Pesticides, the Law and You
Of all of humanity’s technological innovations, pesticides are among the most controversial and contentious. A farmer may view pesticides as being an essential part of modern agriculture. A property owner may appreciate how chemicals rid their lawns of dandelions. An environmental or health activist might view them as an unnecessary poison that harms our communities. There are strong feelings all around.
Regardless of one’s own position, pesticides, many of which are highly toxic and dangerous, are regulated at all levels of government.
West Coast receives many pesticide-related queries each year. Members of the public are concerned about the risks of commercial and home pesticide use in our communities and they want to know what avenues are available to them to counter the threats posed by these toxins.
Public concern is well-founded. Even advocates of pesticides concede that many pesticides are powerful chemicals, which, if used improperly, can have serious health and environmental impacts. Added to that, the fact that federal and provincial pesticide legislation has recently undergone substantial revisions highlights the need for a comprehensive, yet understandable, citizen’s guide to pesticides and the law.
With funding from the Notary Foundation of BC and CNC Sales & Repair Inc., West Coast recently produced and published just such a guide.
A Citizen’s Guide to Pesticide Use and the Law in BC reviews federal, provincial and local government law and regulation with respect to pesticides, as well as opportunities for public participation and input with respect to pesticide use at each level.
Some of the Guide’s highlights include:
- Overview of pesticides and their use
- Links to other organizations with detailed information about various aspects of pesticides
- A summary table of legal authorizations
- A checklist of Pesticide Management Plan (PMP) content
- An example of a model bylaw for communities
West Coast recognizes that not all pesticides, properly used, have a negative health or environmental effect. Nor do we dismiss the fact that many farmers, foresters, and other pesticide users view pesticides as essential to their business.
A Citizen’s Guide to Pesticide Use and the Law in BC is now available on West Coast’s website at
http://www.wcel.org/wcelpub/2007/14256.pdf. If you are interested in partnering with West Coast on distribution, or perhaps hosting a community presentation of the Guide, please contact us at 1-800-330-WCEL or
admin@wcel.org.
– Andrea Wilkinson
Contents:
The gift that keeps giving, and giving, and giving...
We are grateful to all our donors and supporters, but each month, we
say a special thank you to the members of our West Coast Protectors’
Club. These special donors make small monthly donations to our operating
costs, through an automatic withdrawal from their chequing account or VISA
card. It’s a very simple way to give, and also very painless.
For example, you might allow us to draw just $10 a month from your
account (about the price of one movie, or two lunches, or three coffees).
You’ll hardly notice the money is gone, and at year-end, when we send
you a tax-deductible receipt, you’ll have made a significant
contribution of $120!
And the value of your monthly donation to us goes beyond the face value
of your gift. We can reduce renewal notices to monthly donors (saving
paper and other resources), and your generous gift provides an ongoing,
reliable source of operating funds, allowing us to focus our attention on
emerging and critical issues.
The Protectors’ Club is critical to West Coast’s long-term plans.
It is our most reliable and important means of support on a month to month
basis. We invite you to now become part of this important program. Your
gift, of any amount, is greatly appreciated. However you choose to give,
thank you.
If you have a credit card, we can accept your donation online!
To make a tax-creditable donation to West Coast, click
here, and you will be taken to our secure, encrypted payment
page.
For more information about benefits and how to get started, call us at
604-684-7378 in Vancouver and 1 800 330-WCEL toll-free
throughout British Columbia.
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