Protesters March Through Charlottetown, Call For End Of Pesticide Use
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Protesters March Through Charlottetown, Call For End Of Pesticide Use
Date:
Thu, 1 Aug 2002 11:37:35 -400
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
Thursday, August 01, 2002 - Protesters March Through Charlottetown, Call For End Of Pesticide Use - Broadcast News.
CHARLOTTETOWN - About 50 people, wearing gas masks and carrying signs marched through Charlottetown Wednesday, protesting the use of pesticides on P.E.I.
One of the protestors, Sharon Labchuck of Earth Action, said the province is committed to a potato dominated system and will only implement minor regulatory measures.
Labchuck said while pesticides can't be eliminated overnight, officials can at least work towards moving in that direction.
She said the recent fish kills are covering the fact that pesticides are harmful to humans and contain cancer causing agents.
The group met with Agriculture Minister Mitch Murphy.
Murphy said he's concerned all farmers are being painted as poor stewards of the land just because a few break regulations.
But he added an immediate moratorium on pesticides is not the answer.
© Copyright 2002 Broadcast News
http://www.canada.com/search/site/story.asp?id=A1A7E7EF-16E1-4E4C-B737-6BE48F5454AC
July 31, 2002 - Summerside Journal-Pioneer - Pesticide use down 30 per cent in 2001: Murphy - JIM BROWN
CHARLOTTETOWN -- Agriculture Minister Mitch Murphy had some good news to report early this morning.
According to information in the province's annual pesticide sales survey, overall use of pesticides declined by 30 per cent in 2001 over the previous year.
Murphy said the drought had much to do with the decline, since fungicides account for 70 per cent of pesticide use on the Island.
Crop protectants used to fight late blight weren't needed as much during a hot, dry summer that shrivelled crops.
Optimal conditions for blight include persistent rain and moisture, as well as cool temperatures.
Instead, lack of precipitation and soaring temperatures slashed yields, especially potatoes, by as much as 50 per cent.
"Growers used fungicides for blight and with dry weather there was very little blight," said Murphy.
He confirmed insecticides are more toxic to aquatic organisms, including fish, but their usage has declined steadily over the years.
In 2001 there were no reported fish kills related to pesticide use, but that hasn't been the case this summer, with six kills on five rivers and streams occurring over a two week span after heavy rains. As many as 15,000 dead fish have been found so far.
Tests from the first kill, on Wilmot River, confirmed the presence of the insecticide azinphos-methyl.
One of the chemical's manufacturers, Bayer, has printed blunt warnings on the labels of containers of its product Guthion, warning of the dangers of spraying the insecticide anywhere close to water systems.
More results from other fish kills are expected back as early as later this week from labs in Moncton, N.B., says Bruce Raymond, a spokesperson with the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment. He said the results will probably arrive by next week.
Raymond also stated conservation officers have been receiving increased numbers of phone calls since the first fish kill July 10.
"That's good" he said, adding it gives officials a chance to get an early start on sampling fish for chemicals, which can dissipate after just 48 hours.
So far, the dead fish have turned out to be killed from other causes,
including serious angling injuries, anoxia (lack of oxygen) and parasites.
© Copyright 2002 Summerside Journal-Pioneer
http://www.canada.com/search/site/story.asp?id=E47A6279-3D6F-4F61-A2A3-6FE310A3657A
Well Mr. Helliker, I can eliminate the use of "registered' POISONS overnight; if you will "legally' allow me to use safe and far more effective unregistered alternatives.
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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