This week we hit a major milestone, with more than 10,000 signatures on our petition to restrict the use of glyphosate in public spaces in Australia, in just a matter of weeks. 

I know many of you have shared this petition to help it reach this point, so thank you, first and foremost, for your support. 

Germany took a significant step towards phasing out glyphosate with it's Environment Ministry this week announcing tougher regulations on the use of herbicides and pesticides, and a staged exit from the use of glyphosate. 

Here in Australia, we have to wait for the outcome of the senate inquiry to investigate the independence and effectiveness of our national pesticides regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Association, which is not due until February 2019. 

I've been shocked and saddened to hear some horrific stories in the weeks since this petition was launched:

"Every time our local council sprayed it in our park next door we would have mass bee drops in our back yard - like thousands of bees, my plants were mutating and doing weird things in their growth. I’d also get respiratory problems every time they sprayed, with really bad asthma." - BJ Ariasa, Western Australia. 

"We lost four of our bitches and three litters of puppies due to council workers spraying along our boundy boarder without consulting with us." - Alastair.

"I have lived in an agricultural and grape growing area for years and even the smell of it sets off my asthma... as a horticulturalist  I refuse to use it, ironically I've just been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma." - Marie, NSW. 

"I have used Roundup for most of my working life. I have been in remission for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma for 6 weeks. It will be interesting on the findings in February it could open up a can of worms." - Steven, NSW. 

"I have a relative who was accidentally sprayed by a crop duster when she was in her second year studying architecture. She was driving in the country; the spray filled her car because her window was down to enjoy the fresh country air. She had a grand mal fit and is severely retarded to this day... a progressive loss of function and a total loss of ability to care for herself." - Sheena.

If you or anyone you know has experienced health issues as a result of glyphosate based herbicides and would be willing to share, please get in touch with me at zara@ohmygoodness.net - it's stories like these that will help build much needed awareness about the need for immediate action to restrict their use. 

Please keep sharing this petition to help reach our next goal of 15,000 signatures and send a strong message to Canberra that we cannot wait until February for action on this issue.