Fwd: Fire-Maiz on the Mountain

[John Howe]

>From: "Akiva Werbalowsky" <akivaw at hotmail.com>
>Subject: Fire-Maiz on the Mountain
>Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 09:11:17 PST
>
>I found these photos and following article of interest.
>Enjoy,
>A
>
>Guatemalan Volcano Now Firing Photos
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_607000/607171.stm
>***
>
>Full story sobtre Maiz Nation from LA Times
>http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/updates/lat_mexcorn000117.htm
>
>Corn is more than Mexico's largest crop: It is the nation's dietary mainstay
>and symbol of life itself. Farmers' reluctance to give it up despite its
>punishing economics reflects the resistance of a deeply agrarian society to
>fast-moving change, and illustrates why
>agriculture is one of the most intractable facets of globalization.
>
>Corn's extraordinarily deep roots in Mexico--it was first cultivated
>here--also inflame the biotechnology debate. The possible introduction of
>bioengineered crops has farmers, environmentalists and academics fretting
>about the pollution of primeval corn varieties and the destruction of 5,000
>years of traditional farming practices in Mexico. Corn provided food stores
>for what archeologists believe were the first pre-Columbian metropolises.
>
>Free Trade, Record Crops Depress Price
>
>But the immediate source of grower Lara's vexation is more mundane: The
>price of corn is in the tank.
>(more at website)
>***
>
>
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John Howe

<http://www.arashi.com/>
John Howe <johnhowe at arashi.com>