The Precautionary Principle

While playing Sunday morning detective for the previous post, I came across a reference to the "precationary principle" and decided that, since I can't go fishing today, I'd do a little review of something that seems to be guiding environmental policy. An example of the writings on the precautionary principle can be found here. In summary it might be defined as "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically." The statement is hard to disagree with. Gosh, if the activity is harmful, then do something about it. Except, the precautionary principle is to be applied if someone thinks the activity may be harmful.

Just how do the proponents describe the "science" of the precautionary principle?
In the "New Uncertainty Principle" (Scientific American, January 2001, David Appell says, "Observe before you project yourself on a parabolic trajectory. The weight of 28.35 grams of prevention is worth 454 grams of cure. Science certainly has much to say on taking precautions. But for the enormously complex and serious problems that now face the world--global warming, loss of biodiversity, toxins in the environment--science doesn't have all the answers, and traditional risk assessment and management may not be up to the job. Indeed, given the scope of such problems, they may never be." It sounds very good, except that Mr. Appell knows, or should know, that the principles of parabolic trajectories have been studied and restudied for hundreds of years. One doesn't need great scientific research to predict with no little precision the results of propelling a mass at a known angle with a known velocity and momentum. (Us old cannon cockers do it with great precision). He argues that we may never know, because of the complexity of diverse biological and environmental conditions, we must do something. Appell takes something that has been studied to death and puts it beside wishful thinking to give the precautionary principle some psuedo-scientific basis. The other argument comes under the heading as sound science. Mr. Appell argues that some actions are necessary, if someone suspects they may have adverse consequences and we really don't even need to study it.
Other examples of the argument fromHo : "In the same way, the precautionary principle requires us to assign the burden of proof to those who want to introduce a new technology, particularly in cases where there is little or no established need or benefit and where the hazards are serious and irreversible. It is up to the perpetrators to prove that the technology is safe 'beyond reasonable doubt'. We cannot expect the precautionary principle by itself to tell us what to do about GM crops or any other new technology. Like a jury, we have to weigh up the evidence, and like a jury we have to come to a decision. " Notice the use of the word "perpetrator."

Other papers on the site biotech info site use the arguments that farm tools are different from household tools. All, go to "sustainable development" and saving the earth. Gee, everyone is for that.

The precautionary principle seems to be a way to get at environmental chemical and biotech phobia by requiring that something be proven "absolutely" safe, which is impossible. The proponents of the principle do not like risk analysis, which takes a look at risks, benefits and (oh migosh) costs. One will never prove something is absolutely safe. In fact, the precautionary principle would ban water and oxygen (reducto ad absurdem) since we all know that exposure to water kills and destroys and a pure oxygen environment can be deadly.

The precautionary principle is for scientists who "believe" but cannot prove, either from laziness, lack of ability or just the facts as they stand, that what they believe is bad really is. The EU is going heavily toward the precautionary principle, and we seem to be going that way. It will be a sad say for human development and progress if it really takes hold.

Mystery Person, or I need a life

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Toxin in plastics harming unborn boys cites work done by Shanna Swan, Obstetrician at University of Rochester Medical Center. Thinking that these chemical had been in use for 50 years, their might be data supporting the conclusion and I looked up Shanna Swan. The URMC does not list anyone by that name on the faculty or staff. They do mention such a person as being part of a Nature program. There is a person by that name on the faculty of University of Missouri, Columbia who does research in that area. Professor Swan is a biostatitician, not obstetrician and has a very impressive CV.

The research is widely quoted and "Shanna Swan" is referred to as an obstetrician. She seems to be a mystery person unless it is Prof. Swan.

Never did find the data supporting the conclusions of an increase in male reproductive problems, or exactly where in a peer-reviewed journal this work was published.

I found the first link on Junk Science

Pat Mitchell: Public broadcasting is fair and balanced

I listened to Pat Mitchell's speech at the National Press club this afernoon on WCVE. I was absolutely astonded when Ms. Mitchell said that public broadcasting was fair and balanced and then cited polls showing the public also thought so. I checked the PBS website and did not find the polls or mention of the polls.

If Ms. Mitchell believes that PBS is "fair and balanced, actually, not a slogan" then Ms. Mitchell is either absolutely unaware of what is being broadcast or is so far to the left that she couldn't recognize how far to the left she actually is.

I've been a long and dedicated listener/viewer of public broadcasting. I still listen/watch, but have been more selective with the programming. My distrust of PBS started with Moyer's "Trade Secrets" which contained numerous factual errors and the standard long, lingering pictures of water vapor from steam traps of cooling towers each time they talked about air pollution. When I questioned Moyers about this, his email response was that he was aware of the errors but just wanted to make a point. I then looked critically at the "news/current events programming." A short time later, I stopped getting my news from PBS. They may have changed, I just don't watch them.

On NPR every Saturday morining. Not only do the hosts gush over Mr. Schorr, but they never challenge hsi comments when his palbable dislike for anything Republican or Bush comes thrugh. On other programming we are incessantly beaten about the heads and shoulders on how wonder it is to e gay.

Perhaps Ms. Mitchell should actually view her programs critically. If she can't see bias, then there is no hope for her. The other programming is great, but until I see neutral or balance the Libs with a conservative, then not a dime to support them.

Would you rather have Lyme's disease?

Environmentalists shun tick time bomb - The Boston Globe - Boston.com - Local - News. The Enviro's won a battle over trapping tick carrying rodents and dousing them with an insecticide in the Newton, MA, city park as a way to control ticks that might carry Lyme's disease. The quote of the day "''All pesticides are poison," Ellie Goldberg of Green Cap. From the CDC: " infection in the untreated or inadequately treated patient may progress to late disseminated disease weeks to months after infection. The most common objective manifestation of late disseminated Lyme disease is intermittent swelling and pain of one or a few joints, usually large, weight-bearing joints such as the knee. Some patients develop chronic axonal polyneuropathy, or encephalopathy, the latter usually manifested by cognitive disorders, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and personality changes. Infrequently, Lyme disease morbidity may be severe, chronic, and disabling. An ill-defined post-Lyme disease syndrome occurs in some persons following treatment for Lyme disease. Lyme disease is rarely, if ever, fatal."

Yep, sounds like something I'd like to get when there is a way to prevent it.

A Word from the American Taliban

The Crisis Papers has an attack on religious (code word for Christian) fundamentalists by a "professional moral philosopher." The Taliban prescribed certain modes of belief, actions and dress and proscribed all others. Mr. Partridge's cutesy little piece on the evils of the religious is just another attack by the American Taliban on other religions.

The god of secularism is a jealous god. It will have no others before it. Today's unrelenting assault on freedom of religion comes not from the greatly feared Christian fundamentalists, it comes from the secularists who want no expression of religion and are determined to stamp out evey vestige.

Mr. Patridge styles himself as a "professional moral philosopher." I know that professional engineers, doctors, lawyers and the like achieve their professional status through eductation, experience and certification by examination. They must (except maybe for lawyers) perform their functions by a strict code of professional behavior or risk decertification. I wonder if "professional moral philosophers" work under the same set of standards, or can I claim that status by simply continuing to write drivel like this and getting an income form it?

Thought police-Italian Style

Fallaci charged in Italy with defaming Islam by writing things critical of some practictioners of the faith. Obviously, the PC jihadi's could show the radical muslims a thing or two about thought control.

Hezbollah

Just peace loving folks with 12,000 rockets. Haaretz - Israel News all for the self-defense of Lebanon. Tell me again about Islam being a religion of peace.

The Stoa Consortium

The Stoa. A great site to visit, even if you are only slightly interested. See the ancient city of athens link for great pictures.

This ought to be required reading

From the Democracy Project comes a list of
Democracy Links that ought to be required reading and study. Haven't figured out if these guys are conservative or liberal, but who cares, they have worked darned hard to get to the core documents that every citizen ought to read.

Know what I'm doing tonight.

The Constitution

We hear a lot about the constitution in the media and from our leaders. This is a good read for those who are interested in what it actually says.Constitution of the United States: Main Page

Long Story about Muslim conversion in Egypt

FrontPage magazine.com :: Confessions of a Former Islamist by Ahmed Awny Shalakamy, found on LeShawn Barber, this story is by an Egyptian Muslim who preyed, for money and Islam, on Christian Women. Long story and a bit childish, but it does shed some light on attitudes of the religion of peace, Islam, about non Islamists. Also, in an area in which women have few rights and limited protection, it is the inherent slime of attacking the helpless that is the key to the story.

Parental Notification

FOXNews.com - U.S. & World - Supreme Court to Review Abortion Law. The state has decided that parents do not have the right to know when medications in the form of oral contraceptives are given to their children. The state has decided that parents do not have the right to know when surgery (abortion) is performed on their children. If you are pro-abortion or anti-abortion, this ought to be troubling. Parents are responsible, among other things, for the health of their children. How does one know when these types of things can be done without notification? What assurances do you have that those prescribing or performing are doing so with an adequate review of the medical history of the patient?

What responsibility do the rabid "prochoicers" take when something goes medically wrong with either of these? The answer is none. One wonders at the level of outrage these folks would show if their kids were prescribed some other drug or had some other "minor" surgery without notification.

The state has decided that parents do not have the right of notification for some actions by their children. Do the advocates of this plan to take responsibility for these children? The answer is an emphatic "no." The whole rabidly pro-abortion stance is about avoiding responsibility.

The Great Compromise

Well, all the sound and fury over the so-called nuclear option is over. The Republicans blinked. Heck, they squinted, batted their eyes and cried "Uncle." I hadn't paid all that much attention to the fate of judicial nominees until this mess started. The Democrats couldn't oppose these folks on any grounds without going completely overboard on character assassination, which means they really had no gounds other than ideological grounds to oppose them. We heard lots of words about the nominees, the rules of the Senate and life as we know ending. Somehow I don't think the rules came down on stone tablets from the mountain. In fact, the rules of the senate are what the senate decides they are and are subject to change.

It comes down to the fact that the minority party has more gumption than the majority party. The "compromise" is not about judgeships, it is about who really controls the senate. The Republicans just had their bluff called and the majority party controls the senate in name only. A major victory for the Dems.

Need and ID? Got a cell phone?

TimesDispatch.com | Charges brought in alleged scam by 9 illegal immigrants and two legal residents. Seems they used cell phone pictures to create fake ID's and then proceeded to cash checks for about $40,000. This is alleged to be part of a larger scam that has resulted in taking $50 million from banks.

Says something for upgrading the quality of identification cards, if a cell phone picture can be used to create an ID card.

Foxes are people, too

TimesDispatch.com | Predators, prey and policy. The Corps of Engineers and the Department of Agriculture came up with a method of trapping and removing foxes from Craney Island (Hampton Roads) to reduce the predator threat for nesting least terns. The terns are endangered. PETA has complained about the method of trapping the foxes.

One believes that PETA would complain about any method of trapping the foxes. If nothing were done to preserve the cranes would PETA complain about that, also?

Well said

Leaving the left / I can no longer abide the simpering voices of self-styled progressives -- people who once championed solidarity

Wonder if his victims are suing Hussein?

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Saddam to sue over prison photos. Saddam's lawyers are attempting legal action becuase of unflattering pictures of the despot. Maybe they should also publish pic's of Saddam at some of his mass grave sites.

Whoever sold the pictures to the news should face stiff reprimands. However, the world going agog about these pictures is a farce since they didn't show any horror at his years of atrocities.

How about an honest news program?

DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2005� carries a story about CBS looking to the entertainment division for help with its news lineup. How about just plain honest, factual reporting. If they want opinion, then label it as such, but do the news straight.

CBS might be really surprised at the audience share if they did honest, unslanted reporting and made an effort to ensure the facts backed up the story.

A Teacher we all should have

Democracy Project is carrying on a blog about a physics teacher in South Carolina who was fired because he refused to raise the grade of an athlete who decided it was ok to sleep through his classes. We need more teachers like Mr. Neace.

LARS VON TRIER - VON TRIER SLAMS AMERICA

At Cannes Mr. Von Trier really doesn't like the US and made it plain that he doesn't. Wonder if this is just to sell more tickets to his films? If not, I'll be sure the help him out and make sure he doesn't get any money from on evil, dirty American.