Fuji's Smart Motherf*ckers!

[Postman Dave]

looking forward to getting my edumacation on in this thread, good stuff Fuji.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

I figured if the list of douche bags is stickied then this should be too

 

[Fuji Vice]

Totally forgot about this for a bit but here's a new entry....

Norman Ernest Borlaug

It's hard to put into words exactly what Norman Borlaug did for the world, at least from a scientific standpoint. The idea of cross breeding crops and strains is not something that can be explained in layman's terms. However, if I was to simply say that he was directly responsible for saving the lives of over 1 billion people would it be enough?

After receiving his doctorate in plant pathology and genetics, Borlaug developed semi-dwarf, high-yield and disease-resistant varieties of wheat. He then brought these crops to countries such as Mexico and India, where he introduced them to the current ones. These new types of wheat increased the food supply in these countries exponentially, even allowing Mexico to become a major wheat exporter. Money aside, they also saved the lives of an estimated 1 BILLION people!! He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his efforts in increasing the world's food supply.

Borlaug was featured prominently on a particular episode of Penn and Teller's Bullshit. Here is the clip....

[video=youtube;9RD2Gigny8I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RD2Gigny8I[/video]

Mr. Borlaug, you are one smart motherfucker!

 

[Wang Chung]

Such great wisdom being poured out of this thread. Just wish we could find a smart mother fucker and a douche in one. There probably is one.

 

[NovaRoad]

Not to discredit Borlaug as he is one smart motherfucker, there's an interesting correlation between his introduction of high-yield wheat and corn varieties in India, Mexico, and Pakistan in the '50s and the rise in cancer rates, diabetes, and obesity rates in those same countries since then. There seems to be a trend in cultures that adopt a more western diet, and that's that they adopt western diseases with it.

 

[Fuji Vice]

Not to discredit Borlaug as he is one smart motherfucker, there's an interesting correlation between his introduction of high-yield wheat and corn varieties in India, Mexico, and Pakistan in the '50s and the rise in cancer rates, diabetes, and obesity rates in those same countries since then. There seems to be a trend in cultures that adopt a more western diet, and that's that they adopt western diseases with it.

Since I haven't read of these supposed increased rates I am inclined not to argue at this point. If you could link me to the material I'd appreciate it so I can better judge the facts for myself. That being said, an increase in diabetes and obesity cannot solely be blamed on his crops as there are so many other outside factors that contribute to those particular issues.

However, what I will say is this. Regardless of the disease that comes along with it (if one can attribute his strains as being the problem), I find it very hard to argue that more lives would not have been lost if he hadn't bothered to help in the first place. Also, is it not natural to see a rise in the things you mention as a society continually flourishes and adds more members? Whether Borlaug had introduced his strains or not, its hard to argue that India's cancer rate wouldn't rise since the 1950's given their massive increase in population. The only difference is that several million of them wouldn't have been around to see it because they would have died of starvation long before.