But it is easier to see dying birds in California than is to see dying Africans. However when Medfly hit Californian crops, all the allowed insecticides were used to try and control the Medfly. The rich developed world has become over sensitive about insecticides and pesticides. Scare stories get attention and sell newspapers. Newspaper are fighting to keep their circulation up in face of TV competition.
Organic foods are in fashion.
It does not matter that they can cost more than non-organic foods. It should be remembered that amongst the 6 billion people now in the world, a third of the children go to bed hungry each night. Reduced use of insecticides, pesticides and inorganic fertilizers will raise the costs of food. It does not matter to the rich world if food costs increase since food costs play a diminishing percentage of our budget. But more of the poor will starve and die from malnutrition.