Letter: Keep chemicals off planning table
By Letters to the editor
To The Editor:
Our Provincial Government has notified us that invasive species of plants are the intended target of 24 chemicals to be used throughout our lands.
It is ironic that the company responsible for the use of these chemicals is known as Drinkwater. Indeed, the water and air will not be any better because of the planned use of these chemicals.
What are we thinking? How can plants from another place on Earth become so threatening, that we choose to use chemicals designed by profit-based science to ‘manage’ them?
Have we become stewards so impressed with our status as a primary species, that we are thus enabled to apply labels which arbitrarily yet convincingly impress and confuse the issue at hand. “Invasive,” “alien” and “noxious” are such loaded distractions. The goal of management does not rightfully assert panic over perception. The primary method of science remains observation. More irony: that the Ministry of Forests can’t see the forest for the trees! What are we doing?
The word ‘cancer’ was in past decades not even used in public. If mentioned at all, it was spoken in hushed tones, and was known as ‘C.’ Today we are barely surprised when this lump, bump, pain or thump is diagnosed as cancer. It’s not a leap to assume that every one of us has had or has someone close who now harbors cancer.
The ‘why’ of cancer continues to remain hidden. But we surely can’t be sure enough of our current beliefs to assume that the ‘approved’ chemicals are indeed safe to be applied to where we all live.
To tolerate the abandonment of common sense in the quest for tidy biology prevails at our continued peril. Not one of us will ‘get out of here alive,’ but why rush it?
The pest management proposal’s first two methods mentioned are certainly preferable to the chemical priorities, and within our scope of true husbandry, listed as mechanical and cultural. Certainly removal and discouragement are sustainable and respectful ways to work with the Earth we are privileged to enjoy.
Our Ministry of Forests needs to approach their obligations with integrity and awareness, and let the chemicals stay off the planning table.
Carefully yours,
Barry Salaberry, Penticton, BC
