Minister Hedderson briefed by Dow Chemical?

I am sure many of you heard Minister of Transportation, Tom Hedderson either on a talk show or in the media this week displaying his educational prowess regarding Tordon 101.

This of course was in response to the public outcry over the province's current spray program.

He talked about litres of blueberries and Vitamin A as he painted a rosy picture of a pesticide.

He then suggested that when the province had banned use in domestic gardens - it was not as a health precaution but rather it was excessive and really unnecessary use.

Now if as the Minister suggests there are no health risks when applied by "professionals" then why was the Minister worried about excessive or unnecessary use? Is the Minister stepping in as "big brother"? If there are no health risks and you can eat it smell it and otherwise have it sprayed around hunting, fishing, and recreational areas what's the problem with peoples' yards?

I figured the briefing notes that some Ministers actually request and read - must have been stellar.

I figured that bureaucrats up and down the line from various departments must have been working on this material.

Now imagine my complete disappointment that the briefing notes were available to everybody. They were originally prepared by Dow Chemicals.

If you have the time and interest just visit the following two sites and read for yourself about the blueberries and Vitamin A. They sound so familiar - I thought Dow Chemical must be transcribing our Minister's commentary. 

Press Here Document 1

Press Here Document 2




Now it also includes information like the poison sign above and the following text:

MAY CAUSE SKIN AND EYE IRRITATION
HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED
MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN
DO NOT GET IN EYES
AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND CLOTHING
AVOID BREATHING SPRAY MIST
DO NOT INHALE FUMES

Not to worry though - the Minister has it under control - right?

So after I discovered that our elected officials were relying on information provided by the chemical company itself - I was a little disturbed.

Then there was my favorite note:

NOTICE TO USER: This pest control product is to be used only in accordance with the directions on the label. It is an offence under the Pest Control Products Act to use this product in a way that is inconsistent with the directions on the label. The user assumes the risk to persons or property that arises from any such use of this product.

So needless to say I had to look further for information not derived from the chemical company itself. I would strongly recommend that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians read the following information provided by "Beyond Pesticides" a group described as:

Beyond Pesticides (formerly National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides) works with allies in protecting public health and the environment to lead the transition to a world free of toxic pesticides.  The founders, who established Beyond Pesticides as a nonprofit membership organization in 1981, felt that without the existence of such an organized, national network, local, state and national pesticide policy would become, under chemical industry pressure, increasingly unresponsive to public health and environmental concerns.  

Press Here Document 3 

Press Here Document 4 

The group consists of volunteer professionals such as medical doctors, Ph.D's, and lawyers and is staffed by exceptionally experienced and credentialed individuals. To read more about their expertise and compare it to that of the Minister's please review the following:

Press Here Document 5

I think I will continue to do my own research on the potential health and environmental dangers of this pesticide and not rely on the words of the chemical company that produced it. 

Who will you trust?