Sanet Post, Jeff Gold,
Irradiation/P.Dines/D.Worley
January 21, 1997

I want to thank Patricia for sticking to the issue, avoiding the personal stuff which can be so distracting and providing a cogent and reasoned discourse on the various aspects of this topic. Like so many other topics that provoke a lot of response on SANET, this one has both quantitative(i.e. scientific) and qualitative (i.e. basic values) dimensions. If scientificaally gathered evidence is to be accepted as proof, then the limitations of that science (and the biases of the scientist) should be out front where everyone can see them. When the discussion turns to values (what kind of society do we want?) then participants should declare who they are and what they stand for.

Methods of food production, processing and distribution that increase the distance between the producer and the consumer, either physically or spiritually, can hardly contribute to sustainability or strengthen the bond between ourselves and our planet. I believe this argument alone is enough to put irradiation into the undesirable technology catagory.

Jeff Gold
Maple Hill Farm