SOUNDING THE ALARMRachel Carsonchanged the way welook at nature. Wenow know that we area part of nature, andwe can't damage itwithout it coming backto bite us.with the State Department and author of Saving thePlanet With Pesticides and Plastic. Wh<strong>ile</strong> admittingthat some dangers exist to the farmers who handleconcentrated amounts of pesticides, Avery maintainsthat the "Green Revolut<strong>io</strong>n" of fertilizers, pesticidesand genetically improved seeds has tripled crop yieldssince 1950 and saved 12 mill<strong>io</strong>n square m<strong>ile</strong>s of naturalhabitat that otherwise would have been cleared forfarmland in order to maintain the nat<strong>io</strong>n's food supply.But veteran environmentalist Barry Commonerinsists that pesticides remain a significant danger tothe environment and human health."Enough is known now that we could greatly reduceand eventually eliminate the harm caused by our useof pesticides and herbicides through organic farmingand integrated pest management," he says. "We arestill exposed to pesticides in our diet, and not much isknown about their medical consequences. Since S<strong>ile</strong>ntSpring, the only real improvement has been for thebirds. Thanks to the eliminat<strong>io</strong>n of DDT, the ospreyare better off, but I don't think we are."S<strong>ile</strong>nt Spring reported that chemical companiesin the United States produced about 32 000 tons ofpesticides in 1960. Today the EPA says that farmers,consumers and the government use about 615 000tons of convent<strong>io</strong>nal pesticides each year. (Most pesticidesused today, however, are less toxic and breakdown faster in nature than those used 40 years ago.)And, as Carson warned, insects continue to developchemical resistance.According to the Worldwatch Institute, an environmentalpolicy think tank, a higher percentage of cropsin America are now lost to pests than before pesticideswere first widely used. In an attempt to safeguardAmericans' food, the US Congress passed theFood Quality Protect<strong>io</strong>n Act in 1996, giving the EPA adecade to re-evaluate the safety of 9 000 pesticides.If debate over Carson's thesis continues, few doubther impact. "Rachel Carson's legacy has less to do withpesticides than with awakening of environmentalconsc<strong>io</strong>usness," says b<strong>io</strong>gra<strong>ph</strong>er Lear."She changed the way we look at nature. We nowknow that we are a part of nature, and we can't damageit without it coming back to bite us."Organic Jungle Gymsand rustic creat<strong>io</strong>nsWe at Dreamweavers believe that all children need amagical place to climb, play and daydream in. Thereforewe create beautiful organic jungle-gyms custombuilt into your special spot in the garden, whether it’sbuilt into a tree, freestanding, by the pool or tuckedaway in that secret corner - we build them all. We alsospecialise in big jungle-gyms and play structures forthe schoolground.We weave dreamcatcher webs where even you cantake a nap, dizzying spinners, comfy swings, intricateclimbing walls, slides, rustic ladders, adrenaline swings,<strong>ph</strong>oofy slides, monkeybars, stretchy shades, treehouses,dreamchairs, baby’s cribs… all made of organic,naturally shaped tree branches and strong colourfulropes.We cut all the wood ourselves out in the bush, usingonly alien species like the blue gum, spider gum etc.They are then ground and sanded to ensure there areno splinters, and then treated with an organic productcalled Timberwatch that prevents rot, fungus and insectinfestat<strong>io</strong>n. We then apply raw linseed oil to preserve it.Call us on (021) 780 1092 or 084 730 8246 and wewill come and visit you to see how we can best help youweave that magical place of your dreams.<strong>18</strong>B<strong>io</strong><strong>ph</strong><strong>ile</strong> <strong>Issu</strong>e <strong>18</strong>
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