HUNGRY FOR CHANGE

PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP YOU ALL CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT THE FOOD
THAT YOU BUY ( & EAT)

How much do we really know about the food we buy at our local
supermarkets and serve to our families?


In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on
our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized unde...rbelly
that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our
government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply
is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit
ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the
safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted
chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even
tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the
harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans
annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among
children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

http://www.takepart.com/foodinc

SCHOOL CHILDREN AT RISK

Tatib was recently contacted by some mothers, who have children at a Montessori School situated on a wine farm in Durbanville. It has been alleged that some of the children, including a teacher, have fallen ill as a result of the products sprayed on the vineyards adjacent to the school. It has been confirmed by the school that spray drift is indeed a problem and that the children are brought indoors during the spraying. The problem with this, is that once the children go out to play after the spraying as been completed, they will come into contact with the potentially toxic residues of what was sprayed. Many pesticides remain active (on surfaces) for days and weeks. Its been well documented, that children are more vulnerable to the effects of pesticides They eat and drink more per Kg of body weight, have higher metabolisms, their skin is more permeable and their livers do not excrete as efficiently as adults. Their hand-to-mouth behaviour increases the chance of ingestion and their dermal contact is increased because of a proportionally larger skin surface, and because they play on the ground outdoors. Recently another Montessori School opened on the grounds of a prominent farm in Somerset West. The Lourens River runs through this farm, and a study undertaken by The University of Stellenbosch and a German University, indicated high levels of 3 organophosphates (nerve toxins) found in this river. Tatib requested a spray list from both farms on which the two Montessori Schools are situated and in this regard the following products have been sprayed : Folpan, Sovrin Flo, Topaz, Mamba, Spiral, Thiovit, Korog, Legend, Hygrobuff, Dithane, Rootmaster, Prosper, Phopshite, Acarol, Goemar, Switch, Nufilm, Misaxinal, Tokuthion, Citrole , Budbreak, Dormex, Chlorpyriphos, Judo, Bumper, Solubor, Manganese Sulphate, Zinc Oxide, Azinophos Methyl, Cypermethrin, Indar, Roval Flo, Zinc Max, Score, Bulldock, Kaptan Flo, Fundazol, Cascade, C.O.C , Chorus, Nimrod, Stroby, Goldenthin, Promalin, Sevin, Nustar,Cascade, Caltrac, Altacor, Penncap M, Droper, Calypso, Calcium Nitrate & Runner. There are few organophosphate "nerve toxins" on the list - one of which has been banned for residential use in South Africa due to the fact that it is so highly toxic. These are certainly not pesticides that should be sprayed anywhere near children. Clearly the current locations of the schools is the problem - they should not be anywhere near a working farm where agricultural chemicals are sprayed. These are private schools for affluent people . What about those other rural farm schools, in poorer communities - where the kids are the farm workers go. How are they going to be protected?

ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

Here is  an interesting & informative link :

http://attra.ncat.org/

GEORGINA DOWNS : UK PESTICIDES CAMPAIGN

Georgina Downs    (  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/7729112.stm)

of  UK Pesticides Campaign   : www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk  has asked us for comments on the following:-

http://www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk/documents/InformationOnPesticidesCo.doc

(It is currently the first link on the website itself at www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk)

The DEFRA consultation is only open until the 4th May 2010. The link to the DEFRA Consultation itself is at:- http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consu lt/pesticides/index.htm

As you will see from the briefing the DEFRA Consultation Document does contain the option for a number of key measures in relation to residents including:-

Ø the option for the prohibition of pesticide use in areas used by the general public or vulnerable groups. (NB. The distance of the no-spray area needs to be substantial);

Ø the option for a new legal obligation for farmers and other pesticide users to provide information to residents and others on the pesticides used. (NB. This needs to be direct access as third party access is not acceptable);

Ø the option for a new legal obligation for farmers and other pesticide users to provide residents with prior notification before pesticide spraying (NB. This needs to be at least 48 hours in advance as it currently is for the protection of bees);

Considering the DEFRA Consultee List is predominantly all chemical companies and other industry bodies (no surprise there!!) it really is critical that the UK Government hears from as many members of the public who are affected or concerned about pesticides as possible even if it is just a short email containing some key points.

The industry is pushing hard for the UK Government to only introduce voluntary measures and so it needs as many people as possible to counter that to make sure the Government know that it is mandatory measures that have to be introduced as voluntary measures do not work, have not worked, however many times they are repackaged etc.