WE MUST BAN THE USE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS ON THIS PROPERTY--NOW!

Please sign this petition if you care for nature (Earth), all the plants, bees, birds, all other flora and fauna, pets, and, not to mention, your own life or your children’s lives! 

The landscaping company that services Hawthorne properties is called US Lawns. They show up every week and they do a great job with maintaining the lawns and trees and bushes to make the property look appealing. 

However, they spray toxic chemicals around the buildings. In plain sight on the back of their truck is a weed killer spray pack with the words "Round Up" clearly written on it. 

HERE ARE THE FACTS: 

It is well known and documented that “RoundUp” is extremely hazardous and deadly, yet it's still being used on a large-scale property with thousands of people, children, and pets. Not to mention the amazing wildlife that it’s killing like bees, squirrels, rabbits, and more! 

The US Lawns company has also been caught using "Lesco" which is another name for glyphosate derived herbicide (they try to hide the name “roundup” because it is being banned in many countries around the world, including Canada!). 

Glyphosate is a known carcinogen that is hazardous to people, plants, and the environment as a whole. 

Do you enjoy seeing the rabbits, squirrels, birds, ducks, geese, and other animals around the property? Yep, they are ALL at risk too! 

In addition to toxic weed killers, pest control companies such as Orkin come to this properly and use a pesticide/insecticide product on this property called “Talstar” which is equally as dangerous. Talstar is another HIDDEN word for ROUNDUP! 

We have research to back up every claim here, and you’re welcome to do your own web searches. You will find the same insight if you go deep enough… This is information that is often hidden from people...but it's there and we can find it!

These chemicals are scientifically referred to as NEONICS, which are a synthetic modification of nicotine, and they work in a similar manner.

Neonics are incredibly harmful to beneficial insects such as the honeybees. Native plants that are highly sought after by honeybees such as henbit and dandelions are considered “weeds” to landscaping companies. 

But both of these plants are actually a powerful and healthy plant that is edible by humans, but it provides a huge amount of food to bees! When plants and flowers are sprayed, the honeybees gather compromised pollen and bring it back to the hive with devastating consequences to the hive and the entire population of honeybees. In fact, according to a 2019 study, neonics have made the American agricultural landscape 48 times more toxic to honeybees than it was 25 years before. This further creates issues for pollination of the human food supply.

NO BEES? THIS MEANS OUR WORLD BREAKS. THEY ARE THAT CRUCIAL TO THIS ECOSYSTEM! 

Not only has the bee population declined, but these products negatively impact birds, particularly song birds. The nicotine effects reduce the birds appetites and one study tracked birds that consumed a tenth of a treated seed. The birds were lethargic and did not have an appetite. They lost 6% of their body mass within six hours, and many stayed behind to recover for an extra three days. Even if a bird recovers, the delay can still damage its chances of surviving and reproducing.

Another issue with Neonics is runoff. When the chemical is dispersed onto the ground and it rains (which is often!), the water carries the chemical in the soil into the many streams and creeks around, highly affecting the aquatic life. 

The good news is that the harmful effects of these products have been recognized in many parts of the world, including being completely banned in the European Union. Even the US Environmental Protection Agency is working on legislation to ban or restrict the use of these products. Until such time, we the people have the power to change practices!

The management (and manager) of this complex has been notified about this several times with a full presentation on how TERRIFYING it is to use these toxic killers and the concerns were not taken into consideration, which contradicts what is written on Hawthorne's website, which is as follows:

[Welcome to Hawthorne Residential Partners, where “above and beyond” is a way of life. We are seasoned multifamily management experts with extensive lease-up and asset repositioning expertise. Above all, we’re relationship builders. Hawthorne’s “Live It” culture represents our promise to exceed expectations every minute of every day.]

HERE ARE THE LEGALITIES OF USING THESE TOXIC PRODUCTS AND THE MURDERS/INJURIES TAKING PLACE EVERYWHERE:

The negative and harsh effects of these chemicals is well documented and massive corporations like Bayer/Monsanto have and continue to pay out billions of dollars in settlements to people and families injured, maimed, or killed by these products, yet they are still widely sold and used without residents' informed consent!

Geller Law is a legal firm that is working with people (and the environment) to FIGHT this evil Monsanto (aka Bayer, Bayer purchased Monsanto to make matters worse in 2018). 

• Thousands of people have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer of Roundup, Monsanto, alleging that it causes cancer.
• Juries have agreed and awarded staggering verdicts of $2 billion, $289 billion, and $80 million against the Big Pharma giant Bayer AG that owns Monsanto.
• Bayer recently announced that it will pay over $10 billion to settle Roundup claims. There is limited time to file a lawsuit.
• The active ingredient in the product is glyphosate, which is classified as a probable carcinogen. Tens of thousands of people exposed to glyphosate have ended up developing cancer.
• A local Louisville lawyer recently helped prove that Roundup caused her client’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma which resulted in a massive $80 million verdict against Monsanto.
• Bayer acquired Monsanto in June 2018 for $63 billion. Today, Roundup is one of the flagship products, accounting for a significant amount of its profits.
• While the acquisition is complete and Bayer has dropped the Monsanto name in some regions, Monsanto will continue to operate as a separate legal entity in some countries.

You may be thinking, “I feel fine, are these products really that dangerous?” 

Or “how would companies knowingly sell and use products that cause such harm?” 

We urge every resident to research these products and chemicals and understand that there are tons of underlying health issues with people today because of the exposure to these chemicals. You will quickly see how the articles pile up about harmful effects and class-action lawsuits against the manufacturers and sellers of these products. 

Even if you “feel fine,” there are many people, children, and animals that are highly sensitive and have serious health issues. Even the plant life can be affected. Have you noticed randomly dead or sad looking trees around? The weekly exposure that this community (and others) endures is not something we should stand for as paying residents. The spray also runs into the water, thereby causing the creek and pond areas to become toxic to life.

If you’d like some serious legal stats, please go here to start, if you’d like to dig into some research: https://www.gerlinglaw.com/roundup-lawsuit-attorneys/ 

The injuries/deaths also include children. There are lawsuits of children who suffer from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Their lawsuit petitions claim they contracted NHL as a result of Roundup (glyphosate) exposure.

In humans, common injuries from Roundup are:

Cancer is the primary health condition linked to Roundup exposure. Anyone who has regular contact with Roundup or another weed killer containing glyphosate has a higher risk of developing cancer.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the leading type of cancer associated with glyphosate, but there may be others as well. Some Roundup users have reported related cancer types, including:

Lymphoblastic lymphoma,
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia,
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma,
T-cell lymphoma,
Follicular lymphoma,
Burkitt lymphoma,
Mantle cell lymphoma, and
Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.
 

The health and well-being of all residents, flora, and fauna should be of the highest importance and those in charge of Hawthorne should uphold their claim of going “above and beyond” and “exceeding expectations every minute of every day” and seek alternative companies for weed and insect management.

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES? YES! THERE ARE MANY ALTERNATIVES

Hawthorne’s management was provided with this list and still did nothing…

NO MORE PESTICIDES, INSTEAD DO THIS: 

There are several alternatives to these products that are natural and just as effective utilizing essential oils, such as lemongrass, peppermint or rosemary, and garlic to repel mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.

In EVERY region you can find companies that ensure to use NON-TOXIC products and SAFE practices, like the company called Mosquito Joe in Asheville, NC region, for example. Mosquito Joe is a service in Asheville that offers a natural mosquito repellent as an alternative to a synthetic treatment.

NO MORE HERBICIDES, INSTEAD DO THIS: 

Other organic products for weeds utilize different natural combinations, the most usual ones being salt and vinegar, citrus oil, vinegar or lemon juice. These naturally occurring ingredients are non-toxic and a great alternative. There are local companies that utilize these safer, more natural products that every property should be using, but especially this one that we all currently live in.

Or, hey, they can even get fancy and go old school PULL WEEDS BY HAND! (What happened to that type of work???)

THIS IS AN ORGANIC HERBICIDE MIX (can easily be changed according to how much is needed)

1 gallon organic vinegar

1 cup salt

1 tablespoon biodegradable dish soap

Spray bottle

 

Hawthorne could freely market the fact they are toxic chemical free community and that they truly care about the health and well-being of all living things and the planet. Wouldn’t that be an attractive selling point? 

Please sign this petition and help spread the word about these harmful and often fatal chemicals that are being sprayed around our homes, and let’s all strive to build a safer, healthier community! It’s time that we say NO MORE and rise up to make change happen for highest good of all! 

Thank you!

-Concerned residents