Summary: The UN reported that our planet is reaching a point of no return in terms of environmental degradation, but environmental leader says there is hope found in sustainable agriculture.
Topic: Sustainable agriculture
Category: Journalistic
What is it: Newspaper article from The Edge Malaysia
Title: Net Value: Make Sustainability Mainstream
Publication Information: The Edge Malaysia, Nov 19, 2007
Author: Lee Wei Lian
Location: http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/index1.jsp
Accessed: 1/27/2009 5:30pm
Support:
Richard Branson: Owner of Virgin Brand
United Nations Environmental Report
Al Gore: Former Vice president and Environmental Activist
Lim LI Cheng: Spokesman for the Third World Network
These sources in this article represent organizations and individuals who are actively participating in environmental and agricultural reform. A billionaire entrepreneur, an activist with the Third World Network, a former vice president of the United states and the United Nations are collectively trying to bring attention to the environmental problems that are facing the world today.
Source Analysis:
The Edge Malaysia is a Malaysian based financial interest newspaper that is geared towards the general public and corporate executives. It is distributed weekly via news stands in Malaysia and on the Internet at theedgedaily.com. It was founded in 1994 and has plans to expand distribution beyond Malaysia. Although it focuses on the Malaysian financial and investment market it also provides commentary on international issues.
Usefulness:
This article is addressing the topic of sustainable agriculture and the popularity of “going green.” The writer is not only attempting to reach citizens but also corporate leaders, making the point that sustainable agriculture is not only planet friendly but also profitable. Although this report comes from a newspaper that appeals to large-scale industry, it pushes for incentives to be given to farmers to clean up contaminated soil from commercial pesticides. But the piece neglects to mention the issue of how these corporations are supposed to maintain during the two to three years it takes for the soil to rehabilitate.
Sources:
Lim Li Cheng of the Third World Network
United Nations 2007 environmental report
Richard Branson: owner of Virgin brand
Al Gore: former United States vice president and environmental activist
Filed under: Source Notes
[...] while maintaining profits. Amigo mirrors the argument made by the The Edge Malaysian article Make Sustainability Mainstream, saying that contrary to popular beleife organic farming techniques are just as effective as [...]