The tactics corporations use to manipulate or spin the
perception of situations can make a difference to the moral outrage towards a
phenomena where right and wrong might have been ambiguous and complex. Specifically
here we are talking about one of many strategies employed classified as
devaluation versus validation according to Martin, Moore & Salter (2010).
“Good guys” and “bad guys” can be clearly depicted by the
powerful corporations to simplify the various arguments streamlining an issue
to their advantage. File sharing for example so called pirates are repeatedly
compared to car thieves and shoplifters. The devaluation of file sharers as
criminals was the main initial method employed by the music industry (Martin,
Moore & Salter 2010). The advocates of file sharing were demonised to
defend the industry position and decisions made punishing individuals involved
as just.
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| Me with a bee! |
Within the beekeeping industry the strategy of devaluation
versus validation is also utilised to defend the position of pesticide
companies and world-wide farming practices. The factors affecting the
beekeeping industry are shaped more subtly however than the example of file
sharing.
Colony collapse disorder is a global problem affecting beekeepers
causing devastating losses to commercial beekeeping operations up to 50 percent
decreases in bee populations in the US (vanEngelsdorp et al. 2008). The exact
cause for the problem which involves the abandonment of the hive and subsequent
death of large numbers of bees is unknown precisely, however the role of
pesticides and fungicides, a likely cause, is defended voraciously within the
beekeeping industry and from other interests.
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| My little buddy |
The effects of pesticides and fungicides is often the last
contributing factor if at all behind the varroa mite, electromagnetic
radiation, fungus, genetics, habitat loss, poor nutrition and beekeeping practises
such as transportation. Agricultural spraying practices are defended as
embedded in the landscape of primary industry and simply inconclusive as a
factor despite the growing evidence that pesticides and fungicides are having significant
link (Woody, 2013).
Spending thousands per year treating varroa mite and improving
beekeeper practices, feeding bees and breeding better genetics is repeatedly
reported as being the only solutions in conferences and beekeeping journals and
then those solutions are often the only advice given from beekeeping supplies
businesses such as where I work rather than tackling the widespread problem of
pesticides and fungicides impact in the equation.
Martin, B, Moore, C and Salter, C. (2010), “Sharing music
files: tactics of a challenge to the industry”, First Monday, vol. 15, no. 12, http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2986/2680
Woody, T. (2013) “Scientists discover what’s killing the
bees and it’s worse than you thought”, Quartz,
24 July, 2013
vanEngelsdorp D, Hayes J Jr, Underwood RM, Pettis J (2008) “A
Survey of Honey Bee Colony Losses in the U.S., Fall 2007 to Spring 2008”, PLoS
ONE 3(12): e4071. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004071
Hi Ross, your blog looks awesome – well structured, strong theme and you seem to have a good grasp on the technical aspects of a blog, such as inserting pictures, creating links etc.
ReplyDeleteYou have critically engaged with the concept of devaluation and creatively tied it in with your bee theme. As such, you have demonstrated the use of scholarly resources but also provided your own personal understanding of the concept, using plain language that was easy to read. In addition, the globalisation context is presented by explaining that Colony Collapse disorder is a global problem.
The only suggestion I could make is that when you are using your example (i.e. pesticide companies defending spraying practices and downplaying the effects of pesticides), it would be helpful if you kept relating it back to the concept of devaluation and how the corporations ‘spin’ has affected people’s view the issue. This would just make your blog a little more coherent, but it is already very articulate and clear – Well done. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
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