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Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS)
A Weekly News Update on Pesticides, Health and Alternatives
See PANUPS updates service for complete information.
January 29, 2009
- UK Co-op bans pesticides linked to bee deaths
- Pesticide reform message to new EPA chief
- Pesticides suspected in Oregon goose deaths
- India farmers celebrate Republic Day by going organic
- Pesticide-free Valentine bouquets
- Californians urged to oppose budget trick on pesticide smog
- Vote for White House Farmer
UK Co-op bans pesticides linked to bee deaths
The Guardian reports that Co-operative — the huge British supermarket chain that is also the UK’s biggest farmer — has banned use of neonicitinoids, a class of pesticides implicated in bee deaths around the world. “It is prohibiting suppliers of its own-brand fresh produce from using eight pesticides that have been connected to honeybee colony collapse disorder and are already restricted in some parts of Europe.” The Guardian goes on to explain that, “Since 2001, [the Co-op] has already prohibited the use of 98 pesticides under its pesticide policy. Simon Press, senior technical manager at the Co-op group said: ‘We believe that the recent losses in bee populations need definitive action, and as a result are temporarily prohibiting the eight neonicotinoid pesticides until we have evidence that refutes their involvement in the decline.'” PAN Europe coordintoar Elliott Carnell said he hoped the Co-op’s action would convince the UK government to back proposed European pesticide legislation. “‘The government has fought against any attempts to protect bees, which pollinate a third of the average diet. It argues that banning pesticides jeopardises crop yields, but if that was the case why would a leading food retailer be introducing this measure?'”
shareMORE – EPA sued for bee death data| Digg This
Pesticide reform message to new EPA chief
On January 28, Pesticide Action Network and Beyond Pesticides sent a letter to new EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson urging action “Transforming U.S. Pesticide Policy”. The groups propose 26 urgent execitive orders and regulatory actions for Obama’s “first 100 days” that will protect the health of children, farmworkers and communities. The document is endorsed by some 100 organizations and individuals across the country, and includes recommendations for USDA, FDA and the Department of Justice, in addition to EPA. PAN and allied organizations have also presented recomendations to the Obama administration on farming and the global food crisis. A coalition of sustainable agriculture, farmworker and environmental health advocates met the USDA transition team on December 23, calling for government leadership to build an agricultural system that “reduces our dependence on oil, creates jobs and provides all Americans with fresh and healthy food.” On December 15, a coalition of environmental, agricultural, faith-based and hunger organizations called for action to rebalance power in the food system; make agriculture environmentally sustainable; establish fair price supports for farmers; and guarantee the right to food.
shareMORE – Sign on to Transforming U.S. Pesticide Policy |
Pesticide suspected in Oregon goose deaths
shareMORE – Zinc phosphide details at pesticideinfo.org |
India farmers celebrate Republic Day by going organic
More than 50,000 farmers from across the southwest state of Karnataka gathered at Vidhana Soudha on India’s Republic Day to take a pledge to practice organic farming, according to the Times of India. Former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam presided over the event, which followed the launch of a state-run organic farming website that he hopes will set examples of successful organic farming practices. “Forty percent of pesticides are used to protect cotton. But by using alternative methods such as planting ladyfingers, cotton can be protected [without] pesticides. Farmers must adopt alternative methods like organic farming,” Kalam explained. Despite recommendations by the Punjab Agricultural University that farmers spray no more than seven times per six-month crop cycle, Indian cotton farmers typically spray between twenty to thirty times, accounting for the high percentage of pesticide use (cotton only accounts for 5% of India’s cultivated land). India is heavily reliant on endosulfan, a neurotoxic organochlorine frequently applied to cotton. In India, more endosulfan is produced than any other pesticide except mancozeb and monocrotophos, and the country recently derailed the inclusion of endosulfan on the Rotterdam Convention’s watchlist.
shareMORE – PAN’s Endosulfan Campagn; India Together: Poison in their veins |
Pesticide-free Valentine bouquets
shareMORE – Special offers that Support PAN |
Californians urged to oppose budget trick on pesticide smog
In the mid 1990’s, California regulators promised to adopt regulations that would reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from pesticides by 20% below 1990 levels in five air basins by 2005. With the current state budget impasse, Republicans are demanding a roll-back in these standards by trying to amend California budget legislation. Instead of 20% reductions, a budget trailer would lower reductions to only 10% in Ventura and 12% for all other air basins. Pesticides are one of the largest contributors to smog in the San Joaquin Valley and Ventura County, and a major contributor in the Southeast Desert. Act Now! Urge Governor Schwarzenegger to reject this trailer on the state budget. The health of millions of Californians should not be a budget compromise.
shareMORE – VOCs regulation, U.S. and California |
Vote for the White House Farmer
Inspired by a Micheal Pollan article, a forum was conceived by a family-run farm in central Illinois to promote the idea of a White House organic farmer. According to whitehousefarmer.com, “Everyone, from your family and friends to our First Family and their guests, needs to know who grew their food and how it was grown.” The White House Farmer would be charged with transforming “five prime south-facing acres of the White House lawn and plant[ing] in their place an organic fruit and vegetable garden” whose produce will be used by the White House chefs, and given to area food banks. Take a moment to vote for the White House Farmer – voting closes at midnight on January 30th, and the top three vote getters (along with all comments), will be presented to the Obama staff.
shareMORE - Read Pollan’s “Farmer in Chief” |
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