Letters
11/18/2004 3:10 AMDefending the Green Revolution
The assertion that the Green Revolution has had "awesome negative consequences" should not go unchallenged (Letters, March–April).
Norman Borlaug (B.S. ’37, M.S. ’39, Ph.D. ’42) and scores of like-minded scientists worldwide contend that without the Green Revolution’s agricultural advances in developing nations, not only would hundreds of millions of lives have been lost, the negative environmental impact would have been significantly greater. If less efficient farming methods had been employed in these countries, much more land, forest area, wildlife, and plant life would have been sacrificed in futile attempts to avert massive starvation.
Borlaug and others do not completely disagree with critics who urge the use of organic fertilizers, only with their claim that this approach alone will produce sufficient food in developing nations. They also note the unfortunate irony that use of nonorganic fertilizer is much greater in the West than in those areas of the globe most closely linked with the Green Revolution.
There are many notable stewards of the environment in the National Academy of Sciences, National Science Foundation, and American Association for the Advancement of Science. In recent years, each of these distinguished bodies has recognized Norman Borlaug with its most prestigious honors for scientific contributions to the public good, as have other prominent scientific organizations internationally.
Hardly what one would expect for someone whose life’s work is claimed by some to have been so detrimental.
Don Henry (B.A. ’65, Ph.D. ’71)
St. Paul
Develop Alternative Energy
The investigation of alternative energy sources is one of the most important current areas of science and engineering. Lloyd Halverson’s prescription of "a big dose of realism" should include a measure for his advocacy of nuclear power (Letters, July–August).
It is widely recognized that existing nuclear power plants are prime targets for terrorist attacks. Until the threats from terrorist groups have been brought under control it would be most imprudent to provide such groups with more targets.
The short-term response to the growing concern about energy availability and costs is conservation. That approach served well in response to the Arab oil embargo of 1973–74, allowing U.S. economic activity to increase while net energy use declined. We could follow this course again if we could muster the required political leadership.
In the long term, the effort of investigators to seek out and develop a variety of alternative energy sources should be vigorously supported by both private and government research programs.
Warren Ibele (M.S. ’47, Ph.D. ’53)
Minneapolis
Diversity Is Varied
Your article "Defending Diversity" (September–October) provided a beautiful illustration of the benefits of diversity by highlighting the work of ethnomusicologist Lester Monts.
Unfortunately, the story was mistitled in a dangerous way. Rather than presenting arguments for "diversity on college campuses," the article was limited to a discussion of racial diversity on campus. Defining diversity so narrowly has the effect of discounting other dimensions of diversity such as gender, age, sexual orientation, and economic background.
When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year to allow race as a criterion for admission to the University of Michigan, it was on the same grounds that Professor Monts, an administrator there, espoused: The need for student diversity is compelling, not for redress of past wrongs, but to create a diverse environment for the benefit of all students. The court may well have ruled differently if it were not convinced that race was but one of many dimensions for which diversity must be encouraged.
Jim Hagen (M.S. ’87)
Ithaca, New York
Arts Appreciation
Thank you for the fine arts coverage (September–October). As a 55-year-old alum and a parent of a recent graduate, the Arts Quarter brings me back to campus more than any other U of M activity.
Richard Hahn (M.A. ’79)
Forest Lake, Minnesota
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