Events highlight pesticide dangers
Events to highlight environmental and health risks of pesticides run from this Friday until March 30.
THE fourth “Semaine pour les Alternatives aux Pesticides” (Week for Alternatives to Pesticides) will see hundreds of events around France aiming to warn the public of the dangers of such chemicals.
Bodies including local authorities, companies and associations all over the country are organising events to show the health and environmental risks linked to the use of pesticides, which the organisers say are unacceptable.
Organisers say the want to educate the public about viable alternatives to pesticides and to put to put pressure on decision makers.
France uses the most pesticides in European although the government has set a target of reducing usage by 50% - by 2018 “if possible.”
Among those taking part are the Association des Jardiniers de France who are running dozens of workshops on “natural gardening” and the city council of Paris, which will be explaining how it uses eco-friendly methods in managing its parks.
Click on the map here to find out what is going on near you, including visits to organic orchards and gardens, exhibitions, talks, debates and film shows.
The “week” is from Friday March 20 to Monday March 30.
The event was started by France in 2006, but has also spread abroad, with events taking place this year in countries including Belgium, Quebec, three African countries, New Caledonia (a French territory in the Pacific) and Brazil.
