Oh and Mike, I am a scientist, and an ecologist at that! Thanks for being brave Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 31, 2020, at 16:04, Mike Rummerfield <mikerumm@gmail.com> wrote: > > Jo&Greg, > Thank you for your response and support. It means so much to me. > > I was very nervous and anxious about sending any response at all to that > emailer (I'm trying not to use names in order not to be accusatory toward > any individual. Perhaps this is a mistake). I thought I could possibly > even be banished from the PBS email list, but I just can't be quiet any > longer. > > I'm not a scientist. I'm a gardener, both by vocation (now retired) and > avocation with a keen interest in a healthy planet. > > I just wish more people would stop to think about the results of their > decisions, and I wish I had the intellectual capacity to address this issue > succinctly, articulately, convincingly, and irrefutably (fat chance of > that!). It all seems so overwhelming. > > Interestingly, the two emails I've received in support of my response have > both come from Canadians. > Yay Canada! > > Thank you again, > Mike > >> On Fri, Jan 31, 2020 at 3:22 PM Jo&Greg <sun-coast-pearl@telus.net> wrote: >> >> Mike-- >> Many thanks for your viewpoint. You said it better than I could. >> Jo Canning >> Vancouver Island >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: pbs <pbs-bounces@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> On Behalf Of Mike >> Rummerfield >> Sent: Friday, January 31, 2020 2:20 PM >> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> >> Subject: Re: [pbs] Herbicides >> >> If, as you say, " it's important to look at the details wherein is >> contained the devil and you clearly cannot obtain accurate facts from >> "like-minded individuals" on social media", then it seems that all the >> research you've done and presented is from "like-minded individuals", and >> industry sponsored and published papers. It only takes a cursory search to >> find the refutation of your arguments for the 'safety' of herbicides, and >> glyphosate in particular. You could start with non Hodgkins lymphoma/Mayo >> clinic; plus the multitude of lawsuits involving individuals with non >> Hodgkins lymphoma and Bayer, the current owner of Roundup; Agent >> Orange/Vietnam veterans; lawsuits won in court resulting in Monsanto >> having to withdraw their claim that glysophate binds with soil particles, >> making it benign; The World Health Organization/glyphosate; >> California/glyphosate; glyphosate resistant Superweeds (although I suppose >> you could argue for Superhippeastrums) ; the list goes on and on >> and..................... >> >> The "organic chemicals" you refer to are organic in the sense that they >> contain carbon and hydrogen in their makeup (most organic compounds >> contain at least one carbon–hydrogen bond, hence the name hydrocarbon). >> This misleading argument has for many years fed into the confusion over, >> and the difference between, organic chemistry and organic standards >> regarding food production and the environment. Though they share the word >> 'organic', they are completely different subjects, though obviously >> intertwined. >> >> You say, "Glyphosate, for one is the 800 pound gorilla because it is so >> safe and useful". What is this statement based on? Is glyphosate useful? >> Yes (if you are willing to ignore the downsides). Is it effective at >> killing some weeds? Yes. Is it convenient and easy to use? Yes, very. >> Is it safe? * No *(see above). "There are approximately 280 million >> pounds of glyphosate applied to 298 million acres annually in agricultural >> settings (MRD, 2012-2016).Apr 18, 2019" This is *per year*. >> Follow the money. >> >> All the rationalizations for the continued use of herbicides do not make >> it safe. >> >> Denial and diversion have not proven to be effective strategies in matters >> of life. >> >> Don, I think the relevant issue here is not whether Hippeastrum is >> resistant to glyphosate (Roundup) or not. It is whether glyphosate is safe >> to use or not - not just safe for the Hippeastrum, but safe for other >> living things, including us. >> All areas of the world have their own set of weeds that are difficult to >> control. Yours are bermuda grass and nut sedge. In my area, two of them >> are quack grass and canary grass, and I detest them; there are others. >> Just try arguing with our ubiquitous Himalayan blackberry - you quickly >> become a torn, shredded, bloody mess. There are other strategies to >> dealing with these pests other than the application of glyphosate, though >> they may be less convenient and easy. >> >> I guess this all comes down to priorities - the short term convenience and >> ease of use vs. the longer term promotion of life. >> >> Most sincerely, >> Mike >> >> _______________________________________________ >> pbs mailing list >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net >> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… >> > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…