LOCAL ROUND UP
LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL EMPLOY THE MAKERS OF AGENT ORANGE
Here's a test: what have the following got in common?
- The company that brought us Agent Orange.
- The one that lied about dioxin contamination of its products.
- The one that had to pay out $108 million after the death of a worker from
leukaemia.
- The company that produces NutraSweet, the artificial sweetener that contains
Aspartame: said to cause brain tumours and a whole host of other ailments.
- The company that inserted a gene into to its rape seed that wasn't approved.
You've guessed it. They're all the same company; Monsanto. So, would you trust
this company if they told you that a weedkiller called Glyphosate, which
they produce is safe? Well, Liverpool City Council believe them. They
allow Glyphosate to be liberally sprayed all over streets, parks and gardens.
They say that the only community safety implication is that: "The avoidance
of heavy weed growth helps prevent hazards to pedestrians*". WHAT?
Why do the council ignore the health risks of using glyphosate and the
chemicals it is mixed with for spraying weeds. The council's workers,
in environmental maintenance, have complained about safety provision.
Contractors have been seen spraying without using safety equipment or
ensuring the safety of the public.
ARE YOU READY FOR ROUNDUP?
Monsanto's lies about glyphosate - which they market as Roundup - were exposed by
Friends of the Earth in a report published in July**. One Swedish source
has linked Roundup with the cancer Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Monsanto deny
that glyphosate causes cancer, birth defects, mutagenic and neurotoxic
effects and reproductive problems. We believe them - Not.
* Environmental Portfolio on Weed Control Liverpool City Council 15 March
2001.
** Health and environmental impacts of glyphosate: the implications of
increased use of glyphosate in association with genetically modified crops,
A report researched and written by David Buffin and Topsy Jewell of the
Pesticide Action Network UK.
ARRIVA LATE AGAIN, BUT MAKING PROFITS
The safety for profits trade-off that has wrecked the national rail network
is now threatening to destroy the local rail system. A new report by the
North West Rail Passengers council has accused Arriva, the company that
runs MerseyRail of jeopardising safety on the rail network. The company
- which also operates a large slice of the Merseyside bus network - has
been running Merseyrail on the cheap. The result has been frequent train
cancellations and cuts in the maintenance budget - crucial for keeping
trains in a safe condition. Arriva predictably blamed its workers for
refusing to work long hours, but the Rail Passengers Committee have attacked
the company for failing its public responsibility.
BLUES SPONSORS TO ERECT CANCER MASTS
Everton sponsors, the telephone company One2One are taking advantage of
a legal loop hole to build two new mobile phone masts in Menlove Avenue
and Woolton Road. The company had applied to the council for planning
permission, but despite a growing body of evidence that links some forms
of cancer to mobile phone masts, our representatives in the council failed
to make up their minds and take a decision within the 42 day legal time
limit. This means that One2One can put up the masts despite local opposition.
A local campaign, the Mast Action Group has been set up to oppose the
plans and raise awareness about cancer risks and mobile phone masts.
MORE GREENBELT SOLD OFF
It seems that laws, policies nor public opinion make a blind bit of difference
these days, when it comes to big companies and money. Despite the area
in and around the old Riversdale college in Grassendale being part of
protected greenbelt area, Wimpy have been given the go ahead to build
245 new homes on almost 30 acres of land, in a city with 10,000 empty
and derelict sights. We see more and more green space being sold off,
all so a few individuals can increase their bank balance. Opponents of
the site believe it will 'adversely effect the green wedge site and cause
a major disturbance of the ecology in the area'. We should start thinking
about causing a major disturbance to their greedy plans.
WE DON'T WANNA PAY ANOTHER ROBE WEARING TURD
The results of the council organised ballot on the idea of having a Mayor
of Liverpool are in. Only 2,280 (1% of people asked) bothered to vote.
It seems that the other 217,720 people couldn't care less. Of the 1% that
voted, more than half said they didn't want a mayor in Liverpool anyway.
Unbelievably the leader of Liverpool Council Mike 'Jackanory' Storey took
this as a measure of approval, saying "it suggests the people of Liverpool
are satisfied with the way things are being done in their city." No Mike,
it suggests that 99% of the people of Liverpool don't trust you an inch
and don't want another useless arsehole like you with the power to waste
even more of our money.
