Page 8 · Richmond Review
Friday, August 19, 2011
opinion
Pesticide choice an issue of trust REVIEW EDITORIAL: ho do you put the richmond
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your trust in? That’s essentially what a new poll on pesticides asks. Funded by an industry trade association that represents the interests of chemical companies, the poll reveals not everyone thinks pesticides should be banned.
Not everyone thinks they’re a health risk. In fact, synthetic pesticides are useful in fighting insects and weeds inside and outside the home, the poll suggests. A recent study published this month in the journal Diabetes Care suggests there’s a link to pesticides and diabetes. Other studies have suggested synthetic pesticides have the potential to cause various human cancers. Health Canada has no problem with homeowners dumping Killex on their lawns—a fact the pesticide industry constantly reminds us of. But the Canadian Cancer Society wants a ban on the use and sale of these cosmetic products because of their potential to cause harm to human health. So who can you trust? That’s up to each of us to determine. We should instead be asking our-
file photo Michelle Li is one Richmond mom who took action against the use of pesticides prior to the city developing a bylaw banning their cosmetic use on residential lawns and city property.
selves: Is it worth the risk? Why use toxic pesticides if there’s a possibility it could be a long-term danger to our health? Relying on Health Canada to govern the industry is foolhardy. The federal agency is more reactive than proactive.
Take bisphenol A, for example. The toxic plastic substance used in No. 7 plastic has been found to leech into food products it surrounds. Yet, Health Canada only declared it toxic last fall—well after retailers voluntarily pulled such plastics from its shelves over health
concerns. And while Health Canada has banned the use of the unnatural chemical in baby bottles, you can still find BPA in toys and food packaging, despite it being shown to mimic the hormone estrogen. It should come as no surprise to most of us that
cancer rates are on the rise. Most people know someone—a friend, a family member, a colleague—who has been hit with cancer. Especially when organic substitutes exist, why take the risk with pesticides just to kill a weed or knock out a few bugs?
Fruit harvest in Richmond is here
Shades of Green Arzeena Hamir
I
t’s that time of the year. Plums are starting to ripen, apples are beginning to colour, and some have already begun to be converted to sauce. The fruit harvest is here. I know most people think of apples and pears as having to come from the Okanagan but this region grows some fantastic fruit. Judging by the bounty that comes out of Richmond backyards,
golden and Italian plums, transparent and Gravenstein apples, and bosc pears grow abundantly here. For the 10th year, a group of volunteers is assembling to collect backyard fruit that can’t be used by the owners. Founded by Mary Gazetas, Ann Mackie, Jane Wheeler, Diane Eward, Brenda Crockett and a number of committed volunteers, the project has donated over 30,000 lbs of fruit to the Richmond Food Bank since 2000. Any fruit not able to be eaten fresh is converted into sauce, jams, and pie filling to be used by the community meal programs. My own fruit trees are still small enough that we use every bit, even the windfalls, for fresh eating, applesauce and dried apple rings. But, I’m grateful to know that if things got out of control,
I could call someone to give me a hand and that that fruit would be donated to people in need. For the last three years, Geoff Snell has coordinated the backyard fruit picks in Richmond. He gets the job of answering calls from fruit tree owners, assessing how much fruit is available, and scheduling volunteers to come and pick the fruit. Moving boxes, fruit picking poles and ladders is all his responsibility. I’ve participated in a few of the backyard picks, which took me to backyards in Hamilton and in Steveston. It’s nice to know there are still some substantial fruit trees in Richmond. I’ve met some great volunteers as well who also share recipes on how to use the fruit. Pears, poached in apple juice, with cinnamon and cloves are still a favourite with my family. The Fruit Tree Project
still needs volunteers. Poor Geoff has had to tackle a few major trees by himself so if you can spare a couple of hours after work, he would love a hand. In addition, if you know of any fruit trees in your neighbourhood that aren’t being picked, please ask the owners to give the fruit picking line a call. Telltale signs are fruit lying on the ground and a cloud of wasps flying gleefully around the fermenting fruit. The phone line for fruit tree owners to contact the Richmond Fruit Tree Project is 604-244-7377. If you would like to volunteer, please e-mail coordinator@richmondfoodsecurity.org.Those on Twitter can also find out when the latest picks are by following @ rfoodss. Although the idea of fruit tree projects isn’t new, I know many communities have looked
I know most people think of apples and pears as having to come from the Okanagan but this region grows some fantastic fruit.
enviously at Richmond and our ability to sustain a fruit picking group. Kudos go to Vancouver Coastal Health who help Geoff a small stipend as fruit picking co-ordinator. Also, a huge thank-you to all those who have helped pick and donate fruit. Richmond is all the sweeter for it!. Arzeena Hamir is co-ordinator of the Richmond Food Security Society. Reach her at arzeenahamir@shaw.ca.