OW
dyainst factories that cause pollution.
閱讀測驗3
But the universal
of our climate
message of
crisis
wareness
hing a fever pitch
across the
with increasing urgency, a
pparent every day. For the
Vandana Shiva will never forget a lesson she learned at the age of 13. Her parents
insisted that she should wear clothing made only of homespun cotton. One day,
Vandana, having returned from a boarding school to her home, demanded a nylon dress,
the fashion followed by her rich friends. Her mother agreed. “If that is what you want,
of course you shall have it,” she said. “But remember, your nylon dress will help a rich
man buy a bigger car. And the cotton that you wear will buy a poor family at least one
meal.” Did she buy the nylon dress? Of course not! Maybe this experience led to her
resolution to fight for social justice in her later years.
Now 60, ever visiting Taiwan in 2010, Vandana's main concern these days is
how to preserve Indian traditional crops. This is severely attacked by many global
companies. They encourage farmers to grow so-called high-yielding crops; many
farmers, therefore, turn to high-tech methods and depend on bioengineered seeds,
chemical fertilizers and pesticides. As a result, hundreds of traditional crops are
disappearing. Contrary to expectation, high-tech agriculture can not rescue Indians
from starvation. Bioengineered seeds are expensive and cannot adapt to local
conditions. Hundreds of Indian farmers have committed suicide during the past five
he world
ironment.
ns in 1970.
years because of failed harvests.
But there is hope. Many farmers are returning to traditional methods promoted
by Navdanya, an organization based in New Delhi that Vandana helped found 20 years
ago. Navdanya encourages farmers to produce native varieties of crops that can be
grown with natural fertilizer and no artificial chemicals. It also helps local farmers
form their own self-supporting organization and seed bank.
nean?
+明一
生能但奇
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