My Opinion on Weed Control Debate in Sedona: Larry Lincoln, Sedona AZ
The use of scare tactics to try to intimidate us to use unproven “non-toxic” methods of managing weed infestations in the planters and medians in the Village of Oak Creek’s Hwy 179 area (and soon the need of the City of Sedona to address this issue) are just plain wrong and unfounded. They are “wishful thinking techniques” compared to the use of proven and accepted methods of weed control.
I challenge those who view weed filled planters as an acceptable presentation of Sedona as one enters from I-17 on Hwy 179 or from Cottonwood on Hwy 89A to find a more efficient and affective way of keeping the planters weed free and ‘beautiful” So far, they have failed in every attempt to manage weeds without the use of herbicides. Weed whipping the planters is not a solution – it only makes the planters look a bit less ugly than if the weeds had been left alone.
If Sedona really wants to put it’s best face forward to encourage tourism and community pride in who we are and what we “look like,” they will stand up and not allow environmental extreme positions to turn Sedona into the “weed capital” of America rather than “America’s most beautiful city.”
This is how I see the herbicide issue.. the word “Toxic” is toxic and not true.
The active chemical in most herbicides is usually Glyphosate (which is Roundup). The science behind the fear against the use of herbicides to control weeds is not accepted by the millions who use Roundup type products to control weeds, including many Sedona homeowners who use it control weeds in their yards. Without these hi-tech herbicides farm yield would be severely reduced and food costs would be higher. Third world food production would be an even greater problem than it already is.
The following are links to research on the subject. Yes, the links are to Monsanto’s website, but since they are the company that has to satisfy the government requirements and challenge the damning comments by those who are against the use of herbicides, I find their research and comments valid and valuable.
Let’s see similar information which challenges these studies and data.
History of Monsanto’s Glyphosate Herbicides http://www.monsanto.com/products/Documents/glyphosate-background-materials/back_history.pdf
Authoritative Sources for Glyphosate Information (. http://www.monsanto.com/products/Documents/glyphosate-background-materials/gly_bestsources_bkg.pdf
Glyphosate and California Pesticide Illness Reporting http://www.monsanto.com/products/Documents/glyphosate-background-materials/gly_human_risk.pdf
Glyphosate and Environmental Fate Studies http://www.monsanto.com/products/Documents/glyphosate-background-materials/gly_efate_bkg.pdf
Glyphosate and Wildlife http://www.monsanto.com/products/Documents/glyphosate-background-materials/gly_wildlife_bkg.pdf
Source of these links: http://www.monsanto.com/products/Pages/roundup-safety-background-materials.aspx
Spend $100 million on a road and it ends up looking like an unkept abandoned lot. Great decision.
to all those who read and believe the hype I say to you, I’m glad you are healthy and don’t understand the hard way that toxic really means toxic and environmentalists really do have something else to do but know without watching we are poisoning ourselves and our visitors. I almost died from Roundup and thankfully after years am able to write about it. Most people don’t realize that they are ill from pesticides and they attribute it to something else. You are listening to the people who control the entire world’s food supply. Think again. I am talking from my personal experience as well as others.
There are natural things that work, the problem is that we haven’t had someone who understands how to use them (its as different as chemotherapy and homeopathy) and needs to be consistent to work, as in a whole hearted attempt.
Hopefully Sedona will stand firm on this issue but do a better and more complete job. Thanks for thinking about it.
270,000 Organic Farmers Sue Monsanto http://www.growswitch.com
More than 270,000 organic farmers are taking on corporate agriculture giant Monsanto in a lawsuit filed in March. Led by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association…
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.growswitch.com%2Fblog%2F2011%2F07%2F270000-organic-farmers-sue-monsanto%2F%23.TknxVJoacic.facebook&h=uAQBcMG6_
and also Cindi Wilmer FB repost: Hungary Destroys All Monsanto GMO Corn articles.mercola.com
Hungary’s decision to destroy nearly 1,000 acres of corn because they were grown with genetically modified organisms should be a wake-up call for the U.S.
Hello, I received this and want you to hear about it. I want others to stand up for our rights! Thank you.
Is there a company in the world more evil than Monsanto? I don’t think so.
Last year, Monsanto spent nearly $6 million on lobbying, and their payoff was the “Monsanto Protection Act,” which was written anonymously, passed in secret, and allows Monsanto to keep selling genetically engineered seeds even if a federal court says they may pose a health risk.1
Now, Monsanto has sneaked an amendment into the farm bill that would block GMO labeling laws moving forward in states like Vermont and Connecticut.2
This time, Monsanto may have gone too far. A massive backlash is growing against the Monsanto Protection Act, and Senator Jeff Merkley is demanding a floor vote to repeal it.
We can beat Monsanto, but we don’t have much time to get organized, because the farm bill has already passed the House and is being debated in the Senate right now. Can you chip in $5 to help MoveOn members fight back against Monsanto?
Yes, I want to pitch in $5 to help fight back against Monsanto.
We know that we’ll never be able to outspend Monsanto, but with your help we can out-organize them with smart, well-timed, targeted campaigning. Together, we can take on Monsanto by:
Supporting campaigns all over the country led by MoveOn members targeting their members of Congress, asking them to stand up to Monsanto’s influence.
Providing financial support for flyers, rallies, transportation and the other crucial nuts and bolts necessary to run a strong campaign.
Calling out key members of Congress who are supporting Monsanto over the public interest and making sure the public knows whose side they’re on
MoveOn leaders around the country are eager to push forward, but they need your help: If we can raise $150,000 in the next two days, we can help kick-start these campaigns immediately.
Last year, Monsanto’s $6 million investment bought them several favorable pieces of legislation. But right now, your investment of $5 can help launch a nationwide movement to make sure that our democracy isn’t auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Click here to contribute $5 to support the campaign against Monsanto.
Thanks for all you do.
–Anna, Wes, Linda, Mariana, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. “Lobbying Spending Database—Monsanto Co, 2013,” OpenSecrets.org, accessed May 21, 2013
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000055
“How the Monsanto Protection Act snuck into law,” Salon, March 27, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=290195&id=68363-17675177-8KrLnrx&t=4
2. “‘Monsanto Protection Act 2.0′ Would Ban GMO-Labeling Laws At State Level,” International Business Times, May 20, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=290225&id=68363-17675177-8KrLnrx&t=5
It is curious to see the Roundup scenario ten years later. Monsanto/ Bayer is clearly the villain with a new $10+billion liability settlement (among the largest settlements ever in U.S. civil litigation) dated June 24, 2020. Usually what we know about issues in the future is far different from what we know at the time. It would seem that if we lived life with a bit of regard for the future and how the future would likely play out, we would be a much smarter society. Usually resistance is the foundation for a failure to heed common sense. Feel free to argue for your limitations.. They will not stand up in the future!
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Note: Bayer who bought Monsanto and Roundup in 2018 is a pharmaceutical company. The pharmaceutical industry spend 300 million lobby dollars with Congress in 2019. double the next two largest lobby industries, electronics and insurance. #4 Oil and Gas was at $124m. Heed our future or we won’t have one.
Namasté
PS I certainly hope Sedona does not use Roundup in any way, shape or form!