next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
EARTH ACTION
81 Prince Street Charlottetown PEI C1A 4R3 Tel: 902-621-0719 Email:
slabchuk@isn.net
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 1999
CITIZENS MARCH AGAINST PESTICIDES
Charlottetown - Carrying placards and chanting anti-pesticide slogans, a
group of about 50 Islanders escorted by a police cruiser marched through
the streets of downtown Charlottetown on Saturday afternoon with drivers
honking in support and pedestrians giving the thumbs up. Walk For A
Pesticide-Free PEI was organized by Earth Action and the PEI Holistic
Health Co. to draw attention to the agricultural and urban use of pesticides.
"After this recent series of devastating fish kills, public sentiment
against the use of toxic pesticides has never been higher," said Sharon
Labchuk, Earth Action's pesticide campaigner. "Over the years, PEI
government officials have ignored scientific information we've provided
them about the extreme toxicity of the pesticides used on potato fields and
lawns. So now it's come to marching in the streets."
The march ended outside Province House, where protesters and tourists
gathered to hear from speakers representing several Island organizations.
Concerned citizen Ruth Lacey, reading from an Earth Action leaflet said,
"The amount of agricultural pesticides used on PEI has increased by over
500% in the past 15 years. By weight, at least 70% of agricultural
pesticides used on PEI are classed by the US government as probable human
carcinogens."
Leo Broderick of the Council of Canadians stated, "Recent studies in the
United States and published in the American Journal of Public Health
confirm increased rates of cancer in children and women exposed to
pesticides, and here on PEI increased cancer rates are undoubtedly
connected to pesticides." Broderick also expressed alarm that PEI's
drinking water is in jeopardy if pesticides continued to be used as PEI's
water table is extremely shallow and very vulnerable. Broderick called on
the PEI government to legislate PEI as a pesticide free zone to ensure the
safety of all Islanders and its environment. He concluded, "Buffer zones
are not the answer to the evils of pesticides."
Marine scientist Dr. Irene Novaczek, Earth Action's fisheries campaigner,
noted, "One thing is certain : the fish kills that are detected are just an
indicator of larger, long-term problems. The same chemicals that are
killing trout, insects and birds in and around Island streams also cause
reproductive failure and behavioural changes. Some, such as the commonly
used endosulfan, are known to accumulate in shellfish."
Kevin Jeffrey, co-ordinator of the Organic Crop Improvement Association,
told the crowd , "Most farmers don't realize there are viable alternatives
to pesticides. The organic food industry on PEI is at least 15 years behind
our counterparts in some provinces and states in North America and many
European countries. Switzerland, for instance, has made a commitment to
switch over to organic agriculture as quickly as possible. They have
structured their agricultural system so that pesticides are the last
resort, after applying organic principles and integrated pest management
techniques. To help the industry grow, organic farmers receive the most
government funding, farmers employing integrated pest management techniques
receive less funding, and conventional farmers receive no financial
support. This visionary thinking could easily be applied to PEI."
Urging people to not support the proposed government-appointed committee to
study fish kills, Labchuk said, "What have these boys done for us so far?
They support the industrial model of agriculture with its dependancy on
toxic pesticides. We don't need more pesticide use education and
regulations, we need a new vision for PEI - one that doesn't include a
contaminated environment and poisoned food."
- 30 -
Contact: Sharon Labchuk
621-0719
********************************
Sharon Labchuk
Earth Action
81 Prince Street
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4R3
Phone: 902-368-7337 / 621-0719
Fax: 902-621-0719
slabchuk@isn.net
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
You received this because you are subscribed to "sust-mar", the
Sustainable Maritimes mailing list. To unsubscribe, send email to
<majordomo@chebucto.ns.ca> with "unsubscribe sust-mar" (without quotes) as
the body of your message. To post a message to sust-mar subscribers, send it to
<sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca> Posts that are off-topic or excessive length
(10K) will be rejected. For help contact <sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects