Environment Minister Richard Brown will be the guest speaker at the P.E.I. Environmental Health Co-operative annual meeting tonight at 7 at Colonel Gray High School in Charlottetown.
New lawn pesticide restrictions will come into effect on April 1 and people have concerns on both sides of the issue, says Marion Copleston, president of the Health Co-op.
"Many people think the new restrictions don't go far enough to protect human health and the environment, and others fear that maintaining healthy lawns without pesticides is not possible," she said.
She says Brown will explain the details of the new legislation
and regulations and answer questions.
"If people want stronger regulations, they need to make their views known to the minister, who has the power to amend the regulations," says Copleston.
The co-op, along with many other health and environmental groups, has been working for pesticide reduction for a number of years.
Health Co-op vice-president Mark MacDougall says many members suffer acute reactions when exposed to pesticides.
"We look forward to the day when they can walk safely in their neighbourhoods without fear of unwanted exposures, where children and pets can play on their healthy lawns without the risk of developing cancer and other diseases," said MacDougall.
For information on how to maintain a pesticide-free lawn, the public is also encouraged attend a future event with Paul Tukey from Maine (www.safelawns.org), who will be giving presentations on organic lawn care across the Island April 9-12.
Tonight's meeting will be held in the high school's lecture theatre.
There will be ample time for questions from the public. Admission is free.
At 8:30, everyone is welcome to stay for the 2010 annual meeting and those interested in the co-op's work are encouraged to become members.
For more information call 675-4093 or email peiehc@gmail.com.
The storm date is Wednesday, March 10.
Environment minister speaker at Environmental Health Co-op meeting tonight
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Comments
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- Slip
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:24:09
Guess my comments were too offensive for the Minister.Perhaps the Guardian just misplaced them.
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- In Awe
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:14:52
Richard has changed over the years... Hope he doesn't tart lying there tonight.
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- Dic Penderyn
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:26
From quote Others fear that maintaining healthy lawns without pesticides is not possible.
There appears to be confusion about the term Healthy Lawn I always thought a healthy lawn is one which is vibrant supporting worms and nutrients which allow growth of the weed we call grass.
How silly to poison our selves and neighbours just to have our weeds look so called picture perfect .
Wait until the cancer catches you and then see how you feel about pesticides and trying to control nature. -
- bannie
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:48:22
just wait another month or so and see the soil in our rivers and bays.
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- System Flawed
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:14
We've made our views over the years known!
The Chemical Companys put money in political Party's.
This Minister is no different, He'll do whatever he's told by the Powers to be.
He's really only concerned about his Image and EGO and getting what he wants, re-elected. O look at me Hmmm. -
- wonderful news
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:36:13
I'm so glad that Minister Brown is going to finally announce the provincial ban on import and use of all chemicals used for industrial and residential pesticides and fertilizers.....
Oh darn, I must have been reading a different news article about a place other than PEI.
Canada's Green Province - a joke if there ever was one.
And just go for a walk in the countryside this winter and see the fields that farmers plowed last fall oozing liquefied topsoil into our streams and rivers - maybe we can say we're the environmental bandits of Canada?
