NEWS > EVENTS
AUSTRALIA
Multiple
Chemical Sensitivity and Herbicide Protest
December 2nd 2005
The SA Task Force on MCS will hold a public health rally on Friday
Dec 2 at midday outside Local Government House, 16 Hutt St, Adelaide.
The rally calls on all local Councils to end the routine use of
herbicides in residential areas and to respect the disability rights
of people with MCS to safely access public streets and parks without
the threat of serious health problems due to herbicide exposure.
Fliers for the event are attached.
A recent Parliamentary Inquiry into multiple chemical sensitivity
in SA found that herbicides are associated with MCS as both a cause
of MCS and a symptom trigger. The inquiry was presented with Department
of Health records to show that herbicides such as glyphosate used
extensively by local Councils in weed control can trigger symptoms
of MCS. The inquiry recommended that local Councils establish No-Spray
Registers to identify people with MCS in local communities and that
the federal government conduct research into safer methods of weed
control than those currently in use. A full copy of the Inquiry
findings can be accessed at:
http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/committees/committee.asp?doCmd=show&intID=45
(see link to Tabled Reports).
Based on the results of the Inquiry the SA Task Force on MCS believes
that the widespread use of herbicides in residential areas can no
longer be justified on public health and disability access grounds.
If there is evidence that herbicides are associated with
MCS and that these chemicals are so dangerous for a disabled minority
of the population to require No-Spray Registers, why are they being
sprayed routinely and extensively around our streets and homes?
For more information on the health risks of herbicides / pesticides
and the international movement for pesticide reform please see Beyond
Pesticides at http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/activist/index.htm
Please show your support for environmental public health and the
disability needs of people with MCS by attending the rally on Dec
2 and forwarding this notice to your information networks.
Contact:
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TASK FORCE ON MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY
Address: PO Box 3308 Port Adelaide SA 5015,
Phone: 8240 5084, E-mail: satfmcs@optusnet.com.au
INTERNATIONAL
The first Conference of Parties (COP1) for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants will be held in Uruguay from May 2-6th 2005.
The third preparatory conference (PrepCom3) for the Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management will be held in Vienna from September 12-16th 2005.
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