EDITOR'S PAGE
A Welcome Ray of Hope ivility isn't big these days. Violence on the streets, stressful economic conditions, cutthroat competition from the ice rink to the boardroom, uncertainty over employment, and growing intolerance probably all contribute to today's environment under which survival of individuals or institutions seemingly demands an attitude much more suited to Manhattan than to Andy Griffith's mythical Mayberry. All of this is very apparent to any journalist who reports on controversial issues, especially those that involve major financial interests. Such reporting these days is more likely to engender efforts to discredit and intimidate than to enlighten. So it was refreshing to receive an unusual press package a week or so ago. It was a welcome ray of hope. It was from one of the most embattled of all organizations in today's contentious world—a pesticide maker. It contained, among other things, a call for industry to do a better job in tackling its problems and relating to the public about them. It also contained a study providing insight into the public's perception of pesticides and their use. The package came from Sandoz Agro Inc., a subsidiary of Sandoz Corp., the U.S. division of Swiss-based Sandoz Ltd. The call for a more open industry approach to its problems came in an address given by Sandoz Agro president and chief operating officer Dale A. Miller to the Rotary Club in Beaumont, Tex., home of a major Sandoz facility. Miller's basic premise is that if industry discussed its problems with the public as candidly as it does its successes, then public opinion of business might stop falling. He applauds the efforts that corporate members of the Chemical Manufacturers Association are making under the Responsible Care program to open up and speak out. He implies that much more needs to be done along these lines throughout all industry. Miller explains: "[Business] cannot spend the 1990s dug in and resisting every change that comes along as we did in the seventies and eighties, especially since most of the time we actually found ways to make the changes work to our advantage while we were complaining about them." He goes on: "Instead of hiding or being too defensive, American industry would be better served if we would own up and speak out more about all aspects of our businesses, not just the good parts. We need to own up and admit to problems; then tell the world how we are working to make certain situations better. We need to let society know how much we do not know, but how hard we are trying to understand." The study was conducted for Sandoz by the Gallup Organization. It garnered the opinions of more than 2,000 professional applicators of pest control products ranging from farmers to golf course supervisors. About 70% of them indicated they sense more public concern about pest management and the environment than they did five years ago. Nearly half indicated their personal concerns had also risen. And about 60% reported they were making fewer applications of pesticides than they were five years ago. Those responding to the survey believed that education is the best way to reduce the public's concerns and that the primary responsibility for this education rests with pesticide manufacturers. About 80% agree there are sufficient safeguards in place to ensure safe pesticide use. But about half also agree there are areas in need of more regulation. Miller recalls the occasion when his teenage son told him he had a couple of friends coming over and asked him not to mention where he worked. He was stunned. He is proud of Sandoz's role in helping farmers to feed the world. But he had to admit that industry's distressing image problem is at least in part its own fault. Miller's prescription of more openness seems like an important step toward starting to turn that image around. Michael Heylin Editor
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Views expressed on this page are those of the author only and not necessarily those of ACS
MARCH 14,1994 C&EN
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