Re: Postal 'sanitizing' and plant/seed safety
- Subject: Re: [SG] Postal 'sanitizing' and plant/seed safety
- From: M* L*
- Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 09:33:31 -0700
I think I've been misunderstood here. Are there other ways to protect
postal workers from this menace? Yes. If any show signs of the disease,
it reportedly can be cured by medication. They can wear protective
clothing if necessary, they can vacuum airborne dust and particles away
from the workers instead of blowing it back toward people like they were
until a few days ago.
I think there's an element of hysteria going on, and it's unfortunately
being fanned by the news media (NBC in particular). So they grabbed at the
most extreme solution possible. Nuke everything! Less toxic treatments
kill bacteria, and anthrax is bacteria.
If the selected means of "sanitizing mail" kills seeds, it will put the
mail order seed companies out of business. Period. It has taken years for
them to build up their inventory, selecting varieties with care, and all
for naught. Anthrax has not been found anywhere but in the East. It seems
to follow the inspectors, leading to the question, "don't they wipe their
shoes?" The U.S. is a very large country to be held hostage because three
people died. Margaret L
>That gardeners may or may not receive exactly what they want when they want
>it is not the question. I guess I am old enough to remember that my family
>could not have coffee, butter, sugar, products made from these and shoes
>(numerous other items, as well) in the past national emergencies. I was a
>tiny child standing in a very long line with my older sister for some things
>my mother needed from this list. Noone complained and we came through just
>fine. No conclusion drawn here, just a note that seeds and plants are not
>more important than our fellow citizens. Were not then and are not now.
>
>Claire Peplowski
>NYS z4
