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De Omnibus Dubitandum - Lux Veritas

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Trades and Me: A Dialog on Going Green


By Rich Kozlovich

For some time I have been disturbed by what has been appearing in the trade journals promoting Green Pest Management (GPM). Some months ago I sent an e-mail to Frank Andorka of Pest Management Professional (PMP) magazine and Dan Moreland, of Pest Control Technology (PCT), asking if they would allow me to interview them for an article that would appear in The Standard (Newsletter for the Ohio Pest Management Association) dealing with this issue.

Dan thanked me for asking but felt that PCT’s role was to tell the story, not to be the story. Since so much of what they print can mold the industry I found that to be unfortunate and I still do, because clearly; the trades are part of the story.

However, Frank Andorka agreed with relish…Frank does seem to enjoy pushing the edge a bit. I also asked if he could include Pete Grasso in this interview and they agreed, so we set up a luncheon date at the best steakhouse in Cleveland; John Q’s Steakhouse right in the center of Cleveland’s downtown area.

What finally prompted me to ask for this interview was an article by Pete that appeared this past April in PMP which seemed to be promoting GPM. I commented to everyone that Pete must have had an epiphany. After all, here was a guy who has been involved in the pest control industry for a nanosecond and he is already promoting GPM; so he must have had an epiphany. I told this to Pete and he seemed genuinely puzzled. He said that he gets a great deal of feedback from our industry, but this was the first (and seemingly the only time) he got a telephone call about an article…..and they were upset at what seemed to be his promotion of GPM.

As I said, Pete seemed genuinely puzzled at this because that wasn't his intention. He said that this was merely a follow up from an article that appeared some years previously (before he was involved with our industry) and he was interested in seeing if any views had changed within the industry.

I then asked them to define green. Frank started by saying that “green was the use of all tools including pesticides, emphasizing inspection. As a result, pesticide impact is minimal." He went on to say that “newer pesticides will be getting better environmental profiles, because in reality the only green manufacturers are interested is in money." (I would like to point out that Frank didn't say this to denigrate the manufacturers, merely to point out that they would react to the market because that is what they are in business for.) He also said that “you can be as green as you want, but if a house is infested with termites the homeowner wants something done. “

I then turned to Pete who had a somewhat different take…one that I was impressed with. He said that green can't be defined with our own definitions. "We need the customer’s definition. Only the customer can properly define green for us. What if you declare you are doing green pest control and the customer says that they don't consider what you did to be green enough? As a PMP you can only define green as your customer defines green." Pete felt that each customer has their own definition. Or they may just want green, but have no idea what that means which is why Pete and Frank liked the idea that NPMA could present one definition.

Each agreed that an industry definition was needed as a jumping off point, but Pete maintained that the definition must be within the customer’s framework of green. Frank pointed out that you have a consistent standard and if you have six or seven organizations creating competing standards, that can't happen. They both seem to agree with this concept.

Frank felt that the industry must take “control of green and not lose this issue as we lost IPM. “ This prompted some back and forth discussion and I commented that IPM was never our issue to define and neither is “green”. This issue belongs solely to the green activists. They started it and they promoted it. It belongs to them! I said that there is no such thing as IPM in structural pest control and neither is there any such thing as GPM. This is their issue and it is our job to defeat it, not embrace it. I also stated that there is no such thing as “traditional pest control” either!

If you look back to the ads that appeared in newspapers in the 1850’s the first reaction you get is….WOW they had IPM in 1850! Like medicine, pest control is a practice; it is not a methodology, and we use whatever tools that work. Those tools and techniques have changed over the last 150 years, but it was just pest control then and it is still just pest control now.

I pointed out that only two states have a definition of green. APSCRO (Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials) sent out a survey to find out if any states had a definition for green. That’s it….two states, Georgia and California. “Georgia’s definition is that “Green Pest Management can best be defined as a service that employs and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach while utilizing fewer of the earth’s resources as a part of a larger effort to reduce human impacts on the environment”. California’s report of a definition of GPM referenced their existing definition of integrated pest management and did not elaborate further on GPM.

Frank chuckled because he had always been taught that you don't use a defining term such as IPM to define another defining term. The fact of the matter is that defining GPM is a bad as defining IPM. The states can’t do it any better than they were able to define IPM. There will be no end to the changes or demands. As I stated, pest control isn't a methodology, it is a practice. Well, IPM and GPM aren't a methodology either, but neither are they a practice. Both IPM and GPM are ideologies disguised as methodologies and that is why they are so hard to find a single definition, which I believe is a Sisyphean task.

At this point I changed the direction as I wanted to know why they don't run more articles dealing with science issues that would give the technicians the intellectual tools to defend the industry. As an example, I asked why are there not more articles on cancer and pesticides?

They felt that this isn't what the industry is interested in. They both felt that the technicians are not out there fighting the science battles of our industry. They felt that they are more concerned about how to do their work effectively and run their businesses profitably. While this is true, I disagree that there isn't enough interest in the science that defends our industry! After all, I do it all the time; why should we think that no one else wants to have the intellectual responses to these attacks against us?

I would love to see a survey of the pest control industry to see how many believe that pesticides cause cancer. I would be willing to bet that there are far more than we think because the information deliverers of our industry don't focus on it. And if our information deliverers don't explain it where else are they going to find it? If they don't explain it; doesn't that lend credence to these false health claims? After all, silence denotes agreement.

I know that there is pressure on anyone who does editorial work and takes in advertising dollars. Newspapers are brow beaten all the time by customers who are being attacked in the news or editorial sections. Pete said, “whatever you know about newspapers, it is ten times more intense in trade journals. “ Frank observed that when it comes to trade journals; it is “ten times more intense in this industry.” They seem to get it from everyone! I may have to stop browbeating the trades a little.

I asked them what their mission was for the pest control industry.

Pete – "We must be a reliable information source on technical issues, news, business information and keeping everyone informed as to what other PMP’s are doing."

Frank –"We are an advocate and conscience for the pest control industry. We advocate for the industry when we can and we act as a conscience when we must."

I think that is a great quote, one that the leaders of our associations may wish to dwell on for a while.

This interview took two very fast hours, and there was a lot more give and take between us. I must say that I came away far more impressed than I expected. They are sincere in their efforts and they don't necessarily have the same views on what goes on in pest control. I think that this was what surprised me the most. They don't have meetings to decide what they think, or what they will say. I'm not sure how I feel about that as a business practice in general, but I like it as an editorial practice.

One thing is for sure. Green isn't going away and it is clear that the trades aren't in a position to do many of the things that I would like to see done.

I have taken the steps to start a third trade magazine. I initially was thinking about a quarterly magazine that would focus on defending the industry, challenging irrational claims by activists, unscientific regulations and decisions by industry leaders. Unfortunately I found that the costs of such an endeavor are breath stopping. So I am looking at a web magazine that would be on the order of Townhall.com. I am attempting to get funding, writers and those with technical expertise lined up. I don’t know if this can be pulled off, but we will have to see.

Thanks to both Frank Andorka and Pete Grasso for their taking time away from their work to do this. It was very gracious of them both. As a side bar, Pete is a lot taller than I expected and Frank seems much healthier, which I am happy to report.


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6 comments:

  1. Very good thinking. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who hasn't sipped the Kool aid. Personally I realize the GPM is around for awhile but I don't see what is propping it up--In my opinion it is not profit because if it were everybody would be doing it.

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  2. Dutch,

    Green exists only because the EPA funds so many proponents of these types of programs, such as IPM and GPM. That and outright grant money to the anti-pesticide green activists. Within our industry the Midwest isn't all that hot about GPM or IPM, however the east and west coast is in love with this stuff. Dry up the grant money from the government and these tax free foundations and you would see GPM and all this other green nonsense just go away.

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  3. Rick, so green is a government conspiracy? Hasn't this country been dealing with environmental cleanups of the air, ground and water for the past 50 years? Do people not get sick from contaminants?

    You are 100% wrong. Government has been responding to a nation that has grown sick from numerous health risks that are well documented and researched. You may think that some are more or less documented than others, nevertheless, the risks are there. If some people have become paranoid as a result, I think it is a small portion of the spectrum and they have reasons to feel a bit paranoid. But the broad majority wants healthier air, ground and water. PMPs need to be a part of it. Even if only from a narrow self-interest, one should listen more closely, and yes, receptively, to their concerns.

    I think Frank is 100% on target when he says that the magazine must speak with a conscience, even if it is not what the industry wants to hear.

    Look, I understand your concern about tools being taken away from your ability to practice your skills, but you speak of your skills in the narrow framework of a tradesman. Medical doctors are also tradesmen, skilled technicians who go in and get it done. But there are many ethical, moral and even environmental issues that they deal with all the time. Why are we any different? Why shouldn't we see ourselves as connected to something other than our spray guns? (no pun intended).

    Gerry Weitz, Pres.
    Hearts Pest Management
    www.heartspm.com
    Hearts Consulting Group
    heartspm.wordpress.com

    Feel free to return the pleasure of your comments.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gerry,

    Thank you for giving me permission to respond to comments on my own blog…and my name is Rich, not Rick, but if it pleases you to call me Rick….do so. I respond to Bob also. Although sincere and passionate; as usual your comments are filled with non-sequiturs and logical fallacies.

    Do people get sick from contaminants? Of course, but the dose makes the poison and exposure isn’t toxicity! I wish that you would actually read something about all of this besides the propaganda put out by those promoting green claptrap.

    From the very beginning the EPA was formed to be a political entity, not a science entity. Nixon appointed an environmental activist as the first director. The EPA has been a lava flow of scientifically dubious regulations ever since. Is it a government conspiracy? The word conspiracy has multiple meanings, but this is one of them….any concurrence in action; combination in bringing about a given result,” and those actions may or may not be evil.

    Your analysis regarding the “health of the nation” is seriously flawed. Some health scares are valid, but most of these so-called “numerous health risks” are nothing but false scares promoted by activists and their acolytes in government. Furthermore you don’t know what you are talking about when you say that they are “well documented and researched”.

    Once again you create a logical fallacy when you say that “the broad majority wants healthier air, ground and water”, because that was not in question in anything that I said, or have ever said, yet you cling to that point as if it is the linchpin of your logic to prove that what I have said is incorrect. That is not now nor has ever been at issue in my comments.

    I seriously doubt whether you understand my concerns at all because you don’t really understand the issues. I asked that you refrain from posting comments until you have read more widely. May I recommend another book? Skeptical Environmentalist by Bjorn Lomborg!

    When you have finished that book you may contact me and we can discuss the points he highlights regarding pesticides, global warming, population, genetically modified foods, energy ….and a host of other issues. Please do not post anything more until you have read his book.

    Rich K.

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  5. Rich: We both have long been on the side of a rational and practical approach to the practice of pest control.

    What I witnessed beginning in the 1980s was the loss of proven and effective pesticides. It became obvious over the years that the EPA was determined to remove ALL pesticides from use by pest control professionals and from the shelves where consumers could have access to them.

    The EPA's action were NOT based on science and its recent announcement that it wants to regulate carbon dioxide is proof of that.

    The Greens hate humanity and want to reduce the world's population by any means possible. Since insect and rodent pests spread disease, that is just one more means to achieve their goal.

    The EPA is a rogue government agency that represents the Green agenda which, simply put, is to find ways to limit the many advances of modern life, whether it be pesticides to render one's living and working environment pest-free, or to impede other advances such as plastics or the use of oil, natural gas, and coal as energy sources for our economy.

    The trade magazines are responding to the deafening drumbeat of the very organizations that oppose the work of pest control professionals. They are buying into the "Green" movement, perhaps without really thinking that much about it.

    Keep up your efforts.

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  6. Alan,

    Thank you for your comments. It is unfortunate that so many within the pest control industry have failed to grasp the danger the green movement represents. Everywhere this movement has been successful in getting their philosophy implemented dystopia has followed. Dystopia is the Sancho Panza of the environmental movement.

    Their efforts to have chlorine taken out the water supplies of people in South American were successful by claiming that chlorine caused cancer and to "save" their population from this "health risk” they needed to rid chlorine from their drinking water. Hundreds died and tens of thousands were sickened, and yet they continue to promote claptrap that they know is deadly to humanity, and “leaders” in the pest control industry applaud them as “saviors” of humanity.

    We have lost our minds!

    Rich K.

    ReplyDelete