Measure 17-63: Should Josephine County ban pesticides? (Vote 2014)
Yes: Proposed legislation simply advocating for a healthy ecosystem we all depend on to thrive
Once again, big corporations think they own Josephine County. They are using scare tactics and lies to dissuade voters from knowing the truth about Measure 17-63.
In May, it was about protecting corporate GMOs — a destructive pesticide delivery system, among other harmful impacts to our health, environment, and economy. Thankfully, common sense prevailed and voters sent GMOs and the lies they rode in on packing, in order to protect our food, farms and future.
We appreciate the recent news release put out by Josephine County commissioners, in which they say, "Most probably agree that the access to, and unregulated (keep in mind that "regulated" pesticides doesn't mean safe) use of a wide variety of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals does seem to expose Josephine County residents to potential serious risks both known and unknown."
Though we believe they are sincere when they say "serious risks both known and unknown", they then go on to place doubt in the minds of voters by taking issue with the constitutionality of Measure 17-63.
Measure 17-63 is anchored to Article I, Section I of Oregon's Constitution: "We declare that all men when they form a social contract are equal in right: that all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; and they have at all times a right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper."
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Preemptive laws such as the Right to Farm and Forest Act and Senate Bill 863, crafted by big corporations and implemented by Salem politicians, take away our right to healthy air, water, soil, food and bodies.
For that reason we have boldly stepped into the fray of changing such damaging laws on the grounds of our state Constitution. Measure 17-63 was written to protect the health and future of our county, exactly as our constitutional framers advised.
The real issue not mentioned by our commissioners nor acknowledged by the corporate opposition is rights, while at the same time we bear witness to Salem's continuous actions taking them away, one by one.
Measure 17-63 offers voters the right to say no to the toxic poisons forced upon us by corporations and Salem.
In addition, not unlike the district attorney's misleading summary of Measure 17-63, the commissioners also imply the bill includes "possible inclusion of private property." Measure 17-63 clearly exempts private residential property use of nonrestricted pesticides.
Measure 17-63 is not only far from unconstitutional, it is also far from extreme, as you will most likely be hearing ad nauseam by the corporate opposition.
What is extreme is being forced to live with toxic pesticides.
What is extreme is a state that touts health while allowing known hazardous chemical practices to continue year after year.
What is extreme is a state that ignores its own history of chemical trespass.
What is extreme is a state that supports and protects practices — at the bidding and through the lobbying power of corporations — known to cause health issues, all directly linked to pesticides, such as asthma, allergies, kidney disease, heart failure, infertility, Parkinson's, cancer, birth defects, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism and hyperactivity — all linked to pesticides. See http://preciousdirt.org/?page_id=836 for more information on this issue.
For well over 50 years we have literally bought into the Orwellian propaganda that toxic poisons designed to kill living things were needed in agricultural farming and beyond. We need to realize the entire poison/pesticide scenario is one huge lie. Poisons designed to kill are not safe, not for our food, our air, water, our precious soil and certainly not our bodies.
Using toxic poisons to kill is a choice.
Using more and more, in stronger doses as they fail, is a choice.
Mixing them into chemical cocktails, never tested for safety ever, is a conscious choice.
However, that choice, up until Measure 17-63, hasn't been ours, the citizens of Josephine County.
We not only never gave our consent, we certainly never approved of the laws crafted to take away our right to even resist these poisons.
Measure 17-63 is simply advocating for our right to healthy air, water, soil and bodies.
Measure 17-63 is simply advocating for our right to a healthy ecosystem which is the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil we depend upon to sustain our lives and thrive.
Measure 17-63 is about life. It's that simple. Vote yes on Measure 17-63. Vote yes for life.
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Audrey Moore of Selma was the chief petitioner for Measure 17-63.Grants Pass Daily Courier – Measure 17-63: Should Josephine County ban pesticides? Vote 2014.