Witnesses from India and the Philippines to attend the People’s Inquiry Media Release 12 March 2006. With one week to go before the People's Inquiry into the aerial spraying of pesticides gets underway in Waitakere City, the Steering Committee confirmed that five overseas guests would be attending the six day hearings. The Convenor, Hana Blackmore, said today that the attendance of delegations from India and the Philippines as part of a community exchange programme initiative of Pesticide Action Network Asia & the Pacific (PANAP) was a great honour. "They will be here to support the people of Waitakere, Auckland and North Shore Cities during the hearings. Their presence will provide a unique opportunity to witness and share each others stories, as they have also experienced the unfortunate effects of misguided aerial spraying”. Dr Meriel Watts, Co-Convenor of PANAP’s Pesticide Taskforce and Co-ordinator of PAN Aotearoa New Zealand, said that the Inquiry Steering Committee was arranging a special lunchtime session on Friday 24th March, in the Council Chamber, for the people from India and the Philippines to share their experiences.
”They will be able to share with us their experiences of the effects of aerial spraying of pesticides over their villages, and also the steps taken by their communities to deal with the situation".
Dr Watts said the Indian delegation will reveal what has happened to their health, their children and their animals as a result of many years of aerial spraying of the insecticide endosulfan on nearby cashew nut plantations. In the Philippines, ongoing aerial spraying of a number of pesticides on banana plantations has resulted in environmental devastation and chronic health effects.
The Convenor, Hana Blackmore, said she hoped that as many people as possible would attend the special session. Members of the public are welcome.
What: The aerial spraying of pesticides - an international perspective. When: Friday 24th March – 1.00 – 2.00pm Where: Council Chambers, Waitakere City Council Civic Centre, 6 Waipareira Ave, Lincoln. Media and members of the public welcome. ---------------------------------------------- Supported by Waitakere City Council, Clean Green Car Co, AIMS ----------------------------------------------
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