The Environment & Agriculture table also discussed the effects of pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) our ecosystem (incl. human health). Here’s what the participants had to say:
- Saltspring does not support GMOs, but does not have legislation for it (myth that they actually do)
- Communities can agree to be GMO free, but legislating it is difficult
- Lobby the government
- Set up a system that doesn’t require chemicals (plan staff time); nurture a “resilient” system
- It takes awhile for the system to build resilience to pests (Derek Masselink, the table Resource Person and expert, saw bugs that weren’t even supposed to be in BC)
- Support beneficial insects
- The Hardware store (on Galiano) is now selling fewer harmful and more organic pesticides. Stores now have to get a certificate to sell pesticides, so some are dropping them from their inventory. Home Hardware on Pender stopped carrying them, but farmers did lose some treatments that would be helpful.
- Watch the Pender Island documentary on pesticides (can someone provide a link?)
- Watch the documentary: The World According to Monsanto
- Run or support an educational campaign
- Related to obtaining clean water
- Purchase a Water Catchment System – maybe a bulk purchase by Island’s Trust, subsidized, transportation plan (barge). Engineer Needed.
- Look up the (see also: http://www.pesticidefreebc.org -Ed.)
- Funded education
- CRD’s jurisdiction
- Ground water protection is not regulated in BC
- Mayne Island Water Protection Agency
- Brian (on Thetis?) had a service for setting up water catchment systems
The Galiano Island Health Care Centre imports water – why? Complicated process of getting, storing, maintaining
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