Ban or limit field burning in Arkansas
Ban or limit field burning in Arkansas
The Issue
Millions of metric tons of smoke and burnt chemicals fill the air in Arkansas during the fall months due to field burning. Thousands upon thousands of acres of rice straw is set ablaze every year, causing a huge air quality issue in the state. Along with the straw, an untold amount of pesticide, herbacid, insecticide, and fertilizer is burned off as well.
The smoke is so plentiful that it envelopes the entire flat lands in a thick, off-white and brown fog. This mass of smoke is torture for people with lung problems like CF or COPD, as well as those suffering from allergies and/or asthma. These people become prisoners in their own homes, and can't leave for fear of their health.
The smoke is so bad that simply walking outside for a short time can make your clothes stink like you were rolling around in ashes. Animals sneeze, children at recess hack and cough, and everyone complains about their noses, lungs, and throats burning, as well as headaches. Some schools have even forbid children from going to recess outside during burn months because of the air quality.
Police are having to be utilized while fields are on fire to direct traffic because the burns bring visibility to near zero on major roads and interstates. We've had quite a few major car accidents because of it every year.
We want the state of Arkansas to pass a ban on field burning, or to make burning extremely regulated and carry hefty fees such as a specified amount per acre. We also want farmers to be forced to abide by burn bans, paying a fine of no less than $10,000 if they are found to be ignoring burn bans during dry weather.
We want farmers to use much safer, and proven ecological farming techniques that most other states have adopted. If farmers must burn fields after paying the applicable fees and pulling permits, we want officials (fire crew) to be present at each controlled burn, and make sure it is set appropriately, looked after, and successfully kept within specifications. No more citizens worrying about their houses being burned down, and having to put fires out in their land because a field burn has spread to them.
We need to keep "The Natural State" natural, and give our citizens the right to breath fresh air. There ARE better ways, and farmers need to get with the times, and be held accountable.
#ARCleanAir
The Issue
Millions of metric tons of smoke and burnt chemicals fill the air in Arkansas during the fall months due to field burning. Thousands upon thousands of acres of rice straw is set ablaze every year, causing a huge air quality issue in the state. Along with the straw, an untold amount of pesticide, herbacid, insecticide, and fertilizer is burned off as well.
The smoke is so plentiful that it envelopes the entire flat lands in a thick, off-white and brown fog. This mass of smoke is torture for people with lung problems like CF or COPD, as well as those suffering from allergies and/or asthma. These people become prisoners in their own homes, and can't leave for fear of their health.
The smoke is so bad that simply walking outside for a short time can make your clothes stink like you were rolling around in ashes. Animals sneeze, children at recess hack and cough, and everyone complains about their noses, lungs, and throats burning, as well as headaches. Some schools have even forbid children from going to recess outside during burn months because of the air quality.
Police are having to be utilized while fields are on fire to direct traffic because the burns bring visibility to near zero on major roads and interstates. We've had quite a few major car accidents because of it every year.
We want the state of Arkansas to pass a ban on field burning, or to make burning extremely regulated and carry hefty fees such as a specified amount per acre. We also want farmers to be forced to abide by burn bans, paying a fine of no less than $10,000 if they are found to be ignoring burn bans during dry weather.
We want farmers to use much safer, and proven ecological farming techniques that most other states have adopted. If farmers must burn fields after paying the applicable fees and pulling permits, we want officials (fire crew) to be present at each controlled burn, and make sure it is set appropriately, looked after, and successfully kept within specifications. No more citizens worrying about their houses being burned down, and having to put fires out in their land because a field burn has spread to them.
We need to keep "The Natural State" natural, and give our citizens the right to breath fresh air. There ARE better ways, and farmers need to get with the times, and be held accountable.
#ARCleanAir
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Petition created on October 11, 2016