The Buzz Responds To ‘Roundup’ Suspension

May 20, 2015

Following the announcement that the importation of weed spray ‘Roundup’ has been suspended, the Buzz said they “commend Minister Atherden’s commitment to ‘promoting safe practices as part of our stewardship of Bermuda’s delicate environment’, and to recognizing that more work must be done.”

A statement from the group said, “The BUZZ formed in 2013 as a group of interested people, under the auspices of BEST [Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce], concerned about the decline in bee populations, both locally and globally.

“While it’s clear that there are a number of threats to the health of bees and other pollinators, significant among the concerns is the impact of the many and varied chemicals used in the environment, especially pesticides.

“We wish, therefore, to acknowledge the significant step announced recently by the Minister for Health, Seniors and the Environment, in suspending the importation of the very toxic pesticide ‘Roundup’ into Bermuda.

“We commend Minister Atherden’s commitment to “promoting safe practices as part of our stewardship of Bermuda’s delicate environment”, and to recognizing that more work must be done post-haste to draft and implement the regulations to support The Pesticides Safety Act passed in 2009… some 6 years ago now!

“We are concerned that only one product containing the active ingredient of glyphosate was named in this announcement. There is another product with the active ingredient of ‘glyphosate’ that is used extensively in Bermuda that goes by the brand name of ‘Rodeo’, and so it would be helpful if that, and any other product containing glyphosate, that would also be subject to this suspension, be officially named so that we can be fully informed.

“What the public may not be aware of is that it is often not the active ingredient which has the greatest toxicity in a pesticide’s formulation, but also the inert ‘ingredients, called ‘adjuvants’ [which include ‘surfactants’ that help the spray stick to the foliage], that are even more toxic than the active ingredient, but not included on the label nor tested. See more information at these links:

“We are encouraged that the Minister intends to assemble a stakeholder group and we would welcome being included. The use [and overuse] of pesticides [herbicides/fungicides/insecticides] is serious business in respect of individual and environmental health.

“It requires us to be informed and cautious. We have extracted some information on pesticides from the book Common-Sense Pest Control and we will post it, along with relevant articles, on the Bermuda Bees website www.bermudabees.weebly.com.”

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Category: All, Environment, News

Comments (7)

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  1. Pick your poison says:

    Roundup knew the dangers of its chemicals 30 years ago it has been proven by records, but look at us today. Poisoning the earth and all parts of the foodchain is not the work of anyone but a madman

  2. Micro says:

    But we still murder innocent animals.

    • Toodle-oo says:

      Do you mean innocent ‘illegal’ animals that people keep breaking the law and breeding thus creating the unnecessary angst ?

      • sage says:

        Exactly, so that justifies killing the animal who has done no wrong?

        • Toodle-oo says:

          If the idiots stopped breeding them then there would be no sobbing hearts out there whining .

          We can’t have everything we want in life. So until the law changes , if it does , stop the breeding .
          Simple , isn’t it ?

  3. Corn Oil says:

    I also think we should ban any product in Bermuda that has a by product of round up resistant Corn in it. YA this would take some doing if persons will just use things according to the label. And Buzz please send out scientific journals and university research to make your case what I saw can be written by anyone.

  4. Greenrock says:

    Please keep up your good work in our community BUZZ. You have invited all of us to focus on the important work of Bees and begin to take responsibility for the way we chose to live in our world.