| "We are conducting a vast toxicological experiment in | | | | options for weed control." The cancer society wants |
| which our children and our children's children are the | | | | this stuff banned yet we are saying it's OK to spray it |
| experimental subjects." Dr. Herbert Needleman | | | | on playgrounds? What is wrong with this picture? |
| Dr. Herbert Needleman belatedly received the Heinz | | | | Both Ontario and Quebec have province wide bans on |
| Award in the Environment for his extraordinary | | | | cosmetic pesticide sale and use. The Coalition for a |
| contributions to the understanding and prevention of | | | | Healthy Ottawa (CHO) says, "Pesticides are among |
| childhood lead poisoning. This award was given years | | | | the most widely used chemicals in the world, and also |
| after Dr. Needleman's reputation and research were | | | | among the most dangerous to human health. They are |
| attacked by the lead industry. The threatened lead | | | | a leading cause of poisonings here in Canada and |
| industry hired public relations firms and scientific | | | | have been estimated to account for thousands of |
| consultants to denounce Dr. Needleman's work. I use | | | | deaths each year globally. Pesticides can also cause |
| this classic example to awaken us to how industry | | | | chronic health effects due to both acute poisonings |
| seeks to shape science and hijack the truth. | | | | and from chronic long-term exposure." To read the |
| This is why as individuals, it is our lifework to seriously | | | | scientific abstracts for further proof go to the Coalition |
| oppose the upside-down values of our world today | | | | for a Healthy Ottawa. |
| through taking action every way we can. One way is | | | | Personally, I would rather my child roll in weeds than |
| opposing the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides. | | | | pesticides. Not to mention how these toxins break |
| Our Lifework: Opposing Cosmetic Pesticides | | | | down and enter our soil, lakes and bodies. |
| Every Monday and Thursday my husband and enjoy | | | | You Can Make a Difference: Will You? |
| a morning walk to our local farmer's market where we | | | | When did our values become so upside-down we said |
| appreciate buying local, organic produce. Our | | | | "O.K." to lawn beautification at the cost of toxins |
| enjoyment was cut short one day this fall seeing | | | | burdening our environment, our bodies and that of our |
| several red, stop-sign, shaped signs driven into the | | | | children? You can make a difference by refusing to |
| grass on Alexis Park School property. | | | | support this toxic trade in your yard. There are many |
| Upon further investigation we were shocked to | | | | Lawn and Garden Tips like, "Find out about organic |
| discover grim, skull and cross-bones upon the signs | | | | lawn care for the cheap and lazy," at the Coalition for |
| warning us to stay off the lawns. The lawns had been | | | | a Healthy Ottawa site mentioned above. |
| sprayed with 2-4D, Mecoprop, and Dicamba (common | | | | "The world is a dangerous place, not because of |
| cocktails used in Killex, Par III weed control for lawns). | | | | those who do evil, but because of those who look on |
| These 'stop' signs, with their specters of death warning | | | | and do nothing. ~ Albert Einstein |
| us of the poison while children played upon the nearby | | | | Through researching cosmetic pesticides I discovered I |
| playground were testimony to a world and community | | | | am not alone in my city. This is a hot topic in Vernon, |
| with upside-down values. Cosmetic pesticides before | | | | B.C. Canada with many people working hard toward |
| children. | | | | change. The city is proposing to eliminate cosmetic |
| Erroneously, my husband and I thought 2-4D had been | | | | pesticides on public land in 2010 and on private |
| banned - as years ago we had heard of its toxicity. | | | | property in 2012... My concern is the word "proposing" |
| The Sierra Club has extensive research on the toxicity | | | | and the belated time line. |
| of 2-4D since the late '80's. To quote them "Despite | | | | Our cities' need your input. Write a letter to the Editor |
| industry efforts claiming the safety of this chemical, | | | | and to your City Council telling them you want to see |
| there is a large body of evidence indicating major | | | | the end of cosmetic pesticide sales and use upon |
| health effects, from cancer to immunosuppression, | | | | public and private properties NOW rather than two |
| reproductive damage to neurotoxicity. Environmental | | | | years later. Personally, I would like to see our entire |
| contamination, particularly in wetlands has also been | | | | valley/world turned into an organic farming belt. |
| demonstrated, in direction infringement of the Fisheries | | | | In the Bill Moyer NOW PBS documentary, "Are we |
| Act R.S., c. F-14, s. 36." | | | | Poisoning Our Children," Dr. Steingraber said, "our |
| Cancer Society Opposes Cosmetic Pesticides | | | | children have home and garden pesticides in their |
| In a media release on the cancer.ca website, Dr. Barb | | | | urine...(and)...that children serve as canaries in a coal |
| Whylie, Director of Cancer Control Policy, of the | | | | mine." |
| Canadian Cancer Society says "the Cancer Society | | | | Are we willing to allow our children, and children's |
| fully supports a ban on the use of cosmetic pesticides | | | | children to be the canaries in the coal mine? |
| for ornamental purposes, stating there are better | | | | |