美國人的骨子裏，從小就被教育，沒有什麽事不可能，隻要是在美國。
可是９１１之後，尤其是到了２００６年新春伊始，美國人看世界的眼光在變，首先是在伊拉克，橫的怕愣的，愣的怕不要命的，一波波的人肉炸彈，和每個星期６０－７０億美元的巨額軍費開支，正把牛仔總統小布什，拖入不可取勝的泥潭。
在北朝鮮和伊朗，美國其實早已經磨刀豁豁，可是形勢比人強，碰到伊朗在核武器檢查上的不合作，白宮趕忙說，伊朗和伊拉克不一樣。明顯的欺軟怕硬。是呀，就是一樣，恐怕也打不贏同時的兩場戰爭。
在美國國內，也同樣困難重重。
新奧爾良的重建，雷聲大大，雨點稀稀。在佛羅裏達又刮了一場颶風後，農業部的一紙公文，把堅持了十年之久，花費近１0億美元（5億美元砍樹,3.5億美元賠款），已經砍倒１千１百萬棵柑桔樹的對抗潰瘍（CANKER）病的戰爭，宣告了失敗。
麵對自然，人類無可抗爭。
可能，就變成了不可能！
２００６－１－１３
下麵的報道，一篇是刮颶風之前的，一篇是刮颶風之後的。農民的聲音，加上美國農業部的支持，終於使佛羅裏達州政府雄心勃勃的計劃擱淺。
June 26, 2005, the Sun-Sentinel reports:
Canker Fight Looking Fruitless
Canker Spreads to 22 Florida Counties
$500 Million Spent (so far) on Eradication
Allegedly in 1995 the first case of Citrus Canker was found on a grapefruit in Miami-Dade county. By the end of 1995, canker was "confirmed" in both Miami-Dade and Broward counties. With the state's eradication program in action starting in 2000, 7 counties were infested. The results of that "program" is that now in 2005, 22 counties have the disease
Over 4,000,000 million citrus trees have been killed (so far) and the spread runs unabated at a cost of over $500,000,000
Where will this end? Probably another $500,000,000 down the drain and the probable death of every citrus tree in Florida. Thank you government for all your hard work, YOU IDIOTS !!!!!!!
But was this so hard to see coming? There has never been any proof whatsoever (and almost 100% contrary evidence) that killing and more killing and removal does not stop canker. Nothing stops canker; that is the evidence. Totally harmless to humans and fruit quality, I'd rather have my trees back ...how about you?
Citrus Farmers Must Get New Canker Weapons
Thursday, January 12, 2006; 9:25 PM
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The federal government's withdrawal of financial support for citrus canker eradication means Florida growers may have to rely on costly chemicals and wind breaks to save the $9 billion industry, researchers said Thursday.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday it would no longer help pay for the 10-year-old program, which required the removal of every citrus tree within 1,900 feet of one infected with canker.
  The highly contagious bacterial disease of citrus canker, which attacks citrus plants is shown in this Dec. 5, 1995, photo in Sweetwater, Fla. A state law requiring the removal of trees within 1,900 feet of one infected with citrus canker is being reviewed by the Florida Department of Agriculture in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricanes. (AP Photo/Hans Deryk) (Hans Deryk - AP) |
The policy riled homeowners, who watched workers cut down healthy trees in their yards to prevent the spread of canker to commercial groves.
The disease is caused by bacteria that can be transferred by birds, humans and wind. It makes fruit blemish and prompts it to drop prematurely, but is harmless to humans.
Agriculture experts are planning meetings with growers and production managers around the state to help them adapt to the new reality.
"We're kind of mounting a blitz of information," said Jim Graham, professor of soil microbiology at the University of Florida's Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred.
Graham said growers have to focus on decontaminating equipment and personnel that travel from one grove to another. They also can apply additional coats of a copper spray already used to control fungal diseases.
"Of course the cost of that spray is going to be a consideration," Graham said, adding that it could run an additional $200 an acre per year.
He said growers should also consider which varieties are most susceptible to infection. Grapefruits, for example, are much more likely to contract it than Valencia oranges.
Graham said natural windbreaks with plants 20-40 feet high would help prevent canker spread, but creating them could be a long and costly process.
Abandoning the eradication policy may please some homeowners.
"The government position is absurd, and has been from the beginning," said Brian Patchen, a Miami Beach attorney who sued after his six citrus trees were destroyed. "There was no way citrus canker could be truly eliminated to begin with, given the demographics of Florida."
Winds from the heavy hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005 also helped spread the disease.
Florida Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Liz Compton insisted the eradication program was successful.
"To those who say, 'Did I lose my tree for nothing?' The answer is no," she said. "The picture changed. The face of this changed because of the hurricanes."
