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September 14, 2009

"Who has saved more human lives than anyone else in history?"

Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970? Who still teaches at Texas A&M at the age of 86?

An interview with Norman Borlaug (from April, 2000), who passed away Sept. 12.

h/t Doug Y.

Posted by Kate at September 14, 2009 12:13 AM
Comments

I am sorry to here that such a great hero of humanity has passed away he did a good thing .

I also have an argument though about the article it say's that food is cheaper than it has ever been i disagree ..but maybe i read the article wrong maybe it meantl ike crops and all of that ..not sure but it is not cheaper thna it has ever been it is definatley more abundant than it has ever been though and i think he did a great job ....that is a true green revolution !!

thank you .

Paul

Posted by: paul at September 13, 2009 11:39 PM

Well. The "greenies" should be really pleased with his passing.To bad that a great hero like him was doing what the so called enviroMENTALists should have been doing,instead of trying to bankrupt the world,starve and murder 10's of millions,and strive for "one world commie gubbermint"

Posted by: Justthinkin at September 13, 2009 11:55 PM

I remember the concern of the "population bomb" very well. Our third child and our second son is three years younger than if I had not convinced my wife we should only have two children. Fortunately her wisdom prevailed and we brought our third child into this world. An addition which is of value and of more value than this neo malthusian. The harbinger of the warmongers to come
Cheers; Mike Sr

Posted by: MikeSr at September 13, 2009 11:55 PM

please excuse my typo I meant the harbinger as bing Erlich.My reread of the post showed it could be interpreted to mean Mr. Borlaug, who was a great person. Mike Sr.

Posted by: MikeSr at September 14, 2009 12:00 AM


1970 ... back when the Nobel Peace Prize Committee was populated by adults.

Things sure have changed since then. The Peace Prize and the Literature Prize are laughingstocks today.

Posted by: Tom Paine at September 14, 2009 12:37 AM

This was the man who started genetically modified foods. Trading starvation for cancer?

Posted by: ahrcanum at September 14, 2009 12:54 AM

"This was the man who started genetically modified foods. Trading starvation for cancer?

Posted by: ahrcanum at September 14, 2009 12:54 AM "

Riiighhhtttt. And you have what links to back this up? Or where you maybe thinking of the eco-nuts murdering millions of African children by scare mongering DDT?

Posted by: Justthinkin at September 14, 2009 1:03 AM

Yeah there sure are a lot of people dying from cancer because they ate canola oil.

Twit.

I personally think that the people who invented modern herbicides - 2-4d and the triazines did more than borlang. The labour savings were the key to the production boom.

And honourable mention has to be given to earl butz the father of the cheap food policy that enabled producers to make the most of the yield gains.

Naturally eastern canadians and europeans fought and continue to fight cheap food policies.

Posted by: Gord Tulk at September 14, 2009 1:13 AM

You almost have to think that this is one of those "not waiting for the asteroid" moments... one peep out of the BBC about this. Other than that, silence.

You'd think that the man wasn't responsible for saving a billion lives or so.

Posted by: Andrew at September 14, 2009 1:16 AM

Never mind... media blackout just seems to be in Canada is all.

My Bad.

Posted by: Andrew at September 14, 2009 1:22 AM

Thanks for posting this.

RIP Norman Borlaug. And thank God for you.

Posted by: Kelly at September 14, 2009 1:44 AM

Thanks for this article. I was talking to a group of engineers about the state of the world last night. We heaped scorn on the global warming mongers but some were sure that population growth would lead to future famines.
Passing along an article like this allows rational people to look at the facts and reconsidered their opinions.
It’s too bad that the general population is getting most of their information through the “ If it bleeds it leads” MSM. . We are living with a very uninformed electorate and it shows.

Posted by: Cal at September 14, 2009 2:50 AM

These are the type of people young folks could look up to . We never seem to hear about the successes. Only disasters. Not of Men or Women who actually produce for the Human race, instead of feeding off it.
Like they say in politics as Hillary Clinton quoted: "Never miss an opportunity a disaster brings "

Posted by: Revnant Dream at September 14, 2009 4:43 AM

I imagine the Canadian Wheat Board has been cursing Norman Borlaug for over 40 years. After all, with under developed countries growing their own food, the "Breadbasket of the world" all of a sudden wasn't such a superpower anymore.

Posted by: Texas Canuck at September 14, 2009 5:46 AM

So why are real, worthy people such as Norman Borlaug unknown to the masses while Eco-nut cases are well known "heroes"?

Because the media, in general, is nuts.

Posted by: ron in kelowna at September 14, 2009 7:53 AM


Who has saved more human lives than anyone else in history?

Maurice Ralph Hilleman

Posted by: fakename at September 14, 2009 7:53 AM

Ted Kennedy has killed more people than genetically enhanced food has.

Posted by: ron in kelowna at September 14, 2009 8:02 AM

The question is, what all that extra population going to DO.

Posted by: Aaron at September 14, 2009 8:55 AM

Borlaug was but one in an endless list of brilliant Americans whose contributions to the betterment of people all over the globe make that country a beacon of greatness. The man's achievements are truly timeless.

But this doesn't impress leftards who hate America. They see America as the big bully of the world.

My wife and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary this past week-end. She presented me with tickets to see and hear "W" in Saskatoon in late October. Can't wait!

Posted by: a different bob at September 14, 2009 9:08 AM

ahrcanum:

The environmental movement is polluted with radical politics and anti-scientific bias. Some environmentalists seem quite prepared to allow people to starve in the interests of ideological purity.

Posted by: rabbit at September 14, 2009 9:45 AM

To all of you: READ THE ARTICLE! I don't always click through on everything, but this one is worth it. It will renew your faith in humanity.

We homeschool, and we're going to spend at least two hours comparing him and Ehrlich and Rachel Carson today. He's worth it.

I know several couples who chose not to have children back in the 1970s because of what Ehrlich wrote. Not sure how they feel about that decision now, but they do see how discredited Ehrlich now is.

Posted by: SheilaG at September 14, 2009 9:55 AM

During the 1960's CCF types and the Labour movement had rallies all over Canada preaching the triple forecast of gloom and doom. Too many people,too little food and because of climate change we were going to freeze to death. Then along came the results of Mr Borlaug's work.

In the 1970's the Social Workers took over the NDP and we had more of the same only wrapped in warm fuzzy moral garments. But, folks began to eat because of Mr Borlaug's work.

Today taliban Jack is urging more foreign aid to dictators and terrorist while many 3rd world countries have reached the status of exporters of food. All because of Mr Borlaug's work.

Mr Borlaug's work has saved millions of folks from starving to death. Yet, our schools don't mention his awesome achievement.

Better that the children learn about gay penguins and America the evil empire. It's more important that kids learn that Global warming will incinerate the planet.

We all need to stop and contribute a moment of silent prayer for someone who truly made a huge difference. Farewell and thank you...Mr Norman Borlaug!

P.s I attended those rallies so many years ago.
I also think it's fair to say that I am a recovered socialist. The best rehab for that disease is the Truth!

Posted by: melwilde at September 14, 2009 10:34 AM

An important distinction has to be made between the 'green revolution' and the green global environmental movement.

The 'green revolution' was a rethinking of agricultural technology that began in 1945. It was focused at producing high yield disease resistant cultivars to keep pace with 3rd worls population increases - to feed more people better food and avert crop failures and famine. It was a humanitarian driven technological revolution.

By contrast, the 'green' movement was a scheme for global monopolization of resources, rationing population control and forced austerity which was hatched by Europe's establishment elite in the exclusive Club of Rome in the early 60s. The auterity movement the left embraces as collectivist was actually a scheme for monopoly of resources hatched by an effete profiteering patrician's club in closed door conferences 5 decades ago. The movement is driven by cold effete elitism and Malthusian ideologies.

Posted by: Jim at September 14, 2009 10:55 AM

I let an urbanite friend use a bit of my yard for a garden.....
This establish several things....
1) his "legacy" organic seeds produce little misshapen produce that tastes like crap....
2) chemical/mechanical weed control succeeds where "traditional" methods get over-run with weeds. (I shall shortly roundup that weed patch)
3) modern genetically enhanced seeds, natural fertility with some chemical fertilizer produces large, attractive and tasty produce....
Those that portray genetically enhanced crops as "frankenfoods" believe in AGW and think OBOZO is a genius......and deserve to be dragged behind a pickup....

Posted by: sasquatch at September 14, 2009 11:54 AM

The question is, what all that extra population going to DO.
Posted by: Aaron at September 14, 2009 8:55 AM

The same thing we always do Pinkie;

Fart around! ( extra points to everyone who know's who's quote this really is)

Posted by: Arron D at September 14, 2009 1:30 PM

Aaron @8:55 - "The question is, what all that extra population going to DO."

Live their lives?

Great article. Aside from anything else, who knew wheat was so interesting?

Posted by: Black Mamba at September 14, 2009 2:58 PM

One less good guy in the world. My dad was a dairy farmer, and he knew more about how things in the natural world really work than any latte-sipping urbanite schmuck from Yonge and Bloor. RIP Mr. Borlaug from this Texas A and M fan. Gig'em Aggies!

Posted by: tower at September 14, 2009 10:59 PM
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