City’s Bold Stand Against Genetically-Modified Crops Not Based On Science
June 13th, 2012
Letter to the Editor
Richmond Review
Richmond, British Columbia
Re: “City takes bold, progressive stand on frankenfoods,” Editorial, May 24.
In my humble opinion this is yet another example of city councils getting involved in issues that are well beyond their mandate and passing by-laws and regulations that are at best unenforceable and at worst an affront to our intelligence.
It’s the same approach that Richmond council adopted to ban “cosmetic” pesticides.
As the author of a report to Vancouver city council some years back on how to resolve the concerns attributed to the application of lawn maintenance chemicals on private property, we ( Dr. Blatherwick and I ) promoted a “Blue Box” type approach ( which council rejected in favour of a largely unenforceable and unenforced bylaw ).
To us in the public health community, we had concluded, on the basis of evidence, that any health risks potentially associated with public exposure to lawn and garden pesticides were very low and could best be addressed through education, promotion of lowest toxicity pesticides, and influencing the federal government to deregister certain applications ( such as combination fertilizer/weed killer products ) and speed up the registration of lowest or no toxicity products.
We also noted that a number of major chains had already been moving toward only selling the “low toxicity” or “non-toxic” sprays ( e.g. Home Depot, Loblaws ).
While the “bold, progressive stand” taken by Richmond council on genetically engineered goods was applauded by editorialists, it is another example of public policy that is not based on science, was influenced by false and misleading explanations of how these products might affect the public’s health or food supply, and ends up being largely “window-dressing” for the anti-everything movement.
Domenic Losito
Richmond
http://www.richmondreview.com/opinion/letters/158972805.html
COMMENTS
Health Canada, and NOT Arzeena Hamir and Canadian Cancer Society, has THE ESSENTIAL EXPERTISE on the subject of pest control products.
Both Hamir and Canadian Cancer Society are RIDICULOUSLY IMPLYING that their NON-EXPERT ASSESSMENT is somehow being withheld from Health Canada and EVERY other regulatory agency in the world.
The following educational, regulatory, research, scientific, and trade agencies have SUPPORTED or VALIDATED the concept that pest control products are SCIENTIFICALLY-SAFE ● American Chemical Society ● American Council for Science and Health ● American Cancer Society ● British Columbia's Special Committee On Cosmetic Pesticides ● Canadian Medical Association ● CropLife Canada ● Health Canada ● Institute of Public Affairs ● International Agency for Research on Cancer ● Ontario Pesticides Advisory Committee ● The Fraser Institute ● U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ● World Health Organization.
INDISPUTABLE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH shows that, as reported through Health Canada’s VAST TOXICOLOGY DATABASE, NO HARM WILL OCCUR when pest control products are used according to label directions.
The RISK ASSESSMENT of pest control products indicates that they are PRACTICALLY-NON-TOXIC.
There is NOT ONE KNOWN ILLNESS or DEATH from the proper use of pest control products used in the Urban Landscape.
Hamir has HUGE VESTED INTERESTS IN PERPETUATING IMAGINARY DANGERS against genetically-modified crops and pest control products BECAUSE SHE IS PAID TO DO SO.
Hamir is the ULTIMATE WINNER since she BENEFITS from PAY-OFF PROGRAMS provided by Canadian Cancer Society.
DEMANDS are being made for Hamir to release her TAX-RECORDS for the last five years, which covers the period of time that she would have been PAID-FOR-PROFIT as a LOBBYIST for Canadian Cancer Society.
There will be NO RECOURSE but OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS AND LITIGATION against Hamir.
Let Hamir FEEL THE TERROR OF THE COURTS and THE SPOTLIGHT OF SCRUTINY.
WILLIAM H. GATHERCOLE AND NORAH G
NORAHG is the National Organization Responding Against HUJE that seek to harm the Green space industry.
NORAHG is a NATIONAL NON PROFIT NON PARTISAN organization that does not accept money from corporations or governments or trade associations, and represents NO VESTED INTERESTS WHATSOEVER.
NORAHG is dedicated to reporting the work of RESPECTED and HIGHLY RATED EXPERTS who promote ENVIRONMENTAL REALISM and PESTICIDE TRUTHS.
THE PESTICIDE TRUTHS WEB-SITE
PESTICIDE BANS ARE A FARCE ( Report )
THE COMPLETE LIBRARY OF REPORTS & REFERENCES