It takes a person that lives in a fairly well-off society to naively wish for the organic simple life.  Examining life in developing countries reveals the daily experience of a citizen living “the natural life” is absolutely heart-wrenching.  Developing economies cannot grow and thrive amongst a very sick population where the people are unable to show up for work and life expectancy is short.  Unfortunately, environmental “scares” have pushed humanitarian organizations such as the WHO and USAID to ban a helpful pesticide that alleviates the burden of disease in the developing world.  The ban on the use of DDT for decades has had disastrous consequences, allowing 40% of the world’s population to be affected by Malaria, a preventable disease.  According to reports, a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds. 

New studies on DDT have encouraged limited use of the pesticide to reduce malaria exposure, accompanied by educational programs.  According to The Star, re-spraying mosquito nets for beds – which keeps a child safe for 5 years – has reduced the child mortality rate by up to 25%.  Such efforts combined with educational tips has reduced malaria cases in Latin America by 63%.  The Star’s article noted that the Vice President of Uganda, a supporter of DDT spraying, responded to critics of the pesticide saying, “You can start with my home.”