high priority: can we stop the province from spraying "Vision"?

Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 23:47:51 -0300
From: "Leighton (Larry) Steele" <lsteele.employee.msvu@msvu1.msvu.ca>
To: Sustainable Maritimes <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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This press release comes to me from an organic farmer in Hant's county,
a region where much of our organic food originates. It seems scandalous
that, in order to sustain their monoculture, the provincial government
should be jeopardizing people's health and the health of the earth.
Strategies anyone?

Press Release:

Citizen Action to Protect the Environment (CAPE)

Hants Residents organize to fight pesticide spraying

Announcements of intended aerial spraying of Vision 9a glysophate
herbicide at two locations in Hants county have galvanized local
residents concerned about the effects on their land, business and
health.  Impacts on wildlife and water quality are also important
concerns to the group. Applications for spray permits on crown lands in
the Walton woods road are awaiting approval from the Nova Scotia
department of environment and labour, with spraying expected to begin
during the next three weeks. About 50 residents gathered in Summerville
for the second time on Monday night to share information and organize
opposition to the spraying.  Many expressed concerns about the potential
health effects on people with allergies, asthma sufferers and those with
environmental sensitivities. Government regulatory agencies acknowledge
that glyphosate herbicides act as an irritant to the entire respiratory
system as well as the skin and eyes. These pesticides have also been
linked  to cancer. Roundup (similar or identical to Vision according to
Carl Weatherhead of the Dept. of Natural Resources  is also the third
most commonly reported cause of illness among farm workers in California
and the top cause among landscape maintenance workers.  Several animal
studies have shown that roundup can cause gene mutations. Pesticide
manufacturers do admit that glyphosate is toxic to some aquatic life.
The pesticide also includes a cocktail of other ingredients which remain
trade secrets known only to the Monsanto corporation.  The spray
typically drifts up to 2500 feet from its target area and can therefore
be expected to affect nearby dwellings, farms, gardens and private work
lots.  The spray is able to kill vegetation with as little as 10
micrograms per plant.  It was also noted that the arid summer weather
conditions during recent years have been characterized by sudden strong
winds which could carry spray drift for a considerable distance. Norbert
Kungl a local resident  and the largest organic farmer  in Nova Scotia
said "our customers have to able to trust that the produce  is
pesticide-free.”  The impossibility of controlling spray drift puts all
that in jeopardy.  Residents  also pointed out that the use of herbicide
spray can be linked to poor forestry practices such as clear cutting. We
make an effort to manage our own woodlot in a sustainable way with
careful selective cutting, said Peter Siemers,  then we find that we're
at risk of damage from drifting herbicide.  The group plans to take a
petition door-to-door in the areas to gather support and to inform
residents about the threat posed by the spray.  ....


--
Leighton (Larry) Steele
Modern Languages Dept.
Mount Saint Vincent University
Phone : 457-6113
Fax : 425-0901



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