Join GALAvanters in a trip to the NH State House to learn more about a few important bills regarding pesticide use, genetically modified seeds, and the rights of farmers.
On the morning of February 11th, 2010 starting at 8:15 a.m., the Environmental Committee at the State House will be taking testimony about the use of pesticides and how they pertain to children. The establishment of this committee will better enable our representatives to make informed decisions regarding pesticide use around places where children congregate. Also, if established, the committee will be able to recommend guidelines on how best to effectively and safely manage pest control issues in the future around schools and ball fields. Representatives from corporations such as Dow and Monsanto will likely be there to dispel myths or concerns surrounding pesticide use and could possibly enlighten us all when it comes to understanding the science behind pesticides.
I, for one, would be highly interested in learning more about why we shouldn’t be concerned about pesticide use around our children and am ready to have an open and honest conversation about it. Among those giving testimony will be Paul Tukey, who successfully installed an organic lawn on the National Mall in Washington,D.C. He is also co-owner of the franchise SafeLawns and owner of People, Places, and Plants magazine.
If you are interested in providing your viewpoint or would like to learn more about how pesticides do or do not affect children and the environment, please come along. If you wish to find out more about the companies that will be possible advocates for continuance of the status quo, please look at www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm If you wish to write a letter to the committee expressing your thoughts, please send it to P.O. Box 325 Sandwich, NH 03227 and I will see to it that it gets delivered. If you wish to provide support for this effort by being present, join or offer a carpool to the State House by visiting this link www.ridebuzz.org/galavanters.
Also, be sure to visit G.A.L.A.’s website here www.galacommunity.org to learn about other ways you can help build sustainable communities. Have a GREAT day! Hope to see you on Feb 11th @8:15.
Shawn Papp
Natural Landscapes & Lawncare
Other Links: Asthma, Children and Pesticides: color- http://www.beyondpesticides.org/children/asthma/asthma%20brochure%20high%20res.pdf
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/children/asthma/AsthmaBrochureCited.pdf
Schooling of State Pesticide Laws 2010 Update: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/schools/publications/Schooling2010.pdf
Pesticides in Our Homes and Schools: Are They Dangerous to Our Children? (brochure layout – print and fold):
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/schools/publications/pesticides-homes-schools-09.pdf
40 Most Commonly Used Pesticides in Schools: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/schools/publications/40SchoolPesticides.pdf
10 Myths About Pesticides in Schools: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/schools/publications/Ten_Myths.pdf
Shawn, It is great that you are doing this. The fact that 2-4D was once again dumped in back bay, poisoning the water so that business as usual , green expansive fake lawns and big boats can ruin our eco sytstem is a good example of why legislation is so important on this issue.
Many children swim in that lake and that should be the #1 concern of our community, not big lawns and fancy boats!
I’d be there if I could! MB
This is great topic if you want to educate your self on how pesticide chemistry has change over the past 20 years. Also educate your self about organics and understand a lot of the products that are label organic are not as safe as one would think. Organic fertilizer is made up of mostly chicken or turkey compost. Did you know that States are finding high amounts of heavy metals in this so called “safe alternative” to man made fertilizer? We all know how dangerous heavy metals can be, I’m sure you have heard of mercury and how it can casue autism. So don’t be so quick to jump to conclustion with out all the facts.
I can show you products that have no signal word on the label. What does that mean you ask? Just about all chemicals that are pesticides are labeled with caution, warning and danager. New chemistry is so safe there isn’t any signal words on the label. So safe you can use it at a school and a golf course. Golf is known for its over use of pesticides so this a great keep every one safe. This isn’t your fathers DDT. Have you noticed the amount of large birds the flying around? Ten years ago you didn’t see that many and 20 years ago forget it. Things are much safer then before and before every one crys wolf educate your self. What bothers me the most is Shawn looks like you have more to gain financially if this bill passes then you really do to care about the enviorment. If you are a educated landscaper I’m sure you would already known all of this. I have a feeling you are not license applicator in the State of NH and you know how hard that is to become a license holder. It is no walk in the park it takes you at least 5 years to be eligible to take the test for the licence. So great job on playing on peoples fears like this lady above who has no clue at about 2,4D or any other pesticides. If professional companies take their business seruiously they won’t pollute our environment. MB needs understand lawn care and not leave a ignorant comment about big lawns when your not educated on todays pesticides. This is a huge industry in our country and if you think the green industry isn’t working hard to make sure we keep out children safe then you are mistaken!
Mother Nature
Dear Mother Nature,
I sincerely appreciate your comments. I think that it is this respectful dialogue about this important subject that is going to create positive change. For the record, I do hold a supervisory level license in the State of New Hampshire and I have not had the need to use it once. I explained to the board of Pesticide Control during the examination five years ago, that I wanted to prove that someone could have the knowledge to gain certification to apply pesticides at the highest level, but the wisdom to refrain from this unnecessary behavior. I am still landscaping, my business is only expanding and I am not washing pesticide laden clothes in the same laundry of my child. Some of my customers have clover in their lawn and they haven’t fired me yet. Why? Firstly, because my customers understand that it is a vanity issue and don’t want to compromise their children’s health and secondly, because they like me and I like them and we have a mutual respect for the environment and one another. That is what this discussion is really about. It has been a struggle going against the grain for the past five years, but five years ago when I had had zero customers and had taken the pledge to not use pesticides, nobody accused me of being in it for the money.
Last words:
*1/3 of our honey bees lost- Imidicloprid? Most common insecticide used in U.S. due to the fact that Diazinon and Dursban have been deemed unsafe and banned by EPA.
*Over 60 million birds die directly or indirectly due to pesticides every year? Don’t migrating birds stop at golf courses, corn fields, and lawns and ingest pesticide laden grubs and worms. Connection?
*Milfoil: I live in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and we as landscapers cannot apply chemicals close to lake, yet we pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to put chemicals directly in the lake? The suspected carcinogen 2,4-D (other half of Agent Orange) no less which is banned in eight Countries. Not counties. Countries!
I’m at a loss and don’t understand where the disconnect is? Please respond and help me to understand.
Sincerely
Your friend,
Shawn Papp
Natural Landscapes and Lawncare
License #512
Well, well, well, it looks like mother nature has spoken
Seems like she thinks that pesticides are so safe (against the law to say that) that big birds are coming back. They must have come back 10 years ago with tickle me Elmo.
If you can show me labels with no signal word than I know you can tell me about triclopyr and gardens. I know acelepryn has no signal word (for now) until they want it in CA then it will need one nation wide.
Mother nature does it bother you when tryclopyr gets into our vegetables and does not break down.
I feel that you are a salesman of sorts in the pesticide trade. Follow your heart and not your 2,4-D sales goal.
I feel that you are a young salesman because experiences would have made you write this differently.
I think you should print this blog out and put it in your sock drawer. Take it out in 10 years or so and realize how foolish and arrogent you sounded in 2010