Greetings,

The Ministry of Forests has a Pesticide Use Permit for an aerial and
ground spray of the Burnaby Lake Park area (322 hectares) four times
with Foray 48B; a bacterial (Bt) chemical pesticide. The stated purpose
of the spraying is the control of 23 gypsy moths, and it is scheduled to
take place between April 1, and June 30, 2000. The spraying has been
appealed, and the Environmental Appeal Board will be holding a public
hearing on March 27, 2000 at a location which has yet to be decided.

The area targeted for spraying, is home to four daycare centres, an
elementary school, a dairy, a wildlife rescue association, a riding
stables, light industry and private residences. There is also a
butterfly garden and Nature House in Burnaby Lake Park.

A letter from the Society Targeting Overuse of Pesticides:
--------------------------------------------------------------
"SILENT SPRING 2000."

Our water, air and soil are contaminated with chemical pollutants. Local
birds and wildlife are displaying an alarming number of deformities.
Asthma and other respiratory diseases are on the rise. And, the
government plans to aerial spray Burnaby with a live bacteria (Bt),
unknown chemical formulation. When this pesticide was sprayed in other
areas, damage to human health, pets, wildlife, and the environment were
reported.

The B.C. Environmental Appeal Board stopped the spraying of Bt in New
Westminster and Victoria, due to concerns about human health and the
environment. The Board was particularly concerned about the spray's
adverse effects on children, the elderly, the immunocompromised and
those with respiratory illness.

Since then, there have been a number of scientific discoveries about Bt,
which cast this pesticide in an even grimmer light.

For instance, French government scientists have called for a ban on Bt
after finding that the inhaled spores cause lung inflammation, internal
bleeding and death in laboratory mice. The team began studies on Bt,
after it destroyed tissue in the wounds of a French soldier in Bosnia.

Bt is harmful to the immune system. A new study of Ohio crop pickers and
handlers found that Bt can provoke immunological changes indicative of a
developing allergy. With long-term exposure, affected individuals might
develop asthma or other serious allergic reactions.

A study in the Netherlands, found that Bt spores remain active for a
year or more, and reproduce in living organisms. As a result, and
because Bt is so closely related to the bacteria which cause food
poisoning, meningitis, and anthrax, Dutch authorities are calling for
mandatory DNA testing before the release of these genetically engineered
pesticides.

A Bt manufacturer insists that the product is safe, because the bacteria
is not exposed to blood. However, pesticides do not require a cut or
wound in order to enter the bloodstream. They are easily absorbed into
the body through the skin.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the Health Department
still says Bt is safe.

But then it wasn't so long ago that they said DDT was safe too...

For a full report on the dangers of Bt, visit our website:

http://www.vcn.bc.ca/stop

Sincerely,
Christopher Lewis
President, S.T.O.P.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A Map of the Spray Area:

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/forsite/fhealth/burnaby.gif

Please visit the S.T.O.P. web site and email your show of support,

http://www.vcn.bc.ca/stop

Thank you,
Joseph.

*********************************************************************
Observations from another perspective.
Images, moments in time; sounds; and video.
*********************************************************************
^
/(*> http://www.Earthlings.org
//\\
//__))
// || Joseph Gr?goire, observer.
// ^^ mailto:stelrsj at Earthlings.org
// Fax: (604)436-5895.
*********************************************************************
Located south of Deer Lake, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, Earth.
*********************************************************************