Thank you Denise. We all need this information wherever we live. Great action recommendations for Iowa and every state that has commercial agricultural.
When I lived in Virginia, which was most of my life, a firm was hired for lawn "care" in my development. Its crew never wore protective clothing, nor did it consistently mark areas where it regularly applied Roundup, one of the absolutely worst creations, a known carcinogen for which there has been a class action. One day, not knowing the spraying had occurred, because there were no flags, I took our Westies out for a walk. Westies are known as "earth dogs" - they love to nose deep into the ground and dig. Unfortunately that day, one of the dogs wandered in an area that had been sprayed; he later died; as our vet told us, he had nothing that could counter Roundup's effect or the effects of any similar product. A neighbor's baby, playing in the grass, also became very ill but recovered. After doing some research, I discovered no laws existed that required flagging in townhome developments. I wrote a letter to the county about the issue and it held hearings, later lobbying in Richmond for a state law and granting the county the right to enact an ordinance. What did not happen is removal of Roundup from stores everywhere. I live in Ohio now and was appalled the first time I went to a gardening shop and found it for sale. Some of my neighbors use it on their lawns (they merely shrug when I mention its effects), and runoff from watering goes directly into the Ohio River. A steel mill regularly pollutes the air and water as well. I've developed chemical sensitivities I never had when I was young. I use nothing associated with harmful products on my property. People everywhere need to educate themselves and become informed and then agitate for change, especially now, when so many protective laws and policies are being rescinded.
When will we learn? More than 60 years since "Silent Spring" . . .and we're more chemically dependent than ever!
Agreed.
Thank you Denise. We all need this information wherever we live. Great action recommendations for Iowa and every state that has commercial agricultural.
Excellent piece, Denise. Thank you.
When I lived in Virginia, which was most of my life, a firm was hired for lawn "care" in my development. Its crew never wore protective clothing, nor did it consistently mark areas where it regularly applied Roundup, one of the absolutely worst creations, a known carcinogen for which there has been a class action. One day, not knowing the spraying had occurred, because there were no flags, I took our Westies out for a walk. Westies are known as "earth dogs" - they love to nose deep into the ground and dig. Unfortunately that day, one of the dogs wandered in an area that had been sprayed; he later died; as our vet told us, he had nothing that could counter Roundup's effect or the effects of any similar product. A neighbor's baby, playing in the grass, also became very ill but recovered. After doing some research, I discovered no laws existed that required flagging in townhome developments. I wrote a letter to the county about the issue and it held hearings, later lobbying in Richmond for a state law and granting the county the right to enact an ordinance. What did not happen is removal of Roundup from stores everywhere. I live in Ohio now and was appalled the first time I went to a gardening shop and found it for sale. Some of my neighbors use it on their lawns (they merely shrug when I mention its effects), and runoff from watering goes directly into the Ohio River. A steel mill regularly pollutes the air and water as well. I've developed chemical sensitivities I never had when I was young. I use nothing associated with harmful products on my property. People everywhere need to educate themselves and become informed and then agitate for change, especially now, when so many protective laws and policies are being rescinded.
Wow, Maureen. I’m sorry about your dog. Round-up is dangerous. And your chemical sensitivities . . . Thank you for your activism on this subject.
Thank you Mary.
Well done, Denise.
Excellent! Very timely, Denise.