Australian government caught spraying highly-dangerous, illegal chemicals on fragile wetlands
Australia is often reputed as having one of the most effective
regulatory systems in the world for ensuring the safe use of chemicals.
But it recently came to our attention that a regional government body in
the state of Queensland has decided to develop its own
endocrine-disrupting herbicide solution, which it is now spraying across
large swaths of the area’s coastal region to target an invasive weed
species, that is alsopoisoning plants, animals and potentially even
humans.
Australia is often reputed as having one of the most effective
regulatory systems in the world for ensuring the safe use of chemicals.
But it recently came to our attention that a regional government body in
the state of Queensland has decided to develop its own
endocrine-disrupting herbicide solution, which it is now spraying across
large swaths of the area’s coastal region to target an invasive weed
species, that is alsopoisoning plants, animals and potentially even
humans.
Gloricide has never been properly safety tested, it turns out, and
many say it does not even work at eliminating the gloriosa lily, an
estimate that happens to be backed by science. And yet, at the same
time, Gloricide is needlessly putting numerous desired plant and animal
species at risk, including endangered species like the
chemical-sensitive acid frog, which resides all along Australia’s
Sunshine Coast.
“Gloricide is very dangerous to the health of all animals, especially
frogs that absorb the chemical through their skin,” explains a petition
trying to ban the use of the unapproved chemical.
“The council has created this toxic chemical cocktail
without testing it and is using it without care or caution. We are
breathing in this toxic chemical when we go to the park and swimming in
it when it leaches out through the dunes into the ocean.”
Former environmental director fired for refusing to poison Australia’s wetlands
Back in 2011, the director of an environmental company contracted by
SCRC to apply Gloricide was fired for refusing to spray it throughout
Australia’s sensitive dune network. Adam Presnell, former director of
ATP Environmental, told the media at the time that Gloricide was being
used “widely and indiscriminately,” and that the
chemical solution creates a “massively high risk to life and the
environment.”
“There is a highly risky culture emerging in council and in the bush
regeneration industry, and is starting to closely resemble chemical
cowboys — kill it with chemicals any way you can, ask questions later,”
explained Presnell to reporters, noting that the chemicals used in
Gloricide are especially toxic to aquatic animals.
As far as we can tell, Gloricide is still being used in the Sunshine
Coast without approval, and the national government of Australia is
doing little, if anything, to stop it. Various state and federal government bodies
claim that the issue is outside their jurisdiction, which means SCRC is
free to continue haphazardly using the toxic chemical blend without
penalty.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au
http://allevents.in
Source: NaturalNews.com/Pakalertpress
Thanks to: http://aworldchaos.wordpress.com