Saving the Planet Through Pesticides and Plastics [Paperback]

Dennis Avery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000

If one listens to the latest pronouncements from a number of prominent environmentalists, things seem very dire indeed. Poisonous apples, genetically engineered milk, rising global temperatures, and decreasing rainforest acreage are favorite causes. And all too often the media uncritically carries the environmentalists tainted water. Fortunately, there is another side to the story. The second edition of Dennis Averys 1995 seminal work, Saving the Planet Through Pesticides and Plastics shows that cancer risks in the industrialized nations are decreasing; that the worlds temperature rises and falls naturally; that governments, not agribusinesses, have been encouraging people to cut down rain forests; that the industrial nations pollute less than other countries; and that the widespread use of organic farming threatens the worlds wildlife. Avery shows that high yield farming techniques can both feed the earths burgeoning population that will reach 8 billion in the next century while preserving wildlands and wildlife. Thoroughly updated and re-written with new information and data, Averys controversial book shows how agricultural technology can save the planet for both people and wildlife.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dennis Avery is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. Avery served as agricultural analyst for the U.S. Department of State where he was responsible for assessing the foreign-policy implications of food and farming developments worldwide. He has testified before Congress, appeared on most of the nation's major television networks, and now serves as the editor of Global Food Quarterly.

Product Details

• Paperback: 475 pages
• Publisher: Hudson Institute; 2 Sub edition (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558130691
• ISBN-13: 978-1558130692
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Big Business Propaganda, April 26, 2010

By 

nirvana "yoga mom" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saving the Planet Through Pesticides and Plastics (Paperback)

Through the years I have learned that in order to evaluate the validity of any studies one should look at where the financing comes from. As I read through this book it was apparent to me that the book was probably funded by companies that benefit from this type of publicity. To say that chemical fertilizers do not have an impact on the environment is grossly irresponsible. Anyone who has made a concerted effort in gardening with both methods understands the importance of organic farming. There is more solid research coming out everyday about soil structure and the way it nourishes plants, but it is not funded by big business and does not get the same type of public exposure. When I did research on the Hudson Institute, I found they are supported by Cargill, Conagra,
Eli Lilly, DuPont, Dow-Elanco, Ciba-Geigy,Sandoz, Monsanto and Procter and Gamble. All the supporters of the Hudson Institute are chemical companies that benefit from this type of propaganda. Unfortunately people living in areas where they cannot conduct their own chemical versus organic trials themselves will be gullible enough to believe this book. Anyone has the ability to write a book whether it be supported by facts or not. The key is for the reader to dig deeper and find the motivations of the author.

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good for a laugh, March 18, 2008

By 

Perennial Power (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saving the Planet Through Pesticides and Plastics (Paperback)

Avery tries to pass his chemical company advocacy off as science. If you are familiar with real science, you might just want to read this for the laughs. If you are looking for actual information, don't read this--it will only confuse you.

20 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Finally! Ignorance has a manual!, August 16, 2006

By 

T. Washko "Naturemoms.com" (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Saving the Planet Through Pesticides and Plastics (Paperback)

This book is testimony to the ignorance of many men. This book is written by a man who profits from plastics and pesticides. It cannot be trusted in the least. All of the data goes against common sense. This is one of those books that will have a place in museums in future years, showing future generations how and why our earth is in the state of chaos it will surely be in thanks to garbage like this.