Chances are your community has a bylaw that restricts the use of 香蕉视频直播渃hemical pesticides香蕉视频直播� on public and private lands, including your lawn and garden.

I香蕉视频直播檒l use the District of Saanich bylaw as an example of what B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 environmentally conscious municipal governments impose on their citizens. Passed in 2010, this 10-page bylaw includes most of the modern notions about what is good and bad in managing plants and their pests. And much of it is politically correct rubbish.

The district香蕉视频直播檚 web page lists a sprinkling of permitted pesticides, including vinegar, corn gluten meal, insecticidal or herbicidal soaps and mineral oils. It includes advice on making your lawn smaller because 香蕉视频直播渘o mowing means no lawnmowers.香蕉视频直播� In short, it is a hippie香蕉视频直播檚 dream of a low-technology, natural world.

It gives a hit list of restricted pesticides, led of course by glyphosate (Roundup) and 2,4-D (Weed 香蕉视频直播檔香蕉视频直播� Feed or Killex are common brands). The bylaw defines restricted pesticides in general as 香蕉视频直播渢raditional products containing synthetic chemicals.香蕉视频直播�

The invokes the 香蕉视频直播減recautionary principle,香蕉视频直播� which means actual evidence of harm isn香蕉视频直播檛 necessary for restrictions to be imposed. It includes strict descriptions of signs to be posted for any allowable application, and fines up to $10,000 for violating the detailed terms.

The bylaw warns of the allegedly urgent need to reduce the 香蕉视频直播渃umulative chemical load香蕉视频直播� in the natural environment. Setting aside the obvious point that all matter in the known universe is made of chemicals, one of the key features of products like Roundup is that they break down quickly.

This is why glyphosate was re-licensed in November for continued use in the European Union, where cultural battles over 香蕉视频直播渃hemicals香蕉视频直播� make B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 precious protests seem calm and reasonable. This issue resonates with folks who buy homeopathic remedies containing zero active ingredient, or believe they need an occasional 香蕉视频直播渃leanse香蕉视频直播� to aid their kidney and liver function.

The idea that 香蕉视频直播渟ynthetic chemicals香蕉视频直播� are by definition the problem is one of the most damaging myths. Do you recall the most recent contaminated food scare? from California was pulled off store shelves after dozens of people became ill and two died after eating it in December.

The culprit in this case was e. coli, which Health Canada defines as bacteria that 香蕉视频直播渓ive naturally in the intestines of cattle, poultry and other animals.香蕉视频直播� Leafy greens can be contaminated by soil, inadequately composted manure, or improper handling and storing after harvest.

The last time I wrote on this topic, a reader demanded to know whether I have read Silent Spring, Rachel Carson香蕉视频直播檚 iconic anti-DDT book that is credited with sparking the modern environmental movement.

I香蕉视频直播檒l come clean. No, I haven香蕉视频直播檛 read this 55-year-old book, which was quietly but thoroughly debunked after decades of uncritical public and media belief.

That religious faith changed with a by 11 scientific authors, called Silent Spring at 50: The False Crises of Rachel Carson. It destroys many of her key conclusions, particularly the title香蕉视频直播檚 claim that DDT was behind a collapse of American bird populations.

香蕉视频直播淔ar from being on the verge of collapse, American bird populations were, by and large, increasing at the time of Silent Spring香蕉视频直播檚 publication,香蕉视频直播� the authors write. 香蕉视频直播淎lthough Carson was active in the Audubon Society, she ignored Audubon香蕉视频直播檚 annual bird count, which had long been the best single source on bird population.香蕉视频直播�

Carson also ignored the millions of human lives saved from malaria death by DDT, misrepresented rising cancer deaths that were mainly due to smoking and people living longer, and overstated the safety and effectiveness of 香蕉视频直播渘atural香蕉视频直播� pest control using predator insects.

Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: tfletcher@blackpress.ca