Organizations seek elimination of pesticides

Organizations continue to fight for a ban on the use of hazardous pesticides, although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to ban the use of the notorious pesticide chlorpyrifos on most food products, allowing it only on 11 food and feed crops.

This initiative follows years of negotiations between the agency and the courts over the risks of this hazardous chemical associated with negative effects on children’s neurological development.

The measure seeks to comply with a court order that qualifies certain agricultural uses as safe, but environmental organizations criticize the restrictions because they say they are insufficient to protect children, farm workers and drinking water sources, and demand a complete ban.

Angel Garcia, co-director of Californians for Pesticide Reform, acknowledges that California is more protected than other states.

How to protect public health and citizens, he talks about the EPA’s determination to only allow 11 uses, so he laments that the decision maintains risks and should not be allowed.

Talk about Chlorpyrifos has been around for years and the harmful effects are known, but why not do the right thing from the start, hear from Angel Garcia co-director of Californians for Pesticide Reform.

He talks about recent examples of industry influence on government.

Angel Garcia, co-director of Californians for Pesticide Reform, points out that domestic use was banned but not in agriculture.

Ángel García, comments on the impacts on water contamination and says that within the network they advocate for government programs that support alternative agriculture such as organic agriculture.

Finally, he emphasizes that a food system is needed but without neglecting the health of the people who work in the fields and are exposed to the dangers of pesticides.