Petition Bears 1,000 Names Anti-Pesticide Campaign Strikes Nerve
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Petition Bears 1,000 Names Anti-Pesticide Campaign Strikes Nerve
Date:
Tue, 5 Nov 2002 15:39:37 -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
Monday November 4, 2002
Petition bears 1,000 names Anti-pesticide campaign strikes nerve
Mercury staff
GUELPH -- The city's pesticide review committee will receive a petition with 1,000 names Tuesday, calling for a pesticide use ban on private land.
Spearheaded by the Ontario Public Interest Research Group, the petition was distributed in downtown stores, at the University of Guelph and the Farmers' Market in mid-October.
"I think the numbers show overwhelming support, more than we thought," said Leslie St. Jacques, co-ordinator of OPIRG's pesticide-free lawn and garden programme. "Most people are in favour of the ban."
St. Jacques said she believes people have an increased awareness of potential health risks from pesticides.
"There are so many health and medical groups advocating for bans," she said. "I don't see how anyone can argue that there are not potential dangers. I don't see any argument at all."
Still, the committee -- made up of six Guelph residents -- has met with delegates voicing both sides of the argument since its formation in May.
The committee will draft recommendations on whether the use of pesticides should be curtailed on private property. The use of pesticides is being phased out on city land by 2005.
Coun. Cathy Downer, chair of the city's planning, environment and transportation committee, said city council will hear the pesticide committee's recommendations by the end of December.
The pesticide review committee meets every two weeks to hear delegates. Tuesday's meeting takes place at 7 p.m. at the Evergreen Seniors Centre.
Source: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/news_02110483710.html
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