Yesterday's decision by the Nova Scotia Department of Environment to allow the spraying of 'VisionMax', which contains glyphosate, to kill off hardwood stands on selected woodlands in the Province is both dangerous and irresponsible in light of the fact that the World Health Organization deemed glyphosate a probable human carcinogen in 2015.  

Here are some quick points to consider:

• Monsanto, who made Agent Orange and PCB's, also makes Vision and Vision MAX among other defoliants/herbicides/pesticides
• Glyphosate and many other pesticides are banned in other countries and even as close as Quebec
• Denmark banned glyphosate because it was found in well water
• Spray areas that have blueberries are deemed unedible
• Pesticides do not stay where they are sprayed, a test was done at 10ft in the air with a 3 mile wind and the spray drifted 21 miles, which is why it is our right NOT to be exposed against our will
• Pesticides poison more than 6 000 Canadians every year and almost half of them are children younger than six, the David Suzuki Foundation says after reviewing poison control records across the country

It has been proven that Glyphosate residues in soil have persisted over a year.

Glyphosate exposure damages or reduces the population of many animals, including beneficial insects, fish, birds, and earthworms. In some cases glyphosate is directly toxic; for example, concentrations as low as 10 parts per million can kill fish and 1/20 of typical application rates caused delayed development in earthworms. In other cases, (small mammals and birds, for example) glyphosate reduces populations by damaging the vegetation that provides food and shelter for the animals.

Do we really want to allow this chemical to be sprayed over our forests, streams, rivers, lakes and wild areas?!  Is this the legacy we want to leave for our children and grandchildren?