From Green Planet FM

The chemicalisation of our society and the chemicalisation of New Zealand, our food, our bodies

Meriel Watts from Waiheke Island, trained in agricultural science before becoming a natural health practitioner and treating people poisoned by roadside sprays. She also co-ordinates the New Zealand branch of Pesticide Action Network, providing technical information to international organisations such as the United Nations.

Listen to one of only two full time, totally dedicated ‘volunteer’ activists against the chemical spraying of the thousands of kilometers of Auckland’s suburban streets and footpaths with dangerous herbicides.

This is another battle for the health of Auckland’s families as well as the ecology of the beaches, harbours and marine life, where the chemicals run off after rain.

Present focus:
Stopping the reintroduction of chemical weed management on roadsides and streets throughout the greater Auckland Council area, when for the last 14 years Auckland and the North Shore had a very successful non-chemical management system, and now the focus is getting Auckland Council region back onto non-chemical roadside weed management.

To get chlorpyrifos an insecticide banned in NZ where it is still used in agriculture, horticulture, on livestock and on roses, because prenatal exposures to even low levels interferes with brain development leaving children with neurological and behavioural issues that last a lifetime – like reduced IQ, ADHD, Autism.

READ MORE & LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW AT THE LINK:

https://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/dr-meriel-watts-on-chemical-road-sprays-in-auckland

Photo Credit: thanks to Marian Sutherland (Council spraying roadside)