Target: Tom Vilsack, United States Secretary of Agriculture
Goal: Demand stricter regulations on the use of Roundup and other potentially harmful herbicides.
Scientists have recently linked Roundup–the world’s most commonly used weedkiller– to life-threatening convulsions in animals. Glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in this herbicide, has been linked to seizures in roundworms. These nematodes help break down organic matter and are important to the carbon cycle. They also play a vital role in maintaining soil health so that we can grow crops.
The amount of herbicide that was needed to induce these seizure-like behaviors was less than 300 times the recommended amount, signifying that in large doses, Roundup may have even more drastic effects. After the discovery of Roundup’s impact on roundworms, further questions regarding how it might impact our own immune systems have been raised. Human health implications may likely arise from the near 3 billion pounds of herbicides that are used annually.
Demand that we better regulate the use of this and other herbicides throughout the U.S. Our own health, as well as that of our animals and their ecosystems, is on the line.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
Recent scientific discovery has concluded that Roundup–the world’s most commonly used herbicide–has detrimental effects on soil-dwelling organisms. When exposed to glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Roundup, roundworms exhibited seizure-like behaviors and convulsions. The amount of herbicide used in these studies was 300 times less than the recommended amount, and the implications of its wide scale use on the health of individual organisms and ecosystems more generally might likely be catastrophic.
While this might not seem like a big deal, roundworms play a vital role in the agricultural industry, as they break down organic matter and help to maintain soil health. Not to mention, scientists have also begun to wonder whether herbicides may have similar effects on our own immune systems.
These toxic substances are threatening entire ecosystems. We are asking you, Mr. Vilsack, to please enforce stricter regulations on the use of Roundup and other potentially harmful herbicides.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Nom d’util
Regulating the use of Roundup and other herbicides and insecticides such as neonicotinoids (which have been proven to kill our pollinators) is not enough. They should be banned!
I agree!
EVERY toxin we put into the environment affects ALL LIVING BEINGS. Please BAN GLYPHOSATE AND NEONICOTINOIDS immediately!