Go For the Gold!

It is hard to believe the Olympics are over and we are thinking how we want to keep the spirit of the Olympics alive.

We have decided that we will be awarding some medals of our own to acknowledge those local retailers that are eliminating the sale of cosmetic pesticides and are putting our health and the environment first.

Although Richmond has passed a cosmetic pesticide bylaw that restricts the use of pesticides on lawns, gardens and parks, there currently exists a loophole that still allows local retailers to sell these harmful pesticides.

We have called upon the provincial government to ban the sale of pesticides in B.C. so that retailers, that we feel are unethically selling pesticides when a bylaw is in effect, will be forced to remove them from their shelves.

Many healthier alternatives to synthetic pesticides exist, and the following retailers have chosen to carry them and have removed the more harmful ones from their shelves.

AND THE GOLD MEDALS GO TO...

HOME DEPOT (eliminated the sale of cosmetic pesticides in 2008)

RONA (eliminated the sale of cosmetic pesticides in 2009)

GARDEN WORKS

SILVER MEDALS are awarded to those companies and organizations that have taken steps to eliminate pesticides and are striving for a healthier tomorrow.

THE CITY OF RICHMOND (has made great strides with a cosmetic pesticide bylaw but earns a silver because they continue to use pesticides on the pitch & putt and on the lawn bowling green)

PRICKLY PEAR GARDEN CENTRE (are currently transitioning to more natural pesticides)


The following companies have FAILED TO RECEIVE A MEDAL as they continue to carry pesticides on their shelves and have NOT set a timeline for elimination. Please remind these retailers that you would like to see them eliminate cosmetic pesticides from their shelves!

Art Knapp's
Canadian Tire
Home Hardware, Lansdowne Mall

Please support those companies that have taken harmful lawn and garden pesticides off their shelves. Please let us know of local retailers that we can add to our recommended list. Thanks!

RALLY FOR A PROVINCIAL PESTICIDE BAN!

Please join us this Saturday, January 30th at 11 am at Canadian Tire on Cambie and 7th, Vancouver.

We will be showing our support for a Province-wide ban on the sale of cosmetic pesticides. The provincial government has been consulting the public about a potential ban on pesticides and this consultation ends on Feb. 15th!

Although we are proud that Richmond has passed a pesticide bylaw, there are still retailers that sell pesticides because our province hasn't yet banned them. Retailers such as Canadian Tire, Art Knapp's and many others continue to sell them because they are more concerned with profits than people!

We want to send a clear message that British Columbians don't want to be exposed to unnecessary chemicals!

Bring signs reading, "Ban Pesticides Now!", "We Want A Pesticide Free BC", etc. Bring children and pets :)

Please give one hour of your time to truly make BC the best place on Earth!

Hurray for Richmond!

At last night's city council meeting, our mayor and councillors adopted The Pesticide Use Control Bylaw that prohibits the use of pesticides on private or city-owned property for enhancing the appearance of a lawn or garden! Hurray for Richmond!

We are thrilled to see Richmond join 23 other municipalities within B.C. that have adopted similar pesticide bylaws. Richmond's bylaw is one of the best in the province by taking a precautionary approach and not allowing unnecessary exemptions.

We look forward to the educational component that the City of Richmond will be rolling out soon.

Please see today's update on Pesticide Free B.C.'s website (scroll to the lower right hand corner for more information):http://www.pesticidefreebc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=52&Itemid=118

We will be continuing to lobby the provincial government to prohibit the sale of pesticides and ask that you do the same by contacting our local Richmond MLAs:
linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca
john.yap.mla@leg.bc.ca
rob.howard.mla@leg.bc.ca

Please ask that they work to prohibit the sale of pesticides across B.C. for the health of ourselves, our children, our pets and our planet.

Tips for a pesticide-free lawn...

So, now what?

Now you can decide what you want to do- Do you want to enjoy dandelions as part of your lawn's ecosystem? If so, no need to proceed. Be happy that you are allowing bees a source of nectar and use some dandelion leaves in your next salad!

If, instead, you strive for an organic lush, green lawn- without dandelions- be inspired by photos here: http://www.safelawns.org/.

Then you can try some of these tips for a healthy, pesticide-free lawn:

1. Spread grass seed every spring and fall. Choose grasses that suit local conditions and try to plant more than one species.

2. Use a lawn aerator to help the soil breathe. Aerators can be rented or purchased from garden centres or equipment rental companies.

3. Mow high (3" height) to develop deeper root systems and provide tolerance to heat, pests and disease.

4. Leave clippings on the lawn as this adds organic nutrients and moisture to the soil.

5. Water deeply but infrequently to get deep rooting and try to water in the morning. Watering in the evening can increase risk of disease as grass is left wet longer. Most lawns require 1 inch of water per week or 1 hour of watering.

6. Pull weeds by hand or with a handy tool (http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=44725&cat=2,2300,44822&ap=1) when the soil is moist. Drop some grass seed in the hole to discourage weeds from returning. You can also use a vinegar spray (at least 5% acetic acid) or boiling water for spot treatment between hard surfaces. Corn gluten meal can be used on lawns to discourage annual weeds.

7. Spread organic material, such as compost, on your lawn each year to add nutrients to the soil. Add organic fertilizer in the spring and fall.

8. Want to get technical? Monitor the pH of your soil with a test from a garden centre. It should be between 6.0 to 7.0. You can add agricultural lime to raise the pH, peat moss or sulphur to lower it.

You can find more information from:
http://toronto.ca/pesticides
http://www.healthylawns.net/

Hurray! A bylaw is on its way!

On April 27, 2009, Richmond's mayor and councillors made the decision to put health and environment over the aesthetics of our parks and lawns by going forward with a cosmetic pesticide bylaw.

We are currently waiting for the draft bylaw to come forward. We are hoping that this will be accomplished very soon.

While we are waiting, we are working hard to make sure that the Provincial government also knows that we want these toxic products removed from store shelves. We are asking our candidates what they will do to ensure that cosmetic pesticides will be banned in B.C. as they are in Ontario and Quebec.

Please check out this website for information on making B.C. Pesticide Free:
http://www.pesticidefreebc.org/

This website has some excellent information on alternatives to pesticides and it also gives information on how you can get involved and the things you can do to let our government representatives know that the public desires a ban on the sale of cosmetic pesticides for our health and environment!

Earth Day/Anti-Pesticides Parade & Rally on Thursday!

Please join us and other concerned citizens for an Earth Day/Anti-pesticides rally in Richmond on

Thursday, April 23rd from 11:00-12:30.

CropLife Canada, a trade association that represents companies such as Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow & DuPont is meeting at the Richmond Executive Inn,7311 Westminster Hwy to talk about how to prevent a province-wide pesticide ban.

First they polluted our food with chemicals and GMO’s. Then they began buying up the world’s seed supply.

Now, they’re trying to prevent us from protecting our communities from pesticides.

Let’s show them that we care about our health, our community, and our planet more than the weeds in our lawn. Bring musical instruments, costumes, kids, strollers, stilts, dogs, and puppets and we’ll make this an amazing event!!

Bring your own signs too: "I love my family more than my lawn", "Health & Environment before Profits" or "Pesticides aren't safe for Bees or Me!"

Meet us at 11:00 at Tim Horton's on the East side of Richmond Center, and we'll walk over together.

See you then!

Free Workshops Focus on Organic Gardening, Pest Management in Richmond

The City of Richmond is offering free workshops on organic gardening and pest management.

The workshops are designed to educate residents about the alternatives to pesticide use and move Richmond toward becoming a more sustainable community, including the promotion of good gardening practices.

For further information, click the following images to enlarge the Sustainability Workshop brochure or click this link to download the PDF. You will need to register for the workshops here.

Pesticides & Our Children Event in the Richmond Review...

http://www.bclocalnews.com/richmond_southdelta/richmondreview/news/38563429.html

Thanks to all our sponsors for helping with this great event and many thanks to Dr. Warren Bell and Arzeena Hamir for their useful and informative presentations! We are hoping that events like these truly raise pesticide awareness in Richmond!

"Pesticides & Our Children" Event

Click on poster image to enlarge.

There will be fabulous door prizes from London Station Market, Pinky Blue Children's Store, Hankettes Organic Hankies, Bobs & Lolo, T Tearoom, Lulu Ladies & Babies and Stroller Strides Richmond. Steveston Coffee Co. & The Spelt Bakery will be providing refreshments. Thanks to all!

You can check out our sponsors:

http://www.hankettes.com/
http://www.bobsandlolo.com/
http://www.pinkyblue.ca/
http://www.tealeaves.com/
http://www.strollerstrides.net/richmondbc
http://www.meetup.com/lululadiesstrollerstrides
http://www.aranfoods.com/2006/

SAVE THE DATE!

On Saturday, January 24th at 10:30 am at the Richmond Cultural Centre, the Richmond Pesticide Awareness Coalition, The Canadian Cancer Society and Richmond Children First, will be presenting "Pesticides & Our Children: What are the Risks?" with Dr. Warren Bell. Come and learn what you can do to better understand how the environment can impact your children's health and well being. Local gardening expert, Arzeena Hamir will also be presenting healthy gardening tips.

Please mark it on your calendars (if you have the 2009 calendar out already!) as this will be a very informative and interesting event.

Childcare (up to 6 years of age) is available to those who pre-register.

For more information, please contact richmondpac@gmail.com or stay tuned!

All Candidates Survey Results...

Please click on each page to read:

A Big Thank-you!

We really want to thank the Mayor, and the following Councillors and Candidates for their attendance at "The World According to Monsanto" movie screening and information session. Coalition members were impressed that they seemed open and receptive to a cosmetic pesticide bylaw for Richmond.

We are hoping that whoever does get elected will continue to work hard to ensure this bylaw is passed, and have the legacy of making Richmond a healthier place for their constituents and future generations!

Thank you for your attendance, your questions and your support!

Thanks to:

Mayor Malcolm Brodie
Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Harold Steves

And to the following Candidates:
Anna Bloomfield
Linda Burchill
Bai Chen
Kang (William) Chen
Wei Ping Chen
David Reay
Neil Smith
Micheal Wolfe
Pat Young

~We have submitted questionnaires to all candidates regarding a bylaw and will be compiling the information and issuing a press release shortly! We will keep you posted!

Our next event...

Please join us for a screening of
“The World According to Monsanto” & discussion

WHAT:
Screening of
"The World According to Monsanto"

WHEN:
Tuesday, Oct 21 6:30 PM – 8:30PM

WHERE:
Richmond Hospital Auditorium
Gilbert @ Westminster Hwy
Richmond, British Columbia Canada

HOSTED BY:
Richmond Pesticide Awareness Coalition
Tickets are FREE



From the NFB website:
"Monsanto is the world leader in genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as well as one of the most controversial corporations in industrial history. This century-old empire has created some of the most toxic products ever sold, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the herbicide Agent Orange. Based on a painstaking investigation, The World According to Monsanto puts together the pieces of the company’s history, calling on hitherto unpublished documents and numerous first-hand accounts.
Today, Monsanto likes to style itself as a “life sciences” company. The leader in genetically modified seeds, engineered to resist its herbicide Roundup, claims it wants to solve world hunger while protecting the environment.
In the light of its troubling past, can we really believe these noble intentions? Misleading reports, collusion, pressure tactics and attempts at corruption: the history of Monsanto is filled with disturbing episodes."

For more information go to:
http://monsanto.bravenewtheaters.com/screening/show/11455

In the News...The Richmond News that is!

Take a look at today's article in The Richmond News about Ashley's presentation to Richmond City Council...
http://www.canada.com/richmondnews/news/story.html?id=c564c904-242d-4478-a1fb-985b4585d9dd

Going to City Council...

next Monday, September 8th at 7 pm to introduce our coalition and to present our petition letters.


Please meet in the lobby at City Hall at 6:45 pm and bring as many signed letters as possible (if you haven't dropped them off yet at the CCS office).


Also, our next meeting is on Wednesday, September 17th at 6:30 pm at the Canadian Cancer Society Unit Office at the Caring Place (7000 Minoru Blvd). Anyone interested in helping with this cause is welcome to attend.

In the Richmond News...

Today's Richmond News (Friday, August 15th) carries a story about our call for a city ban on the use of cosmetic pesticides. Thanks to Petra for writing in!

Check it out:
http://www.canada.com/richmondnews/news/story.html?id=3bb5b2d9-7a50-42a6-addd-783743609bb8

What is going on...

In anticipation of the first presentation to city council, we are currently in a drive to collect as many letters as possible to present to Mayor Brodie and city councillors. These letters will let the city know that residents support a cosmetic pesticide bylaw, in order to join the other 140 municipalities in Canada that already have bylaws in place.

You can write your own letter or you can use the template below. Be sure to send it in as soon as possible, or you can drop them off at the Canadian Cancer Society (2nd floor) at Richmond Caring Place (7000 Minoru Blvd).

We are hoping to have them collected by September 8th.

The more letters we get, the better. Please ask your friends, neighbours, and local businesses to be part of this campaign too!

Sample letter to the mayor

Please take the time to send this letter to Mayor Brodie and Richmond City Councillors- just copy and paste into your favourite word processor and print!

To:
Mayor Brodie and City of Richmond Council
City of Richmond
Mayor's Office
6911 No. 3 Road
Richmond, British Columbia
V6Y 2C1 Canada

Dear Mayor Brodie and City of Richmond Council:

I urge the City of Richmond Council to adopt and implement a strong and comprehensive bylaw to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides on lawns and gardens, as well as public parks and recreational facilities, combined with an education program.

As a resident of the City of Richmond, I support a pesticide-free community.

An effective pesticide bylaw would prohibit the use of non-essential pesticides for cosmetic (beautification) purposes. Permitted exceptions should include only those that are a risk to human health. This risk would be determined by the professional judgment of a qualified public health official. The permitted exceptions would not be for weed control or other cosmetic purposes.

A cosmetic pesticide bylaw is about protecting people, especially children and youth, from involuntary exposure to these toxic chemicals when walking or playing on lawns, playgrounds, and sports fields, for example. It is not about limiting personal freedom.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has classified some pesticide substances as known carcinogens. The term carcinogen refers to any substance that is an agent directly involved in the promotion of cancer or facilitating its propagation.

Studies have linked pesticide exposure to both adult and childhood cancers. These include childhood and adult leukemias, childhood brain cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, neuroblastoma, brain cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and some lung cancers.

To date, 140 Canadian municipalities, the entire Province of Quebec (2006) and Ontario (2008), have adopted cosmetic pesticide-free bylaws. This number is quickly growing. No municipalities have removed the bylaw due to lack of effectiveness.

Many alternatives to pesticides for lawns and gardens are readily available to the average homeowner. Further, research tells us that, in regions where pesticide bylaws are in place, businesses have not only shifted successfully to non-toxic alternatives, but that sales and offerings of non-toxic alternatives are growing.

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled unanimously, 7-0, on June 28, 2001 that municipalities have the right to create bylaws to safeguard the health of their constituents and that municipalities are permitted to regulate or outlaw the use of pesticides.

The City of Richmond can act now to protect its citizens and visitors to Richmond from the unnecessary and harmful effects of cosmetic pesticides. Council can make Richmond pesticide-free by adopting and implementing a bylaw coupled with a strong public education component.

Sincerely,

Signature _________________________________________

Printed name ______________________________________

Full Address _______________________________________

Date _____________________________________________