Pesticides
Video on "Pesticides"
BLOG: Pesticides are composed of "persistent organic pollutants" and are categorized as herbicides, fungicides and insecticides...all have "cide" as their suffix, which is results in death. Pesticides are potently toxic enough to have adverse even fatal effects on biodiversity, even in humans. Pesticides should be a controlled substance just like antibiotics. Antibiotics are potent enough to kill all bacteria, thus giving rise to other pathogens such as fungi and ameoba...etc. Use of pesticides requires strict monitoring.
Video on "European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)"
BLOG: According to the EFSA scientist in the video, pesticides contain "active substances" that are harmful and widely distributed in the environment. Pesticide residues in treated crop are carried from the field onto the table, or contaminate the water supply or are consumed by animals that humans consume. Compared to the U.S.A, Europe has stricter policies on the use of pesticides as they are tested before public distribution, then diligently monitored. Compared to the U.S.A, Europe is more experienced and mature when it comes to human rights and the quality of living, so the safety of food for the public is prioritized over profit making in the U.S.A.
Video on " The Pesticide Trap"
BLOG: This is a documentary that poignantly portrays the tragic cycle of destructive pesticide use in farming cotton in India. The pesticides don't only annihilate pests, but they also literally kill the Indian farmers and their families. Compared to the U.S.A the cotton industry in India and its reliance on pesticides and exploitation of its farmers are exponentially worse. It is appalling to know that the Indian government does nothing to regulate the corruption. This documentary shows the importance of public health policies and government in protecting the public. Apparently, the government in India has stooped to the level where it doesn't even protect its farmers.
Video on "Integrated Pest Management (IPM)"
BLOG: This video outlines "5 steps of IPM," which educates the public on alternatives to the use of pesticides in farming. This would be helpful to integrate in curriculum for farmers or agriculturists. Even for farmers who do not have a formal education on IPM, it methods could be disseminated by EPA or other environmental organizations. Prior to the development of pesticides and chemicals in agriculture, farming was an art and a science that required agriculturists to utilize the biodiversity to produce bountiful healthy harvests. These methods are ancient, but are just resurfacing with more popularity.
Recall your last night's meal. Go to this website and enter the foods that comprised your meal: http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/ The information on the site is based on foods that are NOT "organic".
For dinner, I blend and consume a smoothie composed of blueberries, rasberries, blackberries and bananas.
What did you find out about the pesticide residues that may be in or on your food?
BLUEBERRIES
52 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program
My dinner smoothie had 63 known pesticide residue. The other ingredients of blackberries and rasberries were not listed. What do you think about this? The reality of it is that it is frustrating! I try to eat healthy, yet the "healthy" food I consume is contaminated. It is discouraging. What should we be doing about this in terms of public health, not just in terms of our personal choices? There needs to be strict FDA and government PHDs to regulate chemical/pesticide use in American agriculture. Products from other countries that use hazardous chemicals and pesticides need to be boycott. This will force global change.
An extremely good idea to incorporate IPM in the curriculum for farmers and agriculturists. Its crazy that these techniques have been lost over time.
ReplyDeleteThe documentary on The Pesticide Trap was greatly disheartening because of the multitude of manufacturing violations and issues in India. In addition to this is the dyeing factories in Bangladesh that constantly expose their workers to the harmful chemicals in dyes. There are similar issues with the textile industry as well in several parts of India as well.
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