Green Space
by Scott Fisher
U.S. Goes Rootin', Tootin', Pesticide Shootin' in Columbia
Our country is supposedly in a war
to eradicate terrorism, whether it is committed by Al Qaeda, or
some 'rogue' state. But, with 'Plan Colombia,' the U.S. seems to
be the rogue state this time around.
Acting along with the Colombian government, our country is indiscriminately
spraying the herbicide glyphosate, also known as Roundup, over vast
areas of southern Colombia, including towns, villages, and farms.
Innocent people and animals, as well as food crops, are suffering
the negative effects of this spraying.
Problems believed to be caused by the spraying include severe bleeding,
nausea and vomiting, testicular inflammation, high fevers, dizziness,
respiratory ailments, skin rashes, and severe eye irritation. The
spraying may also have caused birth defects and miscarriages. Several
independent peer reviewed studies on glyphosate, such as one done
by Swedish scientists Hardell and Eriksson, have found that it is
linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as gene mutations and
chromosomal aberrations, according to Rachel's Environment &
Health Weekly #660.
The Media Awareness Project says that four regional governors from
Colombia, visiting Washington recently, have strongly criticized
the American-backed aerial assault to eradicate thousands of acres
of illegal coca and poppy plantations, as reported by the BBC World
Service online. The governors called for an alternative approach,
pointing out the serious health effects that are occurring amongst
the populace in these regions. Also, instead of making coca farmers
go out of business, the spraying is only causing the growers to
relocate to other areas.
Earthjustice has asked the UN Commission on Human Rights to seek
a halt to the U.S./Colombian aerial application program and to consider
alternatives, according to the <usfumigation.org> web site.
'Sadly, the United States and Colombia are saying that this strategy
is more important than the health, livelihood, and environment of
Colombian and Ecuadorian rural communities,' Scott Pasternack, Associate
Attorney with Earthjustice's International Program says. 'The State
Department has concealed information about the true toxicity of
the spray mixture and has failed to conduct proper environmental
and health assessments.'
And to make the point more personal, Doctors without Borders recently
sent me an appeal, accompanied by a large poster. On the poster
was a photograph of a baby being examined by a doctor, with the
caption 'An Aponte Indian child shows signs of skin disease after
government spraying of area crops, part of the effort to eradicate
coca and poppy plants. This Colombian community was sprayed twice
in 2000.'
But the U.S. State Department will
hear none of this. They say on their web site
www.state.gov/www/regions/wha/
colombia/fs_010117_faqs.html
'Glyphosate is in fact one of the least harmful herbicides to appear
on the world market. Toxicological studies have shown that glyphosate
is less toxic than common salt, aspirin, caffeine, nicotine, and
even vitamin A.'
Glyphosate less toxic than vitamin A? Better throw your One-a-Days
away, then.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH -- Anything else you are interested in is
not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water.
Don't sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate
alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet.'
--Carl Sagan