Our Three Minute Speaker on 14 July was Rotarian Caryl Coulthard.
Caryl spoke about her concern at the use of chemicals in food production and other agriculture.
In particular she talked about the company, Monsanto. Among its many products, this company produced Agent Orange (which was used indiscriminately during warfare), Roundup, a glyphosate based herbicide, which was used to spray on seed crops from 1976 onwards.
Unfortunately Roundup kills almost all species of plants both wanted ie crops, mainly wheat and unwanted ie weeds.
Unfortunately it is water soluble so leaches into the water table - causing problems for livestock, birds and animals and through to human beings.
It has also been found that Roundup causes some forms of caner and maybe a cause of autism in children.
In 2018 Monsanto was sold to the German company Bayer (also spraying seeds with 'Liberty' which is a stronger chemical.)
Bayer have a world-wide monopoly and other chemicals that they produce result in:
- Apeels (edipeel & invisipeel) - transparent coatings on non-organic fruit and vegetables.
- Shellac and vaseline are also used to coat fruit allowing it to be stored for months.
- Insecticides and systemic pesticides entrenched in the soil to kill, harm & repel.
- Neonics toxic to bees & beneficial insects
- Rodenticides -kills rats & mice + native fauna
- Fungicides & Microbials also used in non organic crops
India and China the largest manufacturer of these chemical products.
Medical practitioners are concerned about the uses of these chemicals.
It has been noted in America that problems for humans include neurological symptoms from headaches, nausea ,vomiting to depression, anxiety, autism, respiratory problems including asthma
diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, brain fog and alzheimers.
Farmers groups in USA are fighting back as many of the farms are no longer owned by the families but by
the promise by these companies was that the chemicals would increase yield and feed the world .
However American farmers yield has actually deteriorated since the introduction of GM and these chemical additives to crops.
Caryl's concern having grown up on a farm where "we didn't use chemicals so food was "safe", now in my opinion the optimum nutrition in food has been compromised and we are having far greater medical cost due to disease".
Caryl would like to encourage people to grow their own organic and safe produce and live healthier lives.
