- Target:
- City of Portland, Maine
- Region:
- United States of America
The city of Portland, Maine is working to cut back on pesticide usage. City arborist Jeff Tarling is considering ending the use of Roundup on school grounds and along sidewalks in residential neighborhoods.
In addition, he says this step could lead toward the drafting of an Ogunquit-style pesticide ordinance. While Mr. Tarling holds the city's pesticide applicators license, there are others who need to approve this plan.
This letter is intended to show there is support for ending the spraying of Roundup on school grounds and in residential neighborhoods.
We the undersigned Portland residents, property owners, workers, business owners and visitors support and applaud the plan to end the application of the weed-killer glyphosate, commonly sold as Roundup and manufactured by Monsanto, on school grounds and along the sidewalks in the residential neighborhoods of Portland.
Independent scientific studies link this widely used agricultural chemical to autism, male infertility, cancer, kidney failure and Parkinson’s disease. Recently, researchers have shown Roundup has the potential to harm immune system function by killing beneficial gut bacteria. The sharp decline in amphibians and monarch butterflies may be tied to the use of Roundup, according to scientific reports.
We support the city’s plan to halt the spraying of Roundup in residential neighborhoods and on school grounds, effective immediately. We hope this ban can be quickly expanded to include playgrounds, parks, athletic fields and the Portland Trail system. Furthermore, we urge the city to end the use of Roundup on all city-owned and managed properties as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Stop Roundup use in Portland, Maine petition to City of Portland, Maine was written by Avery Yale Kamila and is in the category Health at GoPetition.