"One leader does not fully define a movement, to be sure, but Shiva with her condemnation of 'scientific reductionism' has become so preeminent in the global deep eology/ecofeminist movement against modern science that raising serious questions about her does in many respects raise questions about the entire movement." So saying, Thomas R DeGregori launches a no-holds-barred assault on the credentials of Dr Vandana Shiva.

Three things you need to know: DeGregori has often come out arguing that technological advances in agriculture, such as "Frankenfoods" or even DDT, are unjustly maligned. Two, regardless of the good doctor's credentials, the (apocryphal?) story about Shiva mistaking a field of weeds for a ricefield is actually pretty funny. And three, the Babu has always found this sort of logic--debunk the leader, crucify the ideology alongside--more than a little specious.