Here is my response to Dr. Joe Schwarcz printed in todays - TopicsExpress



          

Here is my response to Dr. Joe Schwarcz printed in todays Guardian. Leaving to experts got us in this mess Editor: I found the article in Monday’s Guardian ‘Pesticide patrols best left to experts,’ to be condescending and dismissive. Dr. Joe Schwarcz, a wellknown shill for Monsanto, among others, was brought to the Island by the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture to “dispel myths.” I wonder how much Schwarcz knows about the situation here in P.E.I. For instance, does he know that we have only two officers assigned to deal with pesticide-related issues for the entire Island? Has he been made aware of the serious problem we have with ongoing fish kills? Is he aware of just how many of our island waterways are dying due to an overload of nitrates? Is he aware the eight violations that are being brought up on charges this year are the direct result of citizens calling these very things in, and not the result of citizens turning a blind eye to the problem and ‘leaving it up to the experts?’ In fact, Islanders know the socalled experts have failed us miserably insofar as protecting our land, water and air. Leaving it to the socalled experts is what got us into this mess. I dare say that this year, the amount of violations that would have been prosecuted would be zero had it not been for an informed and educated public. He deflects from the issue at hand by comparing our situation with that of people in developing countries, saying, “They have the real issues, not the residues we have here.” In a recent pesticide monitoring study 15 out of 33 pesticides were found in almost half the wells tested across P.E.I. Those “residues we have here,” have been responsible for rapidly accelerating nitrate level across the island, for fish kills too numerous to number, and many Islanders long-suffering with a plethora of health issues, all of which have been connected time and time again to pesticide exposure. So, no, we will not leave it to the experts. We will, instead, do our utmost to work with them to make the environment a priority and in turn protect the health of Islanders. It is our right and responsibility. Joan Diamond, Fairview
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 22:09:28 +0000

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