I'm not sure that Joel conveyed that message quite right. The problem is not with Pasteur's theory. The theory is sound. So is the second (terrain) theory. They work together as a total package. Just like
Permaculture.
To simplify Pasteur: Germs exist and some of them are capable of causing illness in a host organism under appropriate conditions.
What the second theory says is: The environment (terrain) can determine the chances of a pathogen infecting a host by altering conditions in such a way that infection becomes minimized or maximized.
The two theories complement each other and do so quite nicely.
Think of it in
permaculture terms: Too much of one weed means that the environment is favoring that weed species. Killing the weeds and doing nothing more will not solve the problem. The weeds will return. However, modifying the environment by altering the
water, sun, nutrients, biodiversity could do a lot to solve the weed problem. For the best result perhaps you could kill the weeds AND modify the environment to achieve the desired outcome. Using both solutions in tandem often gives the most benefit.
On Vaccines: A great number of deadly diseases have been nearly eradicated thanks to vaccines. They aren't perfect but remember that nothing positive is achieved without some degree of risk. Some certain people do have adverse reactions to vaccines but that also applies to every medicine and food on the planet. There are exceptions to all rules. Almost every vaccine used today is without mercury and you can request mercury/thimerisol free vaccines. Not to mention that there was never a positive link between vaccines and autism. The one study that showed a causal link was later found to be fraudulent. The author admitted to data manipulation. And we probably get more mercury from the air we breath and the food we eat every day of our lives than that contained in a small life saving vaccine that we only get once. (sorry for the rant. I'm passionate about this)
A great number of lives have also been saved and prolonged by the understanding that cleanliness and proper sanitation prevent illness. Joel is exactly right when he says that we need to encourage the right (good) bacteria in our properties and our bodies. Processed foods don't accomplish that goal for our bodies just like chemicals and GMO's don't accomplish that for our
land.
I guess my point is that the two theories are not at odds and we can make the best of both of them and have wonderful results.
Aside from that, I thought the talk was well done and informative. Very insightful
Thanks for posting the video.
