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Next aerial spraying of Duncan will be in the week of ?

This website is for the purpose of providing information to the public about the aerial spraying of pesticides over the Cowichan Region. There is much information about the chemicals being sprayed, that has not been made readily available to the public by the government or the chemical manufacturers. We hope that this site provides you with some further information to gain insight into the health risks associated with this aerial spraying. The City of Duncan has been sprayed on: Sunday, May 9th, 1999 Monday, May 10th, 1999 Thursday, May 20th, 1999 Friday, May 21st, 1999 Wednesday, June 9th, 1999 It seems as though the government has taken it upon themselves to change the spray date at any time. Aerial spraying of pesticides on the City of Duncan was supposed to have taken place on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9th, 1999, with a week or so break until the next spraying. However, the government decided arbitrarily to spray the City of Duncan again the following day, Monday, May 10th. The public was not properly informed of this. The date of the "second" spraying (which was actually the third spraying) was announced in the media for Friday, May 21. However, the spraying took place on Thursday, May 20, a day early, and once again the public was misinformed, and not give proper notice of the aerial spraying. Obviously it makes sense if spraying is to occur on Friday, and the public is informed of this in the media, spraying on Thursday, a day early is not fair to those concerned for their health, who wish to make plans to avoid being sprayed. (as recommended by our government!) If changes are made in the spray schedule, the public should be informed, so that people can take the necessary precautions in avoiding the pesticide. (such as keeping pets indoors, moving children's toys inside or leaving the area during the spraying) The City of Duncan was sprayed again on Friday, May 21st, again contrary to what the public was told would happen. The individual spray dates were supposed to be 7-10 days apart, not on consecutive days. But the Government doesn't seem to care about courtesy to the public, or people's right to make a choice in avoiding being sprayed by a potentially very toxic pesticide. There are other safe and effective alternatives!

STOP THE SPRAYING!

How you can help to stop the spraying? Call Jan Pullinger at 748-2100 Email: <Jan.Pullinger.Office@leg.bc.ca> Sign the petition demanding the government not aerial spray pesticides on you and your family. Petitions are located at most health food stores and other caring businesses. Send a letter to Glen Clark stating your opposition to being aerial pesticide sprayed. Please send it today to: Premier of British Columbia The Honorable Glen Clark Parliament Buildings Victoria British Columbia V8X1X4 Phone: (250) 387-1715 Fax: (250) 387-0087 Letters can also be sent to: Minister of Health Penny Priddy Parliament Buildings Victoria British Columbia V8V 1X4 Phone: (250) 387-5394 Fax: (250) 387-3696 Minister of Environment Cathy McGregor Parliament Buildings Victoria British Columbia V8V 1X4 Phone: (250) 387-1187 Fax: (250) 387-1356 Ombudsman of B.C. 931 Fort St. Victoria British Columbia V8V 3K3 Phone: (250) 387-5855 Fax: (250) 387-0198 Send donations to: Ecological Health Alliance Stop Overhead Spraying The Green Party of Canada SOS Fund c/o 1019 Lodge Avenue The Green Party of Canada Victoria Chapter Victoria BC Box #515-620 View Street V8X 3B1 Victoria BC V8W 1J6 All donations are tax deductable. All donations will go towards helping to stop the aerial pesticide spraying in our communities. Thank you for your support! Check this new article out...May '99! Cutbacks, infighting hurt pesticide control efforts, environment boss says OTTAWA (CP) Budget cuts and infighting have paralysed the federal effort to manage pesticides and other toxic chemicals, says the environment commissioner. Brian Emmett says there is no systematic monitoring of pesticide residues in Canadian food and the government doesn't collect data on many of the toxic substances released into the environment. Unlike the United States, Canada has no overall strategy to reduce pesticide risk. "We are all paying the price in terms of risks to our health and our legacy to our children and grandchildren," Emmett said at news conference Tuesday. Of 22 industrial countries surveyed, only Canada and the Slovak republic don't collect data on pesticide sales. The potential harm of pesticides has been well documented. A single pesticide, carbofuran, kills 109,000 to 958,000 birds in Canada annually, according to a federal study cited in Emmett's report. Carbofuran has been licensed since the 1960s, and evidence of its harmful effects has been growing for more than a decade. It is to be removed from the market this year. The government moves slowly on new threats partly because of budget cuts to science research, says Emmett. "We are concerned that scientific capacity in the federal government has been reduced to the extent that its capability to support informed decision-making and deliver on core departmental mandates is threatened." Another problem is discord within the government. "In many cases, departments are deeply divided on the risks posed by toxic substances and this has led to substantial conflict." This is why we should be concerned... it's now acknowledged by our own government and mainstream media...our health is in danger.

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Copyright © 1999 Cowichan Valley Stop Aerial Spraying Coalition
Last modified: June 21, 1999