spontaneously. Well, not anymore in the 21st century, right there where most people live and eat.
Nowadays we, fortunately, have access to great techniques, which we can use to keep on feeding so many people. Companies contribute to the development of these techniques not only financially, but also through their employees. People like you and me, always searching for healthy methods for our world, to continue being able to feed all of us.
Conflict of interests
However, for years now businesses are accused of conflict of interests when it comes to research. I am convinced that this happens. As for pesticides, it really is a different story. Glyphosate, hot topic, is one of those and is possibly carcinogenic. Recent research suggests the opposite, but you should ignore the outcome of that report since it is paid indirectly by such a poison-producing company.
True. Shouldn’t be allowed?
A company like that invests over 200 million (euro) per year in, inter alia, research, and analysis, before they may launch a product safely on the market. As well in studies in order to make it possible to grow vegetable in areas, previously impossible in terms of climate. THIS kind of information I never read in all those articles with the intention to awaken us and, maybe even more, to point to those nasty ugly multinationals. Pay more for our food, higher taxes, we don’t want to. Well … who else should pay these essential researches?
Politic, the scapegoat?
Food not always ending up at the right places, we can’t blame companies. For that, you have to look at those who govern our country. Yeah, political fools. Let’s proclaim those idiots as scapegoats.
Sorry, again I can’t agree with you on this. Thanks to governors, companies must meet a lot of strict laws, before a pesticide may be put on the market. A long process precedes this.
I wonder how many people are aware of the fact, destroying weeds with vinegar and/or potato cooking water is just as toxic – and perhaps even more toxic – as the use of pesticides, due to the much higher concentration that you use by pouring it out in your garden. Vinegar, pure, you may not even use for that purpose. Nowadays, pesticides are produced therefore in such way that you can use the lowest possible dose. Using modern techniques (again, co-paid and/or developed by the same companies), you don’t need to spray an entire field, but only the plant and/or the pests themselves.
Power-hungry lying aso.
If you believe a product like RoundUp is sold, because people want to make a quick profit and they don’t care about our globe, think again. Yes, we need to continue shaking up our fellow human beings (including politicians, companies, etc.), continue to remind them of their responsibilities. At the same time, you should put a little more trust in fellow human beings. Rely on their knowledge and don’t forget, they also like to live in a safe and healthy planet.
Should we just simply continue to believe everything politicians, companies, scientists, etc. tell us? Of course not! But! it would be fair, before running after some slogans like a headless chicken (hmm, maybe not such a convenient choice of words), to deepen your knowledge by available information. Can we also (I repeat it again) please remember, they are just like you and me, people working for their bread (or gluten-free meal)?!
Companies like (the former Monsanto and now) Bayer publish results of research on their websites, positive AND negative outcomes. You can read extensively to which strict legislation and regulations they must adhere and how much they invest -money, knowledge and time- to produce a product as good as possible for the world. Did you know, these companies also put organic products on the market? That even valuable tips are available on their sites, with information how to contribute to a healthier world yourself?
But, but! It could be better, right?
Sure it can! Thanks to research and faster communication today, we now know much more than years ago. Fruit and vegetables grown in the traditional way combined with using modern techniques for more than 7 billion people are absolutely realizable. Natural life in and with the 21st century is possible. We ALL have to be willing to pay more for the same fruits and vegetables.
Still in need of a scapegoat?
Look in the mirror! How many of you dear readers click on my links, added below this article? Look beyond the obvious? Vote in elections? Let their voice be heard at referendums? Are investing money, time and energy in the available modern technologies, which make our world healthier? Are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products, organically grown fruits and vegetables?
Maybe you also shouldn’t believe me.
I kill flies.
N.B. I’m a in Dutch thinking soul, living in Germany, therefore my English will not be perfect. Since the original release of this article (May 29, 2016), the multinational Bayer officially took over Monsanto. Therefore, I decided to update this article. Aug 11, 2018.
March 2019/February 2020: Still stand behind the article above. Stop blaming, start working on solutions. Like this one: Leaps by Bayer
Sources: All out there on the internet. For your convenience some of my sources:
https://www.google.nl/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flypaper
https://www.milieucentraal.nl/wonen/tuinieren/tuinonderhoud/onkruid-verwijderen/
http://www.bayer.com
https://www.nvz.nl/schoonmaken-hygiene/feiten-fabels-over-schoonmaken/
http://www.cropscience.bayer.com/Magazine/Crop-Protection-Development.aspx
http://www.monsanto.com/pages/default.aspx
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/16/glyphosate-unlikely-to-pose-risk-to-humans-unwho-study-says
http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBV0006419/2014-09-18#Verdrag_2
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
http://rivm.nl/
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bayer-lodges-62bn-cash-bid-acquire-monsanto-1561474
34 Responses
Y do u say dat!
ur english is so good n far better than myn!
Nyc post!
yeah: basically killing is a murder!
But after reading it!
I m confused!
?
cheers!
✌
I had a little help 🙂
Well, confusion is good. It means you’re thinking about it and I reached my goal 😉
Have a nice day, dear neighbor at this planet.
AAAH! So much information. That’s why I just do a little on my part and leave the rest to society…not decided on if that’s good or bad lol
As long as you keep doing your little part 😉 Sometime I just have a strong urge to let people now, there are two sides to a medallion 😉
These things are indeed complicated. Anything that gets people thinking, as this post does, is important. I too struggle with flies – fat ones that bite through clothes & my dogs’ fur! I am fish-itarian & hardly hate to kill anything. If I find a bug in the house, I often capture it & toss it outside. Lately, however, we’ve been having issues with rats. Argh! They eat from our fruit trees, taking only bites & the rest to rot. In addition, my youngest dog spends much time chasing them & barking at them, which annoys the neighbors. Going back to your post – the important thing is that we keep thinking, keep doing our best, & keep trying to find better & better ways.
“we keep thinking, keep doing our best, & keep trying to find better & better ways.” Yes, that’s the main goal of this post 😉
I admire that this guy actually stood for something.
You mean Mr. Kennedy?
Yes. The President had a purpose behind his job
Indeed…I agree 😉
I love that you presented both sides of the issue, Patty – it’s good to have a balanced mind. 🙂
I put spiders out, chase flies when I can, but I have recently had to resort to killing ants. *sigh*
Kindness – Robert.
I know right!? We just recently had those flying ant creatures…brrrrrr
Yeah, I think I might have killed those too. 🙁
Your English–and you–are great…what a beautiful thing critical thinking is! Your post is so well-written and informative…I love the angle you came from–thanks for sharing 🙂
My pleasure…now tell me; do you kill flies? 😉
I would if they were an issue…luckily, they are scarcely seen in my house. However, I have a friend who lives in the country, and there are tons of flies…if I lived there, I’d have no problem getting rid of them 🙂
Pheeeew, glad to hear I am not the only one, haha
Nope… you are not alone! haha
The flies are breeding in the soil in your plant-pots. 🙂
Really? Eeks!
No – not really. Flies lay their eggs in topsoil, where the young hatch. The larvae then crawl to the top of the soil and, voila – flies!
You could try leaving a bowl of cider apple vinegar with a few drops of washing up liquid near the plants. Or add a layer of sand or fine gravel on top of the soil. The larvae will not be able to crawl through that.
Thanks, Robert! Surely will try this next season.
XxX
Good plan. 🙂
I will give you this: Genetic modification is a new science, and MAY someday be perfected so that no carcinogens need be used, in ensuring their growth. As for glyphosate, it has been proven highly carcinogenic- and I’m sorry, but it is far worse than distilled vinegar.
Hi dear friend,
I am convinced that day will arrive. Rome wasn’t build in one day; this also needs time. Time we may not have 🙁
Genetic modification is however, to me, a different topic. (which by the way I am NOT convinced yet, it is a necessity)
As for glyphosate; it has been proven it COULD be carcinogenic. As I mentioned in the article, yes, it is toxic, but with the use of the correct technology it doesn’t have to be dangerous. That’s how I interpret the reports and user-instructions, which are publicly available.
Anyways, I follow the current court-case in the USA with ‘hawk-eyes’ (Dutch expression). As soon as an objective report states it is without a doubt dangerous for our Dreampack, then I will adjust or even pull back this article.
Maybe it will always be a case of interpretation? I don’t know, but as you know I care for our Dreampack, therefor I keep looking into these matters thoroughly.
The court determined that the groundskeeper was, in fact, made ill by exposure to the chemical, over time. I will be keeping an eye on the inevitable appeals process.
Great presentation of both sides Patty.
An easy way to get rid of flies? Fly screens – it’s an easy fix. Outside is another animal though…
In Australia the majority of houses have screened windows/doors, but here in Italy, it’s rare – bizarre.
Thanks Nilla!
Yes we have those too….but with an energetic dog running in and out., the flies fly along with her 😉
Ha, ha, not sure what to advise for that then… 😉