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To: Camden Council and Kier Starmer MP

LETHAL GLYPHOSATE BACK IN CAMDEN SQUARE & WILDLIFE AGAIN AT RISK! PLS RECIRCULATE!

Please act with urgency to save our wildlife and stop the use of horticultural chemicals ever again on Camden Square.

Why is this important?

In April 2013 a weedkiller (this was the heavily toxic Glymark) was sprayed around the circumference of Camden Square. All visible wildlife immediately disappeared. No birds, no squirrels - absolutely nothing. For three months no birds flew through the square. Even the ravens, hardy carrion crow, were nowhere to be seen. Local councillors and environmentalists came down to the square to witness the devastation. It was agreed that no chemicals would be used on Camden Square for a period of a year and the wildlife monitored. We have actually succeeded in keeping Camden Square pesticide free for two and a half years. But the Councillors want to change that now.......

On Thursday 12th November this year, at a meeting about the “improvement and maintenance” of the Square, the big guns were wheeled out with the attendance of no less than THREE Camden Councillors! The decision was reversed, without giving the community a chance to martial the numerous local opponents of the spraying of glyphosate. Councillor Phil Jones stated that there is a HUGE BUDGET to be spent on the square and yet he cannot afford the expense of a little hand weeding? He claimed that our petition had only 200 signatures to date (seriously untrue!) and that there was a lack of support for keeping the Square chemical free.

Angela Mason denied even attending the meeting in April 2013 where she observed the absence of wildlife and that birds had stopped flying through the Square. Her tune has now changed.

As we know, London is heavily polluted. Camden Square is a sanctuary hidden right in the heart of it all that still remains. It is a valuable and ancient lung.

The attendees at this “Camden Square Community Meeting” showed no resistance to proposals to tear up all beautiful rose bushes and axe the central horse chestnut tree, as they find it “ugly”.

It took a whole year for the square to be repopulated with wildlife.

It is of the utmost urgency that Camden Council enforces a total ban of the use of ALL chemicals on the square. The current threat is Glymark, which contains Glyphosate.

Glymark/Round Up/Glyphosate is created and distributed by corporate giant Monsanto, the inventors of the deadly weapon Agent Orange, which devastated Vietnam and its people during the Vietnam War.

Monsanto sadly has huge respectability, with high-level supporters and even an American law, which states they can never be held responsible if their products are proved to be harmful to humans or animals. http://www.globalresearch.ca/monsanto-protection-act-signed-by-obama-gmo-bill-written-by-monsanto-signed-into-law/5329388 Monsanto are leaders of the GM revolution, which means that 90% of US crops are now genetically modified.

According to e-newsletter “Sustainable Pulse” and many other studies,

“For the past 35 years Monsanto has known of the link between glyphosate and cancer, but has systematically worked to cover it up through scientifically fraudulent methods in its safety testing research programme.….. For the first time the authors, Dr. Anthony Samsel and Dr. Stephanie Seneff, presented in tabulated form the data contained in secret Monsanto studies conducted in the period 1980 – 1990, which showed unequivocally that animals exposed to different quantities of glyphosate in their food supply developed tumorigenic growth in multiple organs.”

“Monsanto Stunned – California Confirms ‘Roundup’ Will Be Labeled “Cancer Causing”. American news sources declared in September 2015:

Holland is the latest European country to forbid the use of glyphosates in eg. residential areas.

These chemicals are toxic, not only to the environment, but also to human beings and pets, causing permanent damage to eyesight and respiratory disorders. Toddlers and children frequent the square and will be at severe risk.

Please sign with urgency to stop the destruction of Camden Square wildlife. An ultimate ban on such toxic chemicals in Camden, London and further is the ultimate goal. Here's the article from Camden New Journal in 2014: http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2014/may/councils-chemical-weedkiller-burned-pet-dogs-and-killed-squirrels-campaigners-claim.

Digging Camden Square all up, chemicalising it, re-sculpting it just to qualify the spending of a budget, plus pandering to some deeply un-naturalistic homeowners who want to feel that they are presiding as in Hampton Court, is a crime against our ancient and beautiful Square.

How it will be delivered

By email. Perhap a demo as well. Possible delivery of petition to Town Hall.

Camden Square, London NW1 9XA

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

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Updates

2016-06-17 18:41:36 +0100

Hammersmith and Fulham are the first London council to ban the use of glyphosates! Good for them! Today, as we reach the magic number of 3,333 signatures perhaps the end of the spraying is in sight. Councillors Meric Apak, Phil Jones and Angela Mason - take note!
http://www.hortweek.com/london-council-bans-contractor-use-glyphosate-parks/parks-and-gardens/article/1398373

2016-06-11 01:51:04 +0100

3,000 signatures reached! The sky's the limit now! Thank you, thank you dear supporters. Please keep sharing. After all, even the Daily Mail has written about how glyphosate has been found in everyday foods! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3549841/Bagels-eggs-cancer-causing-WEED-KILLER-Poisonous-herbicide-invading-food-chain-experts-warn-traces-popular-breakfast-foods.html

2016-06-10 18:22:22 +0100

All you need to control weeds is a bit of vinegar and maybe some newspaper! Great article - http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2011/06/got-weeds-use-vinegar-not-roundup/

2016-06-09 10:47:34 +0100

Great news in the Guardian just three days ago. Monsanto have been refused a temporary extension for glyphosate! http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/06/recall-of-monsantos-roundup-likely-as-eu-refuses-limited-use-of-glyphosate

2016-05-31 10:08:58 +0100

At the same time, the movement to ban glyphosates has grown even stronger. France is holding out against the chemical and The Independent reports a few days ago that,

"Europe's favourite weedkiller faces being banned within weeks over cancer fears" - http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/glyphosate-roundup-weedkiller-banned-cancer-european-union-license-a7037901.html.

Monsanto is barely out of the news. Scarily German pharmaceuticals giant Bayer, which has its own GM crop division, has bid $62 billion for Monsanto, which could mean that in future Monsanto could be based in Europe. They have said no to the bid, but are still "in talks".

Back to the good news. This petition has gone viral and numbers of signatures have more than trebled in just a few days. Let's keep going and going and thanks to all who have signed and those signatures that are yet to come! And to 38 Degrees for promoting this landmark petition.

2016-05-31 10:08:27 +0100

STOP PRESS - LATEST NEWS.

Sadly, despite pages of letters and articles in the Camden New Journal, and this petition, spraying was recommenced on Camden Square in April 2016. Residents were aghast to see spraying even taking place in the rain. This is supposed to be forbidden, as it can mean that the glyphosate can enter the capital's water table.

2016-05-29 09:16:58 +0100

1,000 signatures reached

2015-12-17 22:59:59 +0000

Some very good news! A full page spread of letters in today's Camden New Journal, all in our favour! Here's one - but you'll find lots on their letters page http://camdennewjournal.com/letters/2015/dec/use-glyphosate-puts-people-and-pets-risk

2015-12-08 17:29:17 +0000

https://vk.com/doc10767639_437002162?hash=730e12c33aa650d3e5&dl=db9e69b3623a97ea4c

2015-12-08 16:44:22 +0000

file:///Users/Candice/Desktop/tumblr_nh8tgfcMoo1r67212o1_500.gif

2015-12-08 16:43:20 +0000

We want happy foxes everywhere.
file:///Users/Candice/Desktop/tumblr_nh8tgfcMoo1r67212o1_500.gif

2015-12-04 14:06:34 +0000

Fantastic! The lead on this week's Camden New Journal letters page and no less than FOUR letters opposing the use of glyphosate! One from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and one from local Green Party councillor Sian Berry! Bless all the writers! https://www.flickr.com/photos/137146545@N02/22889245953/in/dateposted-public/

2015-11-24 18:02:48 +0000

Our flagship poster!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/137146545@N02/23172233292/in/dateposted-public/

2015-11-24 16:02:28 +0000

If so moved, please write to Phil Jones and co. and tell them what you think of their corrupt actions! There is nothing on the leaflet to suggest that there is going to be such a vote and no way of knowing exactly who was invited! Talk about a banana republic! Get this - Phil Jones is the cabinet member for Sustainability and the Environment! Talk about getting turkeys to vote for Christmas! [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

2015-11-24 16:02:16 +0000

This is the latest. As stated above, there was a meeting with three councillors and a group of householders on November 12th. I attach the leaflet that was posted through my door about two days before the meeting. It states that it is about the "improvement and maintenance" of the Square. Having been lambasted by the councillors, I didn't stay till the bitter end. As explained, I naively did not expect that I would need supporters at that meeting. As I remember, there were about 30-40 people at the meeting. Apparently, after I left, a vote was taken as to whether to start spraying the Square with glyphosate again - and it was passed! How can this be a legitimate meeting and result!! https://www.flickr.com/photos/137146545@N02/22884358057/in/dateposted-public/To date we have more than 800 votes against the spraying of glyphosate from this petition. More to follow.....