Get rid of ROUND UP - Dear Bellingen Shire Council . . .

Writing to Bellingen Shire Council or any other council for that matter is a good idea if you want to instigate some changes along the way.  I have produced a form letter and would like to see this replicated by many and sent to council imploring them to look at their unsavory practices around weed control.

Understanding the Kerb Sides

My partner has done the Noxious weeds course and he tells me himself the best way is to pull it out by the roots.  We all have become too soft and expect an easier way.  Easy ways constitute major issues with herbicides and pesticides and that is the long and the short of it. 

Here is the letter constructed for COUNCIL .... Perhaps if you read this you will download this form letter and send copies yourself asap to this or your own council.

Pass this link on to others: 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rybd50cm06nr8/ROUND%20UP%20TO%20COUNCIL.doc

17 October 2013

Mary Ellen Peters
14 Morgo Street
Urunga NSW 2455

The General Manager
Bellingen Shire Council
33-39 Hyde Street
PO Box 117
Bellingen NSW  2454

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you out of concern at Bellingen Shire Council’s continued and routine use of the herbicide Roundup. I believe we are a progressive shire, and the weight of evidence, after numerous studies, has come down firmly that Round Up is a chemical dangerous to the environment and to human health. It persists in waterways and is an endocrine disruptor in mammals, including humans.

But for example: a recent study published in the Journal of Toxicology in Vitro found that even at low levels, Roundup destroys testosterone and ultimately leads to male infertility (in laboratory animals). The findings add to the more than 25 other diseases known to be linked to Roundup, which include DNA damage, birth defects, liver dysfunction and cancer. 

The researchers found that at one ppm, Roundup was responsible for causing severe endocrine disruption that reduced testosterone levels by 35 percent. A one ppm exposure level is considered to be extremely low, and much lower than typical exposure levels in everyday environmental situations.

A US Geological Survey study in 2011 concluded that that air, rainwater and rivers across the Midwest US agricultural belt are routinely contaminated with high levels of glyphosate (Roundup), and causing "significant" environmental contamination.

At typical exposure levels, it has been proven to destroy human cells and cause serious reproductive harm. And at trace levels, it has been proven to severely disrupt proper hormonal function and lead to low testosterone in men.

What is Roundup doing to us, and our children?

Sir, if you cannot answer this question, I believe the precautionary principle must come into play and you must remove Roundup from the Shire’s chemical arsenal immediately.

I look forward to you acting on this matter of extreme health and environmental importance to us and future generations.

Yours sincerely

Mary-Ellen Peters

URUNGA

Link to Survey (http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2909#.T-kOzI4rxFI )

Corner of Gleniffer Road and Roses Road Bellingen Shire

Images at Eminpee Fotography