Subject: Canadian doctors call for pesticide ban.
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 08:26:48 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State
of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker,
I thought you might like to read an Organic gardening article located
at: http://www.organicgardening.com/watchdog/pesticides.html
entitled:
Canadian doctors call for pesticide ban
After reviewing scientific data on the acute and chronic
health effects from pesticide exposure, especially among children; studies of
pesticide residue in the food chain; and research on pesticide effects on
ecosystems and wildlife, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the
Environment has called for a complete ban on all synthetic pesticides, reports
Canadians Against Pesticides.
The position paper released by the physicians' group
states, "We believe that, in as timely a fashion as possible, all
synthetic pesticide use should be abandoned except in rare, urgent, critical
situations. Reaching this goal, however, cannot be accomplished without a
dramatically increased support program for farmers and other growers who are
prepared to convert to sustainable growing practices, including cessation of
pesticide use."
The physicians call for three initial steps:
1) The immediate elimination of the most toxic
pesticides, as determined by an independent scientific panel.
2) The rapid introduction of full disclosure of ALL
ingredients in pesticide formulations.
3) The establishment of an independent office for the
collection and public disclosure of all reports of proven or possible adverse
effects resulting from pesticide exposures.
The physicians also urged the Canadian government
"to immediately move toward a legislated end to cosmetic pesticide
use..." (Cosmetic uses include lawn-care and ornamental gardening, and
non-commercial growing of food crops.) This decision would certainly be
welcome by the 70 percent of respondents to a recent MacLean's magazine poll
who view "lawn chemicals as a serious health threat."
Last May, Canada's House of Commons Standing Committee on
the Environment and Sustainable Development reported to the Prime Minister on
its findings about the "use and health ramifications of pesticides in
Canada." According to Canadians Against Pesticides, the report
"offered a graphic and scathing portrait of the disastrous impact of
pesticide exposure on Canadians (especially children) and Canadian
wildlife."
To add your voice to the request for a ban, you can email
Prime Minister Jean Chretien at pm@pm.gc.ca
and the Ministers of Health (Allan Rock, Rock.A@parl.gc.ca), Environment
(David Anderson, Anderson.D@parl.gc.ca)and Agriculture (Lyle Vanclief,
Vanclief.L@parl.gc.ca). Canadians Against Pesticides has an action page on its
Website http://www.caps.20m.com/ where
you will find telephone and fax numbers for these officials along with a
sample message you can send.
Well Mr. Helliker, your "registered" POISONS
are not only ineffective but obviously very dangerous. When will you begin to
allow the use of safe and far more effective (unregistered) alternatives?
Respectfully, Stephen
L. Tvedten
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