CHR urges GMA to shelve aerial chemical spraying
Jeffrey M. Tupas, Philippine Daily Inquirer   
Monday, 01 February 2010
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The debate on whether or not to allow aerial spraying of chemicals in banana plantations here and in the rest of the country continues with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) calling on President Macapagal-Arroyo to shelve it.

In a paper, the CHR asked the President to issue an executive order “mandating the shelving of the practice of aerial spraying of pesticide in the country, urgently ordering a time-bound multidisciplinary, comprehensive, independent and integrated study on the matter by a competent team of experts for the purpose.”

The paper was signed by CHR Chair Leila de Lima and four commissioners. It is the latest development in the call to stop the practice.
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Austrian bishops join calls to stop aerial spraying
Roy Lagarde, CBCP News   
Thursday, 14 January 2010
MANILA —Austria’s Catholic hierarchy is the latest group to support the Filipino bishops in urging President Arroyo to ban aerial spraying of pesticides in banana plantations Mindanao.

The Austrian Episcopal Conference made the appeal in a letter sent to Arroyo last month. A copy of which was posted Wednesday at the website (www.rcam.org) of the Archdiocese of Manila.

The Austrian bishops said aerial spraying “infringes upon human health and dignity.”

“Commercial interest may never sacrifice people,” the letter, signed by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Austria president Bishop Ludwig Schwarz, read.

The Austrian bishops called on Arroyo to take side on what is good for the environment and the health of the people.

“...We call on your responsibility to defend the dignity of life and the integrity of creation and, therefore, to use your power in order to ban the use of aerial spraying,” it added.

More groups have joined the call for Malacañang to an executive order banning aerial spraying in Mindanao farming communities.
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Farmers sing Christmas carols to Arroyo
Sunstar Davao   
Thursday, 17 December 2009
MANILA - MINDANAO farmers opposing aerial spraying sang Christmas carols to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, wishing the Chief Executive will give them gift this yuletide season.

The gift the farmers want from the President is a Christmas that is free from poison rain.

The Mindanao farmers affected by aerial spraying from banana plantations sang Christmas carols dedicated to Arroyo under the Nagtahan Bridge near Gate 5 of Malacañang in Manila, Tuesday.

The farmers composing the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (Maas), who have been in Manila for five months now, returned to Malacañang to ask for the long overdue Executive Order (EO) banning aerial spraying as an agricultural practice that is generally used by banana plantation companies.

"Presidente Gloria, sana pamasko mo na sa amin ang EO dahil matindi na ang pinsalang dulot ng aerial spraying sa aming kalusugan at kabuhayan," said Liezl Bacalso, a Maas member from Calinan, Davao City.
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Groups across Asia commemorate 'No Pesticide Use Day'
PinoyPress   
Friday, 04 December 2009
On December 3, 1984, twenty-seven tons of lethal pesticide fumes leaked from Union Carbide’s factory in Bhopal, India. The leak immediately killed about 8,000 people and injured more than 500,000. Tens of thousands have died from the toxic exposure in the years since, and the death toll continues to rise as a result of long-term effects.

In commemoration of the world’s worst chemical disaster in 1984, Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) and its partners commemorate “No Pesticides Use Day” every year, to draw attention to the continuing life threatening impacts of chemical pesticides on people and the environment. This year, PANAP and its partners draw attention to the dangers that highly hazardous pesticides pose to health and the environment. These highly hazardous pesticides are silent Bhopal disasters which continue to happen.

“The people continue to suffer to this day. Pesticide Action Network Philippines (PANPHILS) joins the Bhopal survivors to demand that both Union Carbide and its new owner Dow Chemical stop evading their liabilities and provide just compensation to their victims”, said Dr. Romeo Quijano, President of PAN Philippines. “We demand that governments fulfill their mandate of protecting the fundamental human rights to health and to a healthful environment by ensuring that agrochemical companies are adequately regulated and made accountable for the harm done because of irresponsible pursuit of profits.”, Dr. Quijano added.

PAN Philippines and its partner organizations are spearheading local campaigns to increase public awareness on the dangers of highly hazardous pesticides and the aerial spraying of pesticides, especially in banana plantations.
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