Remember, as a child, how we delighted when we saw dandelions in the lawn? Possibly our parents gave us an allowance if we pulled them with a tool. Remember how weeds would pop up in the sidewalk and we’d use a knife to clear them from the cracks? It took time. We had to bend over. We had to use a tool. It took labor and we burned calories.
Then, in the 1970s (and to the demise of health and the possible death of untold people and animals), Monsanto convinced us they had a better idea. Roundup, aka glyphosate, became our savior. Why do manual labor when we can spray Roundup—glyphosate? Why hire laborers to till or hoe when you can hire far fewer laborers to spray Roundup—glyphosate?
Around 2000, Monsanto’s patent expired, and now glyphosate is ubiquitous and marketed under numerous names. Glyphosate is now estimated to be throughout our food chain, in every brand of California wine, and now seeping into our water supply. Poison now penetrates our systems and causes untold negative results.
In early April, Los Angeles County supervisors placed a moratorium on the use of glyphosate until the effect on health is better understood. It’s time for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties to do the same. Poison kills weeds, animals, people—our earth.
Ethel Landers
Arroyo Grande
This article appears in Apr 11-21, 2019.
Agree! Well said!
Im proud to say we live in a county that leads the state in banning environmental pollutants like plastic bags and smoking in public places. Its time for us to stand up again and join LA county in the ban on Glysophate. The first thing all of us can do is STOP buying Roundup! Let’s vote with our wallets!