Contains the key provisions of the city’s landmark ordinance – the importance of watersheds, the areas in the watersheds that need to protected, who is tasked to ensure its implementation and the penalties for those who do not follow the law.
Stop poison rain, foreign experts ask Arroyo
Two hundred signatories from 44 countries, among them, noted scientists and health experts, have asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to end poison rain or the aerial pesticide spraying of banana plantations in Mindanao.
Loudmouths vs mouthpieces
Cotabato (formerly North Cotabato) passed a Provincial Environment Code in 2004. Sec. 78 of the code prohibits aerial spraying on croplands and plantations. This has not interfered with the success of its declared policy redirecting its agriculture from traditional toward ?market-oriented,? with bananas as one of the four major principal products given major support. Thousands of hectares devoted to bananas are flourishing?sans aerial spraying.
People run for cover when crop dusters fly
Dili kami peste (We are not pests.) This is the cry of communities near banana plantations in Mindanao who have to suffer the adverse effects of regular toxic aerial spraying meant to kill pests in bananas. School children on their way to school, farmers cultivating their small farms, people drinking coffee al fresco and families doing their daily chores are among those who suffer indirect hits and have to run for cover when airplanes unleash pesticides on vast banana plantations. While they are not the intended targets, there is no way they can avoid getting hit by the airplanes? toxic load. Respiratory and skin ailments are among the first signs of a toxic hit.
Profit vs. People: A point-by-point response to plantation companies’ assertions on aerial spraying
Davao City is waging a battle to stop banana plantations from using aerial spraying as a way of dispensing pesticides. The practice exposes more people and the environment to poison. Banana plantations assert that the pesticides they use are safe and that aerial spraying hardly affects anyone. The primer answers these points one by one based on scientific studies all around the world and testimonies of affected residents.
The Story of Toxic Shower
Learn about the unconscionable practice of aerial spraying of pesticides by banana plantations. Find out why this concerns you.