Review of paraquat green light demanded

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

HUNDREDS of activists will rally at Government House today to demand a review of the decision to not ban three dangerous farm chemicals.

 

On May 23, the Hazardous Substance Committee voted to restrict rather than ban the use of paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos, while claiming that their impacts on health remained debatable.

 

“We will submit a petition to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to press for the review,” Thailand Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN) co-ordinator Prokchol Ousap said yesterday.

 

She said the representatives from more than 300 other organisations would join her network in the rally. 

 

According to Prokchol, at least three members of the 29-member Hazardous Substance Committee had conflicts of interest and should not have voted. 

 

“The committee should release the information on which it based its decision,” Prokchol said. 

 

She said her group expected a response within two months. 

 

At present, 53 countries including Laos and Cambodia, have banned paraquat. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30346972

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-05

3 hours ago, webfact said:

On May 23, the Hazardous Substance Committee voted to restrict rather than ban the use of paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos, while claiming that their impacts on health remained debatable.

Yeah right. Just another new watch/Benz to add to various collections...……….

23 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

Yeah right. Just another new watch/Benz to add to various collections...……….

I think big pharma had something to do with this too. But farmers love paraquat they would hate not to use it. Its the consumers who dislike the poisons. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

At present, 53 countries including Laos and Cambodia, have banned paraquat. 

This is so embarrassing for Thailand 4.0 who aimed to transform the economy.  

5 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

This is so embarrassing for Thailand 4.0 who aimed to transform the economy.  

Farmers really want to keep using the stuff, it would probably cause them more work if they could not. The producers want to keep selling it to Thailand (they probably bought some tea). Its only the consumers that want it banned, I am one of those consumers.

 

What I also would love to see (yes I am living in a fantasy world) regular testing of the vegetables in fresh markets and shops like the Makro to see if they don't have too many pesticides on them. I eat a lot of vegetables mostly bought at the Makro even though they are cleaned well i still have to worry about it. Usually eating vegetables is healthy, might not be the case in Thailand.

 

I would not mind paying extra to know things are tested but we know how things work here in this country. I can moan all I want i chose to live here. Just feels good writing it down.

6 hours ago, robblok said:

I think big pharma had something to do with this too. But farmers love paraquat they would hate not to use it. Its the consumers who dislike the poisons. 

In my opinion what swung the decision to approve these poisons was the collective voices of those doctors who claimed on behalf of the big pharmas that they were safe to use.

No doubt these doctors were paid handsomely by the pharmas to publicly give their opinion and assurances about these products. It is safe to assume they wouldn't have done it for free.

Getting paid for telling lies is normal practice in Thailand. It is standard practice for a few leading people of this government.

 

Edited June 5, 20188 yr by Cadbury

How many healthy lime farmers over 45 years old do you know?

18 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

In my opinion what swung the decision to approve these poisons was the collective voices of those doctors who claimed on behalf of the big pharmas that they were safe to use.

No doubt these doctors were paid handsomely by the pharmas to publicly give their opinion and assurances about these products. It is safe to assume they wouldn't have done it for free.

Getting paid for telling lies is normal practice in Thailand. It is standard practice for a few leading people of this government.

 

I agree, those doctors were the main reason that it is still allowed, i disagree that its exclusive to this government. I havent seen a government act for the people in Thailand yet. That includes the ones that were voted in. They are all in it for the money.

 

Those doctors were probably paid a lot of money by big pharma like you said. 

 

Anyway not going to change anytime soon, maybe with the future forward party but not with any of the old players. They demonstrated their moral bankruptcy already (I mean democrats and Shins). This guy might have a shot, but not in next elections I doubt he will get a big enough following to make any meaningful changes or stand up against practices like this. Still new faces are the future.

2 hours ago, robblok said:

Farmers really want to keep using the stuff, it would probably cause them more work if they could not. The producers want to keep selling it to Thailand (they probably bought some tea). Its only the consumers that want it banned, I am one of those consumers.

 

What I also would love to see (yes I am living in a fantasy world) regular testing of the vegetables in fresh markets and shops like the Makro to see if they don't have too many pesticides on them. I eat a lot of vegetables mostly bought at the Makro even though they are cleaned well i still have to worry about it. Usually eating vegetables is healthy, might not be the case in Thailand.

 

I would not mind paying extra to know things are tested but we know how things work here in this country. I can moan all I want i chose to live here. Just feels good writing it down.

Where does Makro get most of its produce ...China .... what do Chinese farmers use for fertilizer ....mmmmm. <deleted> I dont know. I am lucky enough to live in Chiang rai where we have so many organic farmers and The princess comes down once a year to look at their work. I too love veggies

17 hours ago, robblok said:

Farmers really want to keep using the stuff, it would probably cause them more work if they could not. The producers want to keep selling it to Thailand (they probably bought some tea). Its only the consumers that want it banned, I am one of those consumers.

 

What I also would love to see (yes I am living in a fantasy world) regular testing of the vegetables in fresh markets and shops like the Makro to see if they don't have too many pesticides on them. I eat a lot of vegetables mostly bought at the Makro even though they are cleaned well i still have to worry about it. Usually eating vegetables is healthy, might not be the case in Thailand.

 

I would not mind paying extra to know things are tested but we know how things work here in this country. I can moan all I want i chose to live here. Just feels good writing it down.

There are places to shop here that probably have healthier food choices  ?

4 minutes ago, junglechef said:

There are places to shop here that probably have healthier food choices  ?

I can go to tops, but cant be sure there either.. and taking your chances at a market (also Chinese import) is just as foolish. The locals here also are not organic. So wherever you go unless you got real access to organic stuff its real hard. 

22 minutes ago, robblok said:

I can go to tops, but cant be sure there either.. and taking your chances at a market (also Chinese import) is just as foolish. The locals here also are not organic. So wherever you go unless you got real access to organic stuff its real hard. 

 

So, I'm not the only one who's skeptical when I see something labelled "organic", with a price that's several multiples?

 

5 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

So, I'm not the only one who's skeptical when I see something labelled "organic", with a price that's several multiples?

 

Given Thailand its laks enforcement of rules we cant be sure at all.

On 6/6/2018 at 8:28 AM, robblok said:

I can go to tops, but cant be sure there either.. and taking your chances at a market (also Chinese import) is just as foolish. The locals here also are not organic. So wherever you go unless you got real access to organic stuff its real hard. 

Why would you think big chains are concerned with your health over of being mainly profit motivated?

3 hours ago, junglechef said:

Why would you think big chains are concerned with your health over of being mainly profit motivated?

I have more faith in big chains than the markets, and of course big chains are profit motivated.