Anna Hart asked:


Why is organic farming bad, if it is? We have been told that organic farming is good for our health. Proponents have trumpeted the message that organic farming is good for the environment. How could it possibly be bad?

It seems that, increasingly, life is being divided into traditional and alternative. Each side claims their methods to be better than the other’s. Each tries to win people to their side. Traditional schooling fights alternative schooling. Conventional medicine fights alternative medicine. Mainstream culture fights alternative subcultures.

Farming, too, is involved in a battle, conventional farming against organic farming. Environmentalists and those concerned with their health assure us that organic farming is preferable in many ways. But others argue that organic farming is bad.

Why is organic farming bad?



Research Results

In 2002, Swiss scientists at the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture published in “Scientist” a highly publicized study. Their study, which covered 21 years, compared four types of farming. Two of those types were organic farming. The other two types were conventional farming.

Reporters quickly stated that the study proved organic farming was more efficient. Organic farming’s advocates said the study showed that organic farming uses 50% less energy. The facts?

1. Conventional farming is 20 percent more productive than organic farming.



2. Crop yields were significantly lower in organic farming.



3. The above two facts meant energy savings in organic farming were actually only about 19 percent per unit of crop produced, not 50 percent.



4. The study did not test organic farming against the most current methods of conventional farming. If it had, experts say, the 19 percent advantage of organic farming would disappear.



5. Current conventional farming matches organic farming when it comes to environmental advantages. Both have beneficial insects, produce less pesticide and fertilizer runoff, and reduce soil erosion.



6. Food quality was almost identical in conventional and organic farming. Advocates of organic farming had long claimed their food was far superior.



7. Current conventional farming methods produce the same or greater yields mentioned in number 1 above.

This research does not, of course, conclude that organic farming is bad. On the face of it, the conclusion is more that organic farming is not very different from current conventional farming. There most be other reasons for people believing organic farming is bad.

Organic Farming Can Kill

Many took from the Swiss study a realization that, as Cambridge chemist John Emsley said, “the greatest catastrophe the human race could face this century is not global warming, but a global conversion to ‘organic farming’- [where] an estimated 2 billion people would perish.”

Organic farming may supply food for small markets, but how can it feed starving nations? Its adversaries claim that current conventional farming is the only hope for these people. If we turn entirely to organic farming, they say, we will doom billions to die of starvation.

Challenging Organic Farming

Alex Avery, Director of Research and Education for the Hudson Institute’s Center for Global Food Issues, recently published a new book, “The Truth About Organic Foods.” (2006) In this book, Avery offers an unemotional look at the odd origins and unscientific basis for organic farming.

Nobel Peace Prize Winning Agricultural Scientist, Dr. Norman Borlaug, says about this book, “The Truth About Organic Foods gives consumers a thorough and straight-forward explanation of why organic foods offer no real health or safety benefits. More importantly, Avery communicates why organic farming’s lower yields and reliance on scarce organic fertilizers represents a potential threat to the world’s forests, wetlands and grasslands. The book offers scientifically sound evidence that more-affordable conventional foods are healthy for families and also good stewardship of nature.”

Skimming Mr. Avery’s book, one finds statements that indicate:

1. Organic farming started in the 1920s when a German mystic advised use of only animal manure because synthetic fertilizers had no cosmic energy.

2. Soon, the wealthy decided manure-fertilized produce was better.

3. J.I. Rodale first published his “Organic Gardening Magazine” in 1942, and the organic farming / organic gardening movement was named.

4. In 2007, organic farming advocates still have no credible science to support their beliefs.

5. Organic farming does not avoid pesticides. About 5 percent a vegetable’s weight is natural pesticides, some of which are cancer-causing.

6. Foods from organic farming have more illness-causing bacteria. (The January 2007 issue of “Consumer Reports” showed that chicken from organic farming has 300% more Salmonella than that from conventional farming. University studies have found more bacteria in vegetables from organic farming than in vegetables from conventional farming.

7. If organic farming, which decries synthetic fertilizer, was chosen over conventional farming, we would have a choice. We could kill millions of people to reduce global food needs, or we could sacrifice wildlife habitat in the amount of millions of square miles so we could produce more manure.

Why is organic farming bad? Mr. Avery believes he has the answer.

Notwithstanding Mr. Avery’s new book, I am not sure whether organic farming is bad or not. It is often difficult to sort through rhetoric and find fact. I do know that my forefathers had large organic farms. The produce was good and it was nourishing. Before I can turn my back completely on organic farming and organic gardening, I need clearer evidence. You probably want to do more research, too.



Security Gun Safe

Dr.Ashok Kumar Panigrahi asked:


ACTUAL STATE OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE  

         IN INDIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES 

 

                                            Dr.Ashok K. Panigrahi and Mrs.Kusum Misra

 

 

            Organic agriculture is about more than just growing crops without using either chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, rather it a holistic approach to the very system of farming that restores, maintains and enhances economical sustainability and ecological balance generating non toxic, healthy and tasty food or medicine or dye with natural fragrance and colour.

             In today’s world most organic growers since believe in biodiversity, they avoid GM varieties, whether crops or seeds or plants or animals. They use no chemical either for soil fertility or for pest control, no chemical either for their growth or for their protection except the medicines that too only when the situation is very bad and beyond control.

 

AN OVERVIEW

 

            Organic agriculture is currently being practiced in more than 100 countries the world over. The ill effects of agrochemicals used for last several decades have changed the minds of consumers in different countries who are now buying or willing to bye organic food stuffs with high premium.

            Policy makers are now promoting organic agriculture for several different reasons such as soil health, sustaining rural economy and creating better environment. The global organic area is estimated at 26 million hectare with 61 standards and 364    

certification bodies.

 

           The world organic market is estimated at 26 billion US $.

 

          The certified organic area in India is estimated at 2.5 million hectare but non-certified area is much more.

 

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Organic agriculture is being practiced in India since the beginning of agriculture in this country and it continued as such till Green Revolution was introduced in this country in the mid sixties.

 

There is a brief mention of organic agriculture in ancient literatures like the Rigveda, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Kautilya Arthshastra etc.

 

Sir Albert Howard was the first industrial agriculturist who was brought in to India by the British to teach the Indian farmers the use of agrochemicals but he ended up in learning the organic agriculture from Indian farmers, developed the Indore process and went on to establish the symbiotic fungal bridge between the humus in the soil and the sap of the plants through the mycorrhizal associations. He wrote in his, An Agricultural Testament, “Since industrial revolution, agriculture has become unbalance, the land is in revolt, diseases of all kinds are on the increase, the nature is removing the worn out soil by erosion.”

 

 

AGRICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA

 

1. Oldest practice              10,000 years ago dating back to Neolithic age by ancient

                                          civilization like Mesopotamia, Hwang Ho basin etc.

2. Ramayana                     All dead things returned to earth that in nourish soil and life  3. Mahabharata                5500 B.C., Kamadhenu – the sacred cow, had role in not            

                                         only in human life but also in soil fertility

4. Kautilya Arthshastra    300 B.C., use of several manures made of the excreta of

                                        domesticated animals and oil cake

5. Brihad Sanhita              Methods of choosing manures for crops and manuring

6. Rigveda                        2,500-1,500 B.C., green manure, use of dung of goat, sheep,

                                         cow etc.

 

LARGE SCALE USE OF CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

 

US Noble laureate Norman Borlaug, the creator of the famous dwarf wheat variety in Mexico, visited India in 1957. In a press conference he said, “Were I been a member of the Indian Parliament I would leapt from my seat every fifteen minutes and yell at the top of my voice, fertilizers, give farmers more fertilizers.” The fact is that, between the fifties and sixties, in the independent India, there was a gap between the demand and production of food. To meet this, the Indian planners under the influence of the US institutions like the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations and the US food specialist Norman Borlaug, conceived the idea of paradigm shift in agriculture, from natural to chemical, from natives to high brids and high yields, the seeds of which gained popularity under the global brand name of “miracle seeds,” having the ability to soak up agrochemicals developed at that point of time. This was a global phenomenon and it helped in the global increases in food out puts instantly. To day the world food grain production is estimated at 2100 million tones and it is mostly based on use of agrochemicals, artificial chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. However, the impacts of these agro chemicals, the artificial chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides are well observable. No data have been published by any the Indian agency like the US Environment Protection Agency (USEPA). The USEPA revealed in 1991 that the projected estimate of methane emission from the Indian paddy fields amounted to 37.8 metric tones per year, thus accusing Indian paddy cultivators in adding to the global green house gas accumulation as methane is also considered as a green house gas. Consequently in India more emphasis was attached to shift to non conventional agriculture and keep paddy cultivation limited to 47% of total arable land (National Agriculture Policy, 2000). Use of artificial chemical fertilizers especially N- fertilizers always invite the agricultural pests leading to applications of pesticides, especially synthetic pesticides and both of these pollute the environment substantially.

 

The global fertilizer use (in Kg/ha)

Korea                          -           357 kg             Japan               -           247 kg

Netherlands                  -           172 kg             Bangladesh       -          158 kg

Germany                      -           153 kg             India                 -             89 kg

 

 

The sinister logic of recommendation of the use of chemical fertilizers:

Plant requires 17 essential nutrients divided under two groups:

1. Macro nutrients- those required by plants in large amounts and                  

2. Micro nutrients-those required by plants in small amounts

Regardless of the sources, plants absorb all nutrients in inorganic forms only.           The 3 Macro or major primary nutrients are absorbed as under -

                        Nitrogen (N)       as      Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite                 

                        Phosphorus (P)   as     P2O5 (available phosphorus)                  

                        Potash  (K)          as     K2O   (available potash)

 The 3 macro secondary nutrients include such substances as Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Sulphur (S) which are naturally available in the soil and manures.

Micronutrients or minor plant nutrients are in fact trace elements as Iron(Fe), Manganese(Mn), Zinc(Zn), Copper(Cu), Boron(B), Molybdenum(Mo) and  Cobalt(Co) and like the secondary macro nutrients, are supposed to be available in the soil and manures. Although there is nothing organic in the nutrient absorption by plants but plant up take is surely influenced by the source of origin of the said nutrients, it is better if it is from the organic source, as the availability is modest and release is delayed but prolonged and the nutrients do not influence each other’s up take. In the chemical process, excessive applications of nitrogenous fertilizers prevent phosphorus and potash up take by plants.  

Average nutrient uptake by crops per tones of economic yield 

              

           Nutrient

 

 

                 Crops

 

Paddy (Kg)                     Wheat (Kg)

N

20

25

P2O5

11

9

K2O

30

33

S

3

4.7

Ca

7

5.3

Mg

3

4.7

B

0.015

0.048

Cu

0.018

0.024

Fe

0.153

0.624

Mn

0.675

0.700

Mo

0.002

0.002

Zn

0004

0.056

State of facts

Intensive farming, said to be required to meet the increasing food demand of the growing population, exhaust natural soil fertility and distort soil’s natural balance.

It is suggested, inorganics have to be selectively added to the soil to maintain the required plant nutrition. But their ills are never assessed nor taken care of.

In the green revolution era throughout the world, the crop plants were basically protected through the use of biocides, pesticides, fungicides etc.and its impacts were never assessed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Use of synthetic pesticide (in kg/ ha.) in USA, Japan, Korea, China and India are 1.5, 10.8, 6.6, 2.25 and 0.38 kg, respectively.

The uses of synthetic pesticides in the last few decades have become one of the essential inputs of modern farming, but consequences are evidently disastrous.

 

WHY   SHOULD WE EMBRACE ORGANIC FARMING?

Because food safety is as important as food security

DO WE KNOW HOW THE ARTIFICIAL CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS HARM US!

 They—-

v     Interfere and eliminate nutrition producing microbes (bacteria fungi and worms) from soil.

v     Impede and set in imbalance the entire mineral and micronutrient pattern in crop plants.

v     Excess of N- fertilizer in soil impair K uptake by crop plants and they lack K component in their tissues.

v     Excess of K applications decrease the amount of Vitamin-C (ascorbic acid) and carotene (pre Vitamin A) in crop plants.

v     Super phosphate applications cause deficiency of Cu and Zn in crop plants.

v     Their applications reduce the natural resistance to disease and pest in crop plants

v     N-fertilizer applications though enhance crop yield, it is in terms of carbohydrates. There occurs a deficiency in protein content by 20-25% w/w and the amino acid balance is greatly impaired, thus lowering the protein quality.

v     N- fertilizers (NO3,NO2 and NH3+) act as toxins in soil, percolated into underground water tables,NO3 and NO2 cause Methaemoglobinaemia (Methaemoglobin occurring in excess of normal 0.8%) which at 20% cause headache and giddiness, at 60% loss of consciousness and around 80%, death in adult human beings. Affected new borne turn blue and die (blue baby syndrome).

v     N- Fertilizers (NOx) reduce O3 by 3.5% by reducing NO (NO+O3      NO2+O2). A one percent of O3 depletion cause increase 2% of U-V radiation, 10% decreases of O3 in stratosphere increase Melanoma (skin cancer) by 20-30% besides causing high occurrence of cataracts, destruction of immunity, vegetation and sea-life.

v     Concentration of NO2 at 6.0mg/kg in excess of 2mg/kg of air cause leaf damage, impaired photosynthetic activity in many plants. At a higher concentration, causes burning sensation of mucous membranes. NO3 at 800mg/ltr.of water caused cattle deaths in epidemic form in Rajasthan in 1976.

THIS IS HOW THE SYNTHETIC PESTICIDES HARM US -

v     These are generally bionondegradables, introduced into the ecosystem, they play havoc, either as hazardous or toxicants or both.

v     Aimed at eliminating the pests, they end up in increasing their pesticide-resistance as most of the pests have as many as 10-30 life cycles in a year.

v     The table given below shows changes in cotton insecticide use(in mln.pounds),from USDA chemical use survey( It is to note that Bt cotton was introduced in US in 1996)

 

1964

1966

1971

1976

1982

1992

1998

2000

Organochlorines

54.6

45.4

33

18.6

1.2

1.2

0.3

0.5

Organophosphates

15.6

14.3

28.6

31.4

12.9

13.4

11.3

36.1

Carbamates

6.2

4.5

10.3

12.2

3.5

4

2.7

3.5

Synthetic pyrethroids

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0.8

 

0.9

 

0.4

 

0.3

Others

1.6

0.7

1.5

2

1

0.3

0.1

0.1

Total pounds applied

78

64.9

73.4

64.2

19.4

19.8

14.8

40.5

 

v     Percolated into the underground water tables, cause pesticide pollution, the recent Coca cola- Pepsi and bottled water episodes are the glaring examples. Once consumed, they have one way traffic in the human (animal) vital tissues.

v     According to Pearson (1985) pesticide related deaths in developing countries are estimated at 10,000/yr. nearly 1.5-2 million persons in these countries suffer from acute poisoning related to pesticide use and consumption, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

Pesticide residue reported to be present in agricultural produce (from HAU)

Commodities

 

 

 

                    2001

 

Sample (No.)   Contamination

                    2002

 

Sample (No.) Contamination

Vegetables

(17 crops)

712

61

12% above MRL

529

63

8.5% above MRL

Fruits

(12 crops)

378

53

less than MRL

329

47

approaches MRL

 

Pesticide residue in animal feed, fodder, product and irrigation water in year 2001-2002.

 

Commodities

Sample No.

Contamination (%)

Major residue recorded

Feed and fodder

125

81

HCH, DDT, Chloropyriphos, indosulphan

Milk

537

52

94% HCH, 9% indosulphan and DDT residue

Butter

184

67.4

- do -

Irrigation Water

Surface water

 

258

 

60

 

HCH, DDT

Canal water

251

73

Indosulphan, Chloropyriphos

4 above MRL

Pond water

10

11

All

All

- do -

                                   

Maximum residue limit (MRL) of pesticide on food commodities (prevention of food adulteration acts- 1954)

Name of pesticide Food

 

MRL (Mg/kg)

Aldrine

Food grains, milk, vegetables

0.01, 0.15, 0.10

Captan

Food and vegetables

15.0

Carbendazim

Food grains, vegetable and milk

0.5, 0.5, 0.1

Carbofuran

Food grains, fruit/vegetables, milk

0.10, 0.10, 0.05

Chloropyriphos

Food grains, fruits, Cauliflowers

0.05, 0.50, 0.01

DDT

Milk/milk product, fruits/vegetables

1.25, 3.5

Indosulphan

Fruits/vegetables

2.00

Heptachlor

Food grains, vegetables

0.01, 0.055

 

Do the plants actually require mineral fertilizers?

Facts regarding evolution

1. Creation of earth                               -           5 billion years ago

2. First life started                                 -           2 billion years ago

3. Initiation of plants                              -           500 million years ago

4. Appearance of man                          -           2 million years ago

5. Pre-historic man started cultivation -  10000 years ago

6 Concept of fertilizers use        -        J B Boussingault (French chemist) and                                                                        Justus Von Liebig (German chemist) in 1840.

 

7. First global fertilizer industry- Roth Amsted Experimental station, London, 1842.

                                                      (Single Super Phosphate or SSP)

8. First fertilizer industry in India-SSP (Parry), Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, India, in1906.

9. History of fertilizer                      -     100 to 160 years only

10. Principal source of Global Fertilizer supply – American II war surplus materials,

                                                                           Nitrogenous and Phosphatic fertilizers.

FACTS FAVOURING ORGANIC FARMING

Organic proponents are against fertilizer inputs due to the following reasons.



Fertilizer use is only 100-160 years old.

Not willing to accept the claim that fertilizers enhanced global food production.

Lot of plants on road sides, hills and deserts are surviving with humus from biomass years after years, without any fertilizers being ever applied.

Fertilizer is from the brain of the industrial lobby only, and is neither for the advantage of the farmer-consumer nor the environment.

Crop produced with chemicals contains heavy metals and other contaminants, hence, not well for health.

Agrochemicals cause disease and death due to excess nitrate and pesticide residues.

The so called food produced through the use of agrochemicals is devoid of vital minerals and vitamins which, in turn, incapacitate the enzyme systems so vital for proper body functions necessitating their additions to food and medicines.

Fertilizers like Urea and DAP contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium.



Concentration of heavy metals (PPM) on dry weight basis.

 

Source

Arsenic

Cadmium

Lead

Nickel

Urea

< 0.04

< 0.2

< 0.4

< 0.2

DAP

9.9 – 16.2

4.6 – 35.5

2.1 – 3.7

7.4 – 22.2

MOP

< 0.4

< 0.2



Ligitimate Work From Home

Marlene Affeld asked:


More and more people are electing to avoid the risk of chemical contamination of their bodies, families and homes. Fortunately, solutions for addressing change exist and are within easy access. Choosing eco-friendly alternatives allows us to live a natural, green lifestyle.

The benefits of organic bedding, eating organic foods and wearing organic clothing are numerous. Organic Foods The Organic Food Association tells us: “It’s common sense; organic food is good food. Good to eat, good for the environment, good for the small-scale farmers and farm workers who produce it.”

Organic farming is all about health and wellness. In order to assure optimum health and resistance against diseases, the natural balance in our own bodies and in the environment must be maintained. The use of artificial chemical pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, genetic engineering and drugs interfere with this delicate balance; with unknown and often harmful consequences! This is why organic farming impacts on much more than what can be tasted or seen.

Over the last fifty years, commercial farmers have, of necessity, continued to increase the amount of these hazardous applications. Cereal crops are sprayed as many as 8 times during the growing season. Many fruit and vegetable harvests have been sprayed 10 - 15 times. After harvesting the spraying process is repeated to inhibit grow of bacteria during storage and transport. Excessive spraying of fruit and vegetable crops destroys natural bacteria, leaving the plants increasingly vulnerable to attack from unwelcome pests or disease. More over insecticides and fungicides are then required to fight off infestation and decay. However, these pests rather quickly become immune to the chemicals applied and their population increases rapidly. More powerful and increasingly toxic chemicals are then required.

Organic certification is the consumer’s assurance that products have met stringent standards and have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without contamination from carcinogenic pesticides, fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or artificial food additives. Organic or non-organic, which would you rather put in your body? We are what we eat. When our diet is built upon natural organic choices we are providing our bodies optimum food, produced in optimum conditions. Organically raised vegetables and fruit provide more minerals and nutrients than commercially grown produce and are more intensely endowed with color, scent and flavor; they just taste better!

Organic meats are produced from animals that have been treated humanely and raised on certified organic pastures and feeds. Organic meat is the only meat product that guarantees that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have not been used at any stage of growth production.

Organics And The Environment

The USDA estimates that within the next ten years half of all America’s farm products will come from only 1% of the farms. The EPA also states that commercial agriculture is accountable for 70% of the pollution in our country’s rivers and streams. Small-scale organic farmers finance innovative and far reaching research designed to minimize agriculture’s impact on the environment. They preserve bio-diversity by planting heirloom varieties of plants and harvesting seeds for future crops. The loss of a large variety of species is one of the worlds most pressing environmental concerns. The good news is that many organic farmers and gardeners have been gathering, preserving seeds and growing unusual and unique varieties for decades.

Organic farming methods naturally enrich the soil with manure and compost. Well balanced soils product healthy, strong plants, nourishing for both people and animals. Organic agriculture can be a lifeline for small farms as it offers an alternative market where sellers can command fair and equatable prices for crops. Organic farming may be one of the last ways to assure the survival of both our ecosystems and our rural farming communities .

Conventional farming endangers farm workers and their families. Scientific research confirms pesticide-related health problems which include cancer, birth defects, memory loss, paralysis and death. Unsecured storage, improper application methods and unsafe handling and transportation procedures are not at all uncommon and often lead to tragic mishaps. As pests develop resistance, farmers desperate to maintain or increase crop yields often resort to more and more applications of expensive and stronger chemical products. Facing rising costs, depleted fields and contaminated ground water, many small farmers have been forced to abandon their livelihood.

Organic farming, on the other hand, is not only safer and healthier for farmers, but also promotes just compensation in the supply chain. Organic farming provides an economically viable and socially acceptable alternative to large-scale farming and the accompanying dependence on government crop subsidies. Support of the small farmer supports America’s economy.

Organic production dramatically reduces health risks. Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered and approved prior to extensive research linking these noxious chemicals to cancer and other significant health problems. Crop dusting has often resulted in drifts of toxic pesticides from fields to residential areas.

Organic agriculture is one way to prevent more of these chemicals from contaminating the earth that sustains us. An increasing body of research indicates that pesticides and other contaminants are considerably more prevalent in the foods we eat, in our bodies and in the environment than we previously believed.

By choosing organic products we lessen this toxic burden. Organic farmers regularly rotate crops and plant cover crops to control weeds, nutrient leaching and erosion. Soil is the foundation of the food chain. The focus of organic farming is to use methods that build and maintain healthy and sustainable soils.

Organic Skin Care And Personal Products

Skin care and cosmetics are the least regulated products under the US Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Whether it is soap, moisturizers or deodorants, skin care products are an essential part of daily life. But do we really understand what these products actually contain and what we are forcing our skin to absorb?

Have you ever suffered from stinging, burning or itchy skin? Chances are that your skin absorbed irritants and toxins from your skin care products. The skin absorbs ingredients in all the personal care products that come in contact with our skin. Consider nicotine or HRT patches. They rely solely on skin absorption.

As mothers we are always concerned for the well being of our children. We tenderly comfort and bathe them with a wide range of products. These include soaps, shampoos, creams and lotions, many of which are used on baby’s tender skin several times a day. The skin is the largest organ of the body and the delicate skin of an infant can be up to 100 times more sensitive and receptive to toxic chemicals and irritating ingredients that the skin of an adult.

Without even realizing, parents put their babies at risk daily. Did you know that applying baby powder to your baby’s skin may pose a cancer risk later in life? The principle ingredient in many baby powders is talc, which several medical studies have confirmed as a known carcinogenic.

Lanolin is a main ingredient in many personal care products and when processed from organically raised sheep, is a wonderful healing balm. The danger lies in non-organic lanolin that has been processed from sheep that were dipped or sprayed for lice with chemical pesticides that are contaminated with carcinogenic ingredients such as DDT, dieldrin or lindane. The residue of these toxin remains in the processed lanolin and can cause severe reactions and long term health hazards.

Chemical free and natural, organic products offer earth friendly options that eliminate these dangers. You can avoid these and similar safely concerns by using only certified organic products formulated from natural sources such as plants, fruits, vegetables and flowers. These products to do not contain synthetic chemicals such as lauryl sulphate, phthales, parabens, artificial fragrances or dyes.

Organic Textiles

By the end of 2008, the sale of organic textiles worldwide is expected to exceed $3 billion indicating that global demand for organic textiles is increasing in response to consumer demand. Organic production takes more time, requires more skills and knowledge, and at least for now, costs somewhat more. But it is worth it as organic materials do not contain any hidden costs to the environment.

Choose Earth Friendly Products! Choose Organic!

The consumption and use of green technologies is all about the challenges and choices we face if we are to enjoy a high quality of life within the limited resources of our world. If we become passionate about sustainability, together we can make the planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us to live.

Do you wish to embrace a lifestyle that protects our children’s future? Do you want to to live in the greenest environment possible with a conscience and respect and appreciation for the earth? The quality of life for future generations is dependent on the choices we make today!

Surveys reflect that about a fourth of the US adult population has a profound sense of environmental enlightenment and social responsibility. Almost half of us will buy organic and make earth friendly choices in many aspects of our daily living. Consumer education and awareness is a powerful force for change.

The consumption of organically grown products has increase by 20 per cent in the last year alone. Organic alternatives are readily available and the trend is escalating. Sustainability should be within everyone’s reach. Our choices matter and have a long term global impact. Let’s Choose wisely!



Dog Beds

Beverly Saltonstall asked:


There is no doubt that the organic food movement is in full swing. The number of organic farm markets is growing and the amount of organic products that are available is increasing.

Tired of having toxins in their food, consumers are demanding more organically grown food. The problem has been that there were no standards set to determine just what “organic” meant. A farmer who used little fertilizers yet ran a farm that spewed toxic fumes into the air could still slap an “organic” label on their products.

Now all if that has changed. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finally developed a set of standards that specifically defines “certified organic”. In the past, organic food certification was handled by various state and private agencies. These new standards ,which only apply to food products, will be enforceable and will provide penalties for false organic claims.

• To be labeled organic, all fresh or processed foods sold in the United States, including imports, must be produced according to the national organic standards and certified by an inspection agency accredited by the USDA.

• Before their crops can be certified, all organic farmers must use only approved materials that will not harm humans, animals, or soil life. They must develop an organic farm management plan, keep detailed records, and be inspected annually by an accredited certification agency. All companies that manufacture organic food products must follow similar strict requirements.

• The standards, as listed on the Wisconsin Organics website, www.wiorganics.com/organic_usda.htm, prohibit the use of all of the following potentially unhealthy materials and practices:

Toxic synthetic pesticides and fertilizers

A farm field must be free of these chemicals for at least 3 years before a certified organic crop can be grown on it.

Genetically engineered (ge) seeds or other materials

Many nonorganic products now contain GE foods. Because the government has so far refused to require labeling of GE foods, the only way you can avoid them for sure is to buy certified organic products.

Sewage sludge

Organic farmers would love to recycle human wastes safely into fertilizers for their soils, but this will not be possible until the nation has a sewage collection system that keeps toxic chemicals and heavy metals from contaminating sewage sludge (sometimes referred to as “biosolids”). For now, however, the USDA prohibits the use of sewage sludge in the production of organic food. Sewage sludge is widely used by nonorganic farmers.

Fresh manure

For years, organic farmers have voluntarily followed proper animal-care and manure-composting techniques to protect against transmitting food-borne illnesses. The new rules make those voluntary practices mandatory and will require a waiting period, probably 90 or 120 days, between the application of raw manure and the harvest of any organic crops that are likely to be eaten raw. Conventional farmers, who also use lots of raw manure because of its low cost, in contrast are not governed by any national restrictions on the use of raw manure.

Animal confinement

The new rules will require that organic eggs, meat, and dairy products come from animals that are given feed that’s 100 percent organic. In most cases they will require that the animals be given access to the outdoors and pastures and will forbid the severe confinement conditions often used in nonorganic factory farms.

Irradiation

The USDA’s organic rules ban the controversial technology of exposing food to radiation to kill microorganisms. Meat producers are beginning to irradiate non-organic meat because unsanitary conditions in animal food factories are contaminating beef and poultry with food-borne diseases organisms.

Antibiotics and growth hormones

Nonorganic meat and dairy products are produced using controversial synthetic growth hormones, including the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone, which forces dairy cows to produce more milk, and several beef growth hormones that are banned in other countries. Also, disease problems are so severe in these food factories that growers routinely overuse antibiotics on the animals. The national organic rules prohibit the use of antibiotics and synthetic hormones in meat and dairy animals that are certified organic.

Having these set of standards will still allow those agencies who have provided certifications and site inspections to continue, but now they must follow the Federal standards and must be accredited by the USDA themselves. As with most certification processes, it will be very time consuming. A farmer who produces less than $5,000 worth of organic products per year is exempt from these rulings.

As with anything, there is opposition to these set of rules. This is coming from the government’s lack of cooperation with existing organizations that already have set standards for what is considered organic.

The other opposition comes from price. Opponents are hoping that if there is a cost involved, that it not be passed on to the organic grower. They would rather see the costs be absorbed by the non-organic growers. Hopefully it will be an incentive for them to go organic.

This is a step in the right direction, and will undoubtedly lead to regulations for other products labeled organic, such as cleaning products and fabrics.



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Freelance Writer asked:


As organic foods and juices become more popular, organic vitamins are also showing up on shelves and web sites. Consumers obviously appreciate the absence of dangerous pesticides, foods in their more natural state, plus more careful processing, but are organic supplements worth the extra price? Even with the organic discount vitamins being cheaper than marked-up retail organic vitamins, is it really worth the extra cost to consumers?

There are thousands of vitamins and supplements available to consumers today, but there are really only two types of them on the market: synthetic and organic. Synthetic vitamins have been formed in a laboratory by reconstructing the vitamin molecule chemically. Organic vitamins are made from food concentrates such as carrot powder, wheat germ, or buckwheat and their biochemical and molecular combinations remain in their original state.

In order to help the discount vitamin and supplement shopper make an informed decision on whether or not to spend the extra money on the “organic” labeled items, we are going to take a deeper look at the organic label. It is important to note that not all organic labels are the same. Listed below are a few common labels:

• 100% Organic: This means that only organically produced ingredients were used in this item.

• Organic: This means that at least 95% of the product was organically produced.

• Made with organic ingredients: This means that at least 70% of the ingredients are organic but the USDA Organic seal cannot be used on these items.

• No label: If a food contains less than 70% organic composition, the word organic may not appear on the item.

So, what does “organic” really mean? Five years ago the term “organic” applied to almost anything that food producers wanted. In 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture stepped in to regulate the meaning, stating that any produce can be called organic when it is grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and without bioengineering. Because most organic vitamins are made from produce or grains, these terms also apply to them.

Whether organically grown produce and organic supplements have a higher quality nutritional content than conventionally grown produce and supplements has not yet been proven. Despite all the claims that have been made, there has not been any significant research done to compare the two in regards to short-term and long-term health. According to the USDA, this type of research is costly and time consuming because it is very difficult to show different nutritional content of organically grown foods.

If you have to pick a set of chemicals to avoid, pesticides should be that group. Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture to kill pests, insects or plants that are harmful to the crops being grown. Pesticides, by definition, are designed to be toxic. Organic foods are produced without added pesticides; however, it does not mean that they are pesticide-free. Organic foods can not contain added pesticides, but they may still contain residual pesticides from the soil, especially if it was used for conventionally grown crops in the past.

A lot of crops have been proven to show no traces of pesticides after they have been washed off, so it may not make sense to pay the extra cost for the organic version of that crop. Some crops attract more pests and require more pesticides than others. Twelve crops that use a high level of pesticides are:

Peaches………………..Cherries

Apples……………………Pears

Sweet peppers……..Imported grapes

Celery…………………..Spinach

Nectarines………………Lettuce

Strawberries………….Potatoes

Now that we have looked more closely at the organic vitamin label, we are going to do the same with the synthetic vitamin label. Just like the organic vitamins, not all synthetic vitamins are the same. We know that “synthetic” means that the vitamin molecule was reconstructed in a laboratory. What we may not realize is that not all synthetic vitamins are constructed from chemicals or are considered “unnatural”. Many synthetic vitamins are actually produced from natural items like produce and whole grains. Those labels usually contain the words “natural” or “all-natural”. Natural does not mean “organic”, as the ingredients that they are made from are not organically grown.

It makes sense that something constructed in a laboratory would not be considered natural or to be healthy, but in some cases, there is actually no difference in the vitamin molecule. For example, a vitamin C molecule can be pulled from an orange and another can be reconstructed in the laboratory. They can be exactly the same. A scientist, comparing the two under a microscope, would not be able to tell the origin of the vitamin C molecules. Some vitamin manufacturers prefer to create the vitamin C molecule from a natural ascorbic acid because it is more cost effective, it attracts less risk of bacteria in the laboratory and it has a longer shelf life.

Therefore, that brings us back to our original question: “Are organic discount vitamins healthier?” The answer to that question depends on each individual consumer. What is “healthy” to one person is not to another. For example, one person thinks that eating a lot of meat for the protein and that eating no breads or pastas for the low-carbohydrates is a healthy act.

Another thinks that eating an abundance of pasta may be healthy because it is low in fat and cholesterol but will not eat a lot of meat for the fat content. While yet another person will feel that eating any meat is unhealthy and that pasta is not good because it’s processed and not usually whole grain. None of the aforementioned people are wrong, nor considered “unhealthy”. When thinking about which vitamins to choose, one should make that decision based on their lifestyle choices and what they consider to be “healthy” in their everyday living.

Choosing the right vitamins and supplements are as important as choosing which foods you are going to eat. As you prepare to select from the thousands of discount vitamins and supplements available, here are a few questions to ask yourself and points to think about that will help you make the right choice:

• Doctors agree that living an active lifestyle and eating a balanced diet is the healthiest way to live. They also agree that although you are relatively healthy, eat sensibly and have a low-stress lifestyle you can benefit from an individualized nutritional program. Please consult with a doctor, nutritionist or alternative health professional to see what nutritional supplements are needed in your life.

• Once you know what vitamins and supplements are needed, think about what factors are important to you. Know what things are healthy to you.

• Read the labels. Know what is in the vitamins and supplements that you purchase. Read the fine print-are they loaded with sugars and fats? Organic or not, sugar and fat are still sugar and fat!

• Always purchase your discount vitamins and supplements from a well-known and trusted supplier. Read the reviews on their website.



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Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


When you want to buy organic food you have a number of different options open to you. These options will include going to the supermarket and also stopping by roadside organic food stalls where you can buy the fresh produce. Now, while both of these options are quite good there are times when you will need help in finding where you can get your organic foods from and this where an organic directory comes in handy.

This will change form place to place, from region to region, but essentially the organic directory will contain the same basic information. This will normally include such things as the names of organic food producing farms, the different organic foods to be found in these farms, and maybe even how long these farms have been producing organic foods.

The information will necessarily vary from organic directory to organic directory, but the end product will be something that is helpful and easy to use. Now, since there is no one organic directory as such, you will have to be content to rely on the different organic directory services that are offered by the many different organic farming and food producing organizations.

These will for the most part have an organic directory of the various criteria that the organic farmers association or organization has on their books. If you’re interested in getting an organic directory for yourself, you should be able to lay your hands on this by contacting the various organic organizations.

Of course, you might also be able to find an organic directory from the National Organic Program which is the arm of the USDA which oversees everything about organic foods. This august body is also the one that sets the definition of what organic is, as well as giving organic certification to farms and organic processed foods.

You will also find worldwide that the usage of organic foods has spread. This means that there are not only organic farms to think about anymore, but also organic restaurants, organic wine shops and organic health food stores among other things.

With this boom in the culture for everything organic, you will that an organic directory for these things has also sprung up. With one of these in your pocket, or on your laptop or palm pilot, that you will be able to have a fine organic dining experience even when you leave your home. And considering where organic foods were a few years ago, this is a great achievement.



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Holly Crosgrey asked:


It is normal, and indeed, necessary, for you to have sound reasons for taking different actions in your life. This applies to switching to organic foods as well. This is a significant change and you should know the reasons for making the shift. What makes organic foods better than the traditional ones? What benefits will you gain? What are the drawbacks? Let us discuss some of the reasons you may wish to change.

Firstly, you should be aware of how to recognize an organic food. Organic foods have a label which says Certified Organic. It is easy to find on the label and you should look for this before you buy. If it is hard to find then it probably is not there. Do not be fooled by products that say organic but are not certified or products that use the word natural or other variations of the word organic.

The preparation of organic foods is highly regulated. Not just anyone can go out and sell organic food. There are strict standards in order for the organic foods to be certified by Quality Assurance International. Truly organic foods are of the highest standards. The genuine products have the QAI labels, certifying them as fit for human consumption.

Organic food products are often better tasting, helping us to overcome our slavery to food additives. Try buying some organic vegetables and steam them. Steaming as well holds the flavor of vegetables. You will find you need less butter and salt on organic vegetables. You will be very surprised at how good they taste and how much longer they stay fresh.

Of course you will pay more for organic foods but as they become more popular you will find that the prices will come down. I think this is one of the main drawbacks. A lot of people want to go organic but just do not feel they can afford it. A good suggestion is to buy organic when you can afford them so you get times when you are obtaining more nutrition. Supporting the organic growers in this manner will ensure that the price will eventually go down as more and more people make a point of buying them. Remember that some grocery stores give up on supplying organic vegetables because people do not buy them.

The improved taste is largely due to the fact that these fruits and vegetables are free of chemicals. The soil on which organic food is grown cannot contain chemicals as well.

The naturally grown foods are also known to counter a number of diseases. For example, the products tend to lessen the chances of getting cancer. The chemicals used in a number of pesticides are said to have elements that increase the risk of getting cancer. Unfortunately, this is an issue that is hidden from many people. The chemicals used for a variety of tasks such as killing weeds and insects are considered to be harmful. However, they are still used pretty widely, and their baleful effects are well packed within most of the farm products that are still largely on sale. Imagine, you go out and see those beautiful fresh vegetables at the supermarket and they all contain many chemicals. You think you are eating healthy but you really are not. You can easily do a search on the web as to what the standard chemicals are in a particular vegetable. Different vegetables contain different chemicals sometimes over 10 chemical in a single type of vegetable. It actually is sickening to think about. You would not get the chemicals in organic vegetables.

Because organic foods carry less toxic chemicals they also can help prevent many illnesses that are connected to the chemicals we obtain in our foods.

As we have seen briefly, eating organic foods comes with a lot of benefits to your personal health. However, many people are put off by the high cost of maintaining such a natural diet. The other side of it is that once you are sick you end up spending more money on your healthcare anyway. Starting now with organic foods will reduce the need for medical expenses later on.

While organic foods are usually more difficult to get, you can make your purchases relatively easily from a company that delivers organic food. This will give you a simple way of getting your nutritional requirements. But first of all, you need to be familiar with the delivery companies and how you may find them. It is the purpose of this article to shed some light on this issue.

One of the best ways for you to zero in on a company that delivers organic food is by using the Internet. When you make such an online purchase, your order will be brought up to your house. Given that the companies involved are interested in delivering your organic food in a fresh state, the orders are processed quite fast. Hence most of them carry next-day deliveries.

It is not just vegetables that are sold as well. There are many products that have been certified organic some of which have a long shelf life. I personally buy organic Apple Cider Vinegar which actually lasts five years in the bottle.

There are a variety of choices open to you when you purchase your organic foods online. Some organic food shops sell several different types of brands. In addition, a number of manufacturers opt to sell their organic food products entirely online. Regardless of the type you choose, you should shop around first and make necessary comparisons. This will not only help you to find a rich variety of organic foods but also cheaper deals.

You may also arrange for organic food delivery offline, from local organic food stores. So far, this is the method that the majority of organic food consumers use.

Here too there are different options open to you. For example, you may place an order at a time when you are not going home. In such a situation, you can make arrangements for your order to be delivered to your home at a later time. A number of local stores provide this type of organic food delivery service.

An increasing number of local organic food stores currently provide both local and online services. As a result, you can simply place your order via your local organic food store’s website. Your organic food is usually delivered to you in a matter of hours. The only difference to full-fledged online shopping is that these stores have a restriction on the distance they operate within. You should inquire from your local store as to whether they have such a service. Organic food is sold in the larger cities and as well in the smaller towns since it is in the rural area where these products are often produced.

As you can see, there are different ways through which you can find an organic food delivery company. And you may even play a part by suggesting the above option to your local store in case they do not yet have such a service.

Having your organic food delivered to your door is a convenient method, which is especially useful to those with disabilities. Give organic food a try. You will not be sorry.



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Paul Hata asked:


What is organic food? While we may have heard about it for over thousand times,many are still in the dark about organic food and its benefits.We hope this article would shed some light on organic food.

The Organic Revolution - The organic revolution is a global phenomenon witnessed in every part of the world. Global organic food market was about USD40 billion in 2006 and over 30 percent or USD12 billion of the global demand stems from the US. The world organic market has been growing by 20% a year since the early 1990s, with future growth estimates ranging from 10-50% annually depending on the country.

What Is Organic Food - Organic food are foods that are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge.and processed without ionizing radiation or food additives.For livestocks, they are reared without the routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.

The word organic food does not only apply to the food from your own home garden, but also to the store bought food products, in which no synthetic artificial inputs are used. In the contemporary times, the term organic food is usually used in reference to the certified organic foods. It has been claimed by health experts that organic food is more nutritious. Some of the features that can be associated with organic food are more attention to quality, good taste, proper selection of crop varieties etc.

Organic Gardening - Organic Gardening is gardening without the use of man-made chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It is said by some of its supporters to be more in harmony with nature. An organic gardener strives to work in harmony with natural systems and to minimize and continually replenish any resources the garden consumes. Organic produce is also known for its superior flavor.

Organic Fertilizers - Organic fertilizers can actually be cheaper, because you can make them yourself. Fish emulsion is a common organic fertilizer. It is a sort of tea made from dead fish. Seaweed fertilizer is another tea-like fertilizer that many organic gardeners swear by.

And of course there is natural compost that can help you make use of your kitchen waste! The benefits of organic gardening far outweigh the few drawbacks. It may be a bit more work, but it is so rewarding!

Organic Food Consumption - Organic food consumption has become the trend of the time, but still there are many who do not have a clear idea regarding the definition of organic food and this can be attributed to the fact that we do not possess adequate organic food information. Well, organic food in simple terms can be defined as food that is natural and does not involve the usage of any kind of preservatives or artificial pesticides. Read further to explore organic food facts

Organic Food Production - Organic food production is legally regulated. Currently, the United States, the European Union, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain organic certification in order to market food as organic.Organic products protect us from toxic and chemical induced diseases while nourishing our bodies to promote good health. Non-organic food only appears to be cheaper, but it costs us our health, our farmland, our eco-systems and taxes to pay for the disasters that chemical farming create. Chemical farming has led to dramatic erosion of the soil, killing off whole species of birds and near extinction of some of our beautiful wildlife. Sustainable Organic Agriculture is already feeding people around the world. Chemical farming can seriously damage farmer’s health.

Benefits of Organic Food - Organic foods contain phenolic compounds that protect you from developing heart disease and cancer. Organic food ensures high food quality, which other conventional foods cannot commit. Since organic food is natural and fresh, it boasts off its rich taste. So, head your way towards leading a healthy lifestyle, by eating organic foods.



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Vic Errington asked:


Are you wondering what all the hype is about organic food? Do you actually know what it is? If you are interested in going organic, or just plain curious then read on…

The organic food industry has seen tremendous growth within recent years. Increased demand has led to increased production, creating a need for general standards and a legal definition of organic food.

Most countries have adopted their own laws and standards for uniformity within organic production and processing. This eliminates confusion while protecting consumers and manufacturers.

Organic Food Definition

Under most circumstances, organic foods are those grown without the use of synthetic (and often toxic) chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers and other inputs. Livestock intended for domestic consumption is not given hormone injections (artificial growth), and is not given antibiotics as routine. Processing is also a chemical-free procedure.

Organic foods are produced and processed using techniques that benefit the whole environment; soil, water, air, animals and humans.

The Origin of Organic

The organic food market was around long before a legal definition of organic existed. Natural, chemical-free cultivation has been common practice for centuries among small farms. Before the recent increase in demand for organic products, local farms and markets were the only source for fresh organic food.

Today organic standards and certification laws regulate the market, ensuring consumers a product that is truly organic, but there are still many small farms that use strictly organic growing methods without certification. Not all organic farms can afford the costs of certification, meaning their foods will not bear the organic label although produced to the same standards.

What Foods are Organic?

When you think of organic food, fruits and vegetables are the items that typically come to mind. Now, there is much greater variety in the organic market. There are organic options for almost everything today! Organic meats; organic dairy products; organic grains for pasta and cereal; you can even find organic desserts, chocolate, beers and wines.

What is Certified Organic?

In most countries, foods grown and processed according to the set standards and regulations can apply for organic certification. The application process is quite costly and time-consuming. Certified organic farms must present reports regarding the land use for both the past and the future. Stringent records must be kept and annual on-site inspections are carried out to ensure quality and authenticity.

The organic label can only be displayed by manufacturers or growers that have passed government certification. This protects consumers as well as producers by creating expectations for any product considered organic.

The main certification body in the UK is the Soil Association. In the US it is the USDA.

What is Organic Farming and Production?

Organic standards and regulations govern all aspects of organic production, including both crops and livestock. The key to successful organic production is to use as few non-renewable resources as possible whilst promoting healthful practices for wildlife, soil, water, and air.

Organic farming involves synthetic chemical-free growing techniques using organic seeds. Crops are farmed without irradiation or the use of genetic modification. Organic foods enjoy chemical-free processing as well, without artificial (synthetic) additives, preservatives, or other ingredients.

In addition to freedom from the use of hormones and antibiotics mentioned above, animals reared for organic food production enjoy open spaces, spacious shelter and an organic diet. Consequently meat and dairy are free of synthetic chemical residues.

Organic food is a new term for natural products that have been around for centuries. Recent advancements in the organic market have brought global attention to the benefits of an organic diet, proven by research, and the laws put in place by most governments ensure consumers are getting a true organic product.



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NELSON OLUWABUKOLA MICHAEL (NOM) asked:


Talking about corporate organization, we take into consideration all business entities registered by law for the provision of either services or products that stimulate profitability.

By implication, a corporate organization could be profit or service oriented. Mostly, profit oriented corporate organizations are committed to profitably filling the economic needs of consumers and in general members of the society, while service oriented corporate organizations are usually committed to providing the socio-economic (infrastructure) needs of the members of the society with the primary aim of effecting a standard livelihood for the society.

In most economies of the world, especially where the conservative neo-classical system of economy thrives, the government is usually committed to provision of services to the citizenry, while profit oriented corporate organizations are manned by private individuals – this system is known as capitalism and characteristic of neo-liberalism economic system.

Having absorbed the fact on what a corporate organization is, and what characteristics could differentiate one type from the other, we still arrive at the conclusion that the point of confluence between corporate organizations, irrespective of their inclination is that they are indebted to a set of ever-willing patrons who comprise buyers and sellers (market).

This patrons classified as markets are the major focus of every corporate organization. The success of any corporate organization is measured by the extent to the share of the market that it controls, and how it is able to shape the opinion of those patrons towards accepting it as socially and financially responsible.

Patrons on one hand, the corporate organization on the other hand is subjected to a stream of spontaneous elements created out of the naturalness of the artificialness of the business environment. This is however not to say that the business environment is independent of the natural environment.

The artificial business environment is further grouped into (1) The Internal business environment (or controllable business environment) and (2) The External business environment (or uncontrollable business environment).

The internal environment of business are those elements of business that are put in place by the business itself for operation purposes, these are basically regarded as the factors of production. They can be acronymed as CELL – Capital, Entrepreneur, Labour, Land.

The uncontrollable elements that form the business environment are those elements created out of basic social structure, they include Politics, Economy, Religion, Law, competition, Technology, Environment, Consumer behaviour etc. These elements, the corporate organization can only attempt to influence (but not control).

As much as the organization automatically becomes subjected to the analyzed environments, there are certain reactions from the environment that can cause the death or instability of the business. This analogy brings us to the major thrust of this discourse – The Death and Life of Organizations

Businesses are bound to fail when in the course of business operation they ignore or undermine the dynamism, complexity and mutifacetedness of the environment they operate in.

We should not forget that a business is patronized not only on the basis of the product or services it can offer, but the image, the goodwill and the way in which such business has proven to be socially responsible in its day to day activities.

In Public Relations terms, the internal and external elements of the business environment that comprises human beings are highly taken into consideration. This is due to the fact that it is believed that humans are the builder and destroyer of any institution. This human aspect of the organization in PR is known as Publics.

As long as a corporate body is in favour with its Publics, its existence is assuredly continuous, where it does not, the company were better not established.

Any organization that lacks good reputation with its publics will definitely be impeded in growth and consequently die off.

For instance, the case of the Nigerian Indomie Noodles “killer products” can be considered. When consumers who were not even affected by the widespread rumour that the death of one young man was caused by his consumption of Indomie Noodles, and that Indomie contained toxic materials; the public (target audience/consumers of Indomie) dropped their demand of the product and helped in the spreading of the rumour, such that those who were ardent loyalists of the product had to take the product with utmost caution.

Indomie was then at the verge of extinction. Were it not for urgent steps taken in professionally handling the crisis through the instrumentality of PR, Indomie would have become history.

Do not forget that the case then was said also rumored to be an instigated crisis by one of the competitors in the pasta market. This could be possible, so corporations should not be ignorant of the wiles of the wicked: some competing organizations could go as far as destroying the image of its competitors to create problems for the business, so that while the affected business is embattled, the publics of the affected product could be snatched.

In 1982, Europe’s Johnson and Johnson had a taste of what crisis really is. Theirs was a major crisis. It was discovered that numerous bottles of Johnson and Johnson’s Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules had been laced with cyanide. By the end of the crisis, seven people had died. How Johnson and Johnson dealt with this situation set a new precedent for crisis management. The company was lauded for its quick decisions and sincere concern for its consumers. Despite initial losses, Johnson and Johnson regained and exceeded its previous market share within months of the incident.

Same was the case with. Odwalla’s apple juice, which was thought to be the cause of an outbreak of E. coli bacteria, the company lost a third of its market value. The same allegation against Jack in the Box restaurant in 1993 caused the hamburger chain’s stock price to fall from $14 a share to nearly $3 a share: what a great loss to investors!

The examples given would make you understand that crisis is a threat or any issue that stands as a threat to the existence and development of an organization. We can also observe that in every case where there had been the issue of crisis, companies have experienced great losses, not only in terms of reputation, but also financially, why because they did not take into consideration the possibility that those issues (crises), which have cost them their entirety could have occurred.

That is to say, they never had any workable crisis plan on ground to contain those contingencies that arose. Geary Sikich mused in one of his works stating “Failure to have a workable Crisis Management Program is akin to playing Russion Rullete with an automatic pistol. You don’t have the luxury of pulling the trigger on an empty chamber”

Where an organization fails to plan ahead to contain crisis, its publics are allowed to form opinions about the organization when it hits the iceberg of crisis, and this is generally dangerous, because the publics may conflagrate the real matter on ground and it becomes difficult for the organization to change these views. After all, it is psychologically true that it is easier to form opinions for people than to change people’s opinions.

Trying to change opinions in terms of crisis can be termed as crisis management. In this case, the organization will only be reacting to public opinions, which will be concentrated divergently from the publics on the organization. The model below explains the situation an organization is in when reacting to crisis.

The diagram above shows that when an organization waits till it is hit by crisis, its begins to shrink, due to the convergent rays of crisis focused on it form the crisis source. The organization loses all of its contacts with the market it usually controls. Publics also begin to form riotous opinions, which altogether does not augur well for the organization. The organization’s shrinking refers to financial impoverishment, while the fading contacts refers to loss of goodwill.

As earlier stated, most companies or organizations like Johnson and Johnson and Indomie swim through the crisis stream, and some don’t; it is still evident that in both cases, the organizations goes through the process depicted by the model.

Though, no organization, not even Microsoft can envisage all crises that would (not could) hit it from behind, putting into effect issues management, which is proactive in nature can save organizations the cost of having to react to crisis, hence facing despair when crisis finally are conceived or fully matured.

Issues Management alternatively unlike Crisis Management is focused on identifying issues that are likely to mutate into crisis. Issues Management is aimed at either working out plans to tackle the issue when it is conceived or nip it in the bud even when it is still latently hibernating.

In issues management, the organization through its Public Relations Executive is able to shape the opinion to be shared by the public rather than change their opinions during the tackling of the crisis.

The Public Relations Executive should be the first person after sitting with the Board of Directors to form a crisis committee comprising key officials of the organization, and a corporate crisis policy statement, which would be relayed to the media from time to time. This portrays the organization as being in charge of the situation on ground.

The corporate crisis policy statement mentioned here should not be mistaken for propaganda or fabrications, but an honest statement, which would make the public know that their interest in the organization is protected.

The issues management model shows the position of the organization when it takes proactive measures to check crisis that could affect the organization.

The diagram shows that the organization is in control of both the budding crises and its publics, hence it remains financially reputable and does not lack in goodwill.

Here in issues management, issues that could affect the organization in say period of three years time. So short-term plans to accommodate the event of crisis, likewise long- term plans are put in place.

For instance, corporate organization such as ADC should have taken plane crash as an issue and should have drawn up plans to tackle the issue of crashes. Plans should include tracking the plane on time, rushing to the rescue of possible survivors and flying them abroad for treatments (if necessary), getting the Chief Executive Officer to talk to the media, relating timely with relevant government agencies, give adequate report of what went wrong, prepare condolence packages for bereaved victims etc.

All these may not in realistic terms prove the organization innocent or make it not suffer any setbacks, but at least it would have proven that the organization really felt its Corporate Social Responsibility and care more for its publics.

Rather, the pilot of the plane was blamed for being self-willed and such things like that. Even if that were the case, it is not worth mentioning, especially were the family of the pilot is also bereaved. This portrays the organization as irresponsible, and this is where organizations should know that the role of profession Public Relations is one of the life wires of any organization.

Had professional public relations activities been rolled out as in the case of Johnson and Johnson and Indomie, not minding the cost, ADC might be doing even better than it was doing.

Most organizations that have died today might have been able to shape the opinions of their publics to swim through the times of crises, but they allowed themselves to shrink gradually to death, by waiting without planning for crises.

The importance of Issues Management nay Public Relations to any organization cannot be underestimated and should not be, especially if it is an organization that intends being counted among the top reputable and financially capable corporate organization in the growing global village.



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