Safe, Non-toxic Pest Control Methods Must be Fast Tracked

Helen Wiseman-Dare, Chairperson, West Aucklanders Against Aerial Spraying said today that the rise in the number of foreign pests entering the country, and MAF's demonstrated inability to keep them out necessitated the urgent development of safe, non-toxic pest control methods.

All available scientific expertise should be urgently enlisted to work on the development of pheromones, parasitoids, beneficial viruses, fungi and other biological controls as are already being used overseas and in horticulture for other pests.

Also mating disruption techniques including sprayable plastic flakes or beads, plus mass trapping should all be utilised and if necessary fast-tracked through ERMA.

The lack of all these alternatives has resulted in the situation in Auckland where hundreds of thousands of residents are now being aerially sprayed weekly. Spraying has continued for over a year and it now appears obvious that the Painted Apple Moth has become resistant to Btk (which commonly occurs overseas) aggravated by the unprecedented amount of spraying that has taken place.

Also all second-hand equipment and vehicles being brought into the country should be barred from entry unless they have been thoroughly cleaned and fumigated at the port of origin with certification to prove it. Many of the pests entering the country are coming in by these means. Reports have been published of equipment coming in with earth and debris still on it.

West Aucklanders Against Aerial Spraying are planning an Anti Aerial Spraying Protest March on Saturday 29 March, assembling 11.00 am corner Hopetoun St and Ponsonby Rd. Marchers will proceed up Ponsonby Rd to Judith Tizard's office (Minister of Auckland Issues). They will be calling on the government to stop the spraying immediately, until the planned Ministry of Health study into the health effects of the spray proves the spray is safe.

Tell us more about overseas reactions to Foray 48B used in the United States, Canada, Europe and here to wipe out pests like the Painted Apple Moth.

The active ingredient of Foray 48B is Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk), an organism which is the same family as anthrax and cereus, organisms occurring naturally in soil, air and water. Scientists know that genes can exchange between them and cause cross contamination.

Btk is grown in a nutrient brew that includes common food materials to which some people have experienced severe allergic reactions.

It contains soy. All American soy is GE.

Foray 48B consists of 97.9% secret chemical ingredients. We’re not allowed to know their names due to commercial sensitivity. We believe they include ingredients used in food and cosmetics which have now been found to be toxic. None of these have been tested for inhalation.

This spray MAF is using to wipe out the Painted Apple Moth has been banned in Canada and residents in other cities and states have been opposing its use for 30 years. In Scandinavia Btk is known as the “black sheep of Bio-pesticides”.

Thousands of people have experienced adverse health effects including many who had no pre-existing conditions. Some people are now experiencing asthma for the first time. Doctors in the spray zone are reporting a 50% increase in asthma in very young children. People have been hospitalised with miscarriages, severe skin, eye and respiratory problems.

The spray leaves a sticky residue which car dealers are finding very difficult to get off cars in their yards. Importantly, no scientific studies have ever been carried out here to prove the safety of Foray 48B. Overseas studies have found evidence that Btk causes adverse health effects.

Please visit our No Spray Website http://www.geocities.com/no_spray/, 24 hours to find answers to any questions or concerns you may have about the safety of the current Painted Apple Moth aerial spraying operation.

The campaign is obviously not working and the sooner we stop it the better.

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