Cesar Chavez Pesticide

Pesticides are substances used to destroy organisms that harm cultivated plants. However, it can be harmful to not only farm workers, but to the consumers of the crop. Cesar Chavez was a prominent figure in the fight for the rights of farmers. In his speech “Wrath of Grapes”, using pathos, loaded language and logos, he provokes consumers and farmers to fight in the movement for the rights of farmers and against pesticides.

In the book, Sacrifice Zones, Steve Lerner takes readers through twelve separate stories of communities in the United States that have been unwillingly exposed to high levels of environmental toxicity. In each of these cases, citizens of those communities reacted to and pushed back against being exposed to toxic chemicals, sometimes successfully and sometimes less so. In every case, the people most heavily exposed to these health hazards were minorities and low-income citizens, which, Lerner argues, is why government officials and corporate decision-makers chose knowingly to risk exposing them. This paper will outline Lerner’s book and argue that despite a long history of protests, lawsuits, media attention and nationwide outrage, willing exposure of low-income and minority Americans to toxic chemicals in the pursuit of government and corporate interests is still a major problem today.

Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) (Winter 1992). Malathion Insecticide Factsheet. Journal of Pesticide Reform 12(4). Retrieved May 4, 2008, from

To understand pesticides, we must look at the facts about them. According to the EPA, pesticides are chemicals specifically designed and sold to prevent, destroy, or repel pests from garden, greenhouses, fields, and orchards (Learn About Chemicals Around Your House). Charlotte Gerber’s article, How Do Pesticides Kill Bugs, explained that pesticides targets insects and kills them by attacking the nervous system and then when the muscles are over-stimulated, this will lead to paralysis and death. The effect of the organophosphates that cause that in pesticides was discovered in the 1930's during World War II. They were used in the creation of nerve gas, which was used in chemical warfare. When used in lethal dosages for humans, organophosphates cause extreme excitability, convulsions, paralysis and in most cases, death (Gerber). According to Effects of Pesticides on Human Health, The World Health Organization estimates that there are 3 million cases of pesticide poisoning each year and up to 220,000 deaths, primarily in developing countries (Lah and Glibert 2011). Children, and any other young and developing organisms, are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides. Even very low levels of exposure during development may have adverse health effects. Exposure can even lead to neurological health effects such as memory loss, loss of

The use of pesticides is an important decision that thousands of communities face each year. Nobody likes dealing with mosquitos and the diseases they bring so using chemicals and pesticides is an option but with other consequences. Mosquitos carry West Nile Virus that affects the city of Genericville every year with 50 cases projected this year in the city and two fatalities as well. On the other hand, the chemicals proposed for controlling the mosquito population has its own risks. The pesticide Malathion is also dangerous to people if they come in contact with it before it degrades. The potential for citizens of the city being exposed is almost a certainty

In 17 chapters, many of which can stand alone as essays, Carson develops a deceptively simple premise: the use and overuse of synthetic chemicals to control insect pests introduces these chemicals into the air, water, and soil and into the food chain where they poison animals and humans, and disrupt the many intricate

Another disputed environmental issue is the use of DDT and if it should be banned worldwide. DDT has been a cheap and effective pesticide used against mosquitos carrying malaria, saving millions of lives. However, this pesticide has now been included in the “dirty dozen” due to its environmental effects, but about 25 countries continue to use the toxin (Easton, 281). Anne Platt McGinn provides the stronger argument stating DDT is less effective than previously and it should be banned or reserved for emergency use due to the environmental effects. On the other hand, Professor Donald R. Roberts ineffectively argues the environmental hazards have been misrepresented and the threat of malaria is more important, making DDT necessary to save lives.

This suggests that the roadsides was once beautiful and bloomed with healthy and lively vegetation; however, they are now destroyed due to the use of pesticides. From these examples, it can be shown that even though pesticide is beneficial, its deadly effects outweigh its benefits; in addition, it is a dangerous substances to the environment, organisms, and even human.

America the Beautiful! So why are we destroying it everyday with the use of pesticides? It has been proven that pesticides have affects on it's surrounding, although made to improve earths resources, they typically take there negative effect on the environment in time. Pesticides affect more than the environment; they also affect the animals and humans living in the environment. There are alternative, to this major problem but, we as the caretakers of earth must act fast. In the following paper I'm going to share with you what pesticides are. I'll tell you why they are not safe to use and some of the affects of pesticides. Last, I will talk about some new alternatives there are

Biologists Antonina Rişcu and Marian Bura stand by the theory that pesticides play a large role in the endangerment of bee species in their article “The Impact Of Pesticides On Honey Bees And Hence On Humans.” The article includes other possible causes for the endangerment of bees, including parasites, disease, climate, and pesticides. However, the authors focus on the idea that beekeepers themselves could be poisoning the bees with the inappropriate use of pesticide products (Rişcu, 2013; Bura, 2013).

The initiative tried to discuss the potential environmental and social issues associated with pesticides. Although their website does not clearly state specific examples of this problem, the general organisation attempts to improve ecosystem biodiversity. This initiative as helped to improve this non-governmental organisation’s trustworthiness among the general forestry market because of their tick system. Compared to the other projects (Change Our Fibreboards, FSC Fridays) introduced by FSC, this initiative was more potent because of the rigorous guidelines provided to examine the environmental issues. Some of the strategies show some strengths about the initiative; the 3R and IPM mentioned to prevent any harm

"Obtrusive bugs and ailments are a noteworthy risk to agribusiness, characteristic biological communities and society by and large," said Matthew Thomas, study creator and educator in Ecological Entomology at Penn State, in a public statement. "One of the difficulties we face is foreseeing the following risk and where it will originate from. This study investigates some of these issues at a worldwide scale."

Once implemented, the long-term economic costs of biological control will often be lower than alternative synthetic chemical controls because pesticides require repeated application for ongoing efficacy. Biological control agents often exhibit high target specificity, unlike pesticides which often result in non-target organisms being affected. Pesticides can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain and the chemicals can leach through the soil negatively affecting other organisms. Biological controls will continually target the pest while not affecting other potentially beneficial coexisting organisms. Unlike chemical controls, biological controls are self-perpetuating, and the pests upon which they are acting usually do not develop a resistance, or are slow to develop a resistance. With proper research and understanding, the natural occurrence of biological controls can make their use safer to humans and other organisms than that of synthetic

One concern about pesticides and herbicide usage is the amount of residues left on the end product of crops sprayed with the chemicals, and their effects on human health. (Williamson, 2007, p. 184). However, these effects are closely tested and levels are strictly regulated to ensure there is no danger from possible pesticide residues. Since 1910, many rules, regulations, and agencies have been formed to monitor the safety of the pesticides and herbicides used in conventional farming. These chemicals must meet specific safety standards in order to be registered for use, and regulations on levels of each product safe for use are also put in place. (Tafel et al.,2007, p.184). All pesticides are rigorously examined to ensure they have no significant effects on human health, or the environment. The residues in the food chain are closely monitored, and regularly tested, to ensure they are below legal limits. In a recent survey of residues

In the book 'Silent spring ' written by Rachael Carson we find a picture of Carson 's deep concept about the connection between nature’s equilibrium and the web of life that has been ruined by the uncontrolled use of insecticides which in turn affected the healthy livelihood of this earth’s creatures. Furthermore, she tells the readers of substitute techniques of achieving the same ends. The title of the book is enough to make us understand that it was a hint of a spring season with no bird songs painting our atmosphere meaning that all birds had vanished due to misuse of pesticides.