I am an Audubon member, very active - a chapter president - and I am appalled by what the National organization proposes to do.
This is one of those times that I feel we all need to join forces and speak out on the following: National Audubon’s intention to ally itself with chemical pesticide manufacturers!!!
For more than forty years, the National Audubon Society has been involved with the national effort to reduce and eliminate the use of pesticides, especially for aesthetic purposes. So it is alarming to see that National Audubon is poised to join with the Monsanto Corporation, DuPont, Dow AgroScience, the Scotts Corporation and other pesticide manufacturers, to publicly endorse the use of pesticides on lawns and gardens.
A consumer guideline, entitled “Environmental Guidelines for Responsible Lawn Care and Landscaping,” (written primarily by the pesticide industry - and apparently agreed to by representatives from both Audubon and the National Wildlife Federation as part of this alliance)- is scheduled to be finalized at the Lawns and Environment Conference next week in San Antonio, Texas.
In a nutshell, the guidelines promote the use of chemical pesticides by homeowners ~ couched in “expert advice” on lawn and landscape care.
The point is that these guidelines will be flaunting the Audubon/National Wildlife names wherever pesticides are sold NATIONWIDE, confusing consumers and sending a false and dangerous message about pesticide use.
Not many consumers (if any) will go through the guide thoroughly, and/or be able to pick out the sound advice from the pro-pesticide advice. Most will just assume these toxic chemicals are “safe” , since Audubon’s name will be in front of them. Make no mistake - the Audubon name will be trumpeted by the pesticide industry as it rolls over any effort to curtail pesticide use in this country – if these guidelines go forward.
Historically, when it came to protecting the environment Audubon has spoken with authority and integrity.
When Rachel Carson wrote “Silent Spring,” the National Audubon Society stood firmly by her side as the giant pesticide companies sought to derail her noble effort. One can only imagine her reaction to learn that Audubon has taken such a step to reverse its position and is now standing side by side with those same companies!
Now, Audubon has a shocking alliance with the manufacturers of the very pesticides that have killed untold millions of birds and other wildlife, polluted our land and water, taxed our bodies (and the bodies of wildlife) with a chemical body burden that affects the very quality of life on earth. And it undercuts years of effort and progress by individual members, citizens, state and local Audubon chapters and other environmental organizations to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides for aesthetic lawn care. More importantly, it erodes the trust thousands have placed in the name “Audubon”. With this alliance, Audubon is publicly promoting the use of pesticides, (no matter how carefully worded the endorsement might be), and sends the wrong message to homeowners across this country.
We need to STOP AUDUBON from following through on this ill-advised, irrevocable and perilous action!
There is a meeting to finalize these guidelines next week – we need to act NOW.
1. Call the National Audubon headquarters at (212) 979-3000 TODAY or Monday and let them know how you feel. Ask for Public Relations.
2. E-mail Audubon’s top executives and tell them how you feel:
· Bob Perciasepe, Chief Operating Officer, at [email protected]
· John Flicker, President, at [email protected].
· You may get an “out of office” reply, but that’s OK. Two other phone numbers come up on the out of office reply, so you can call them as well: “Contact Eddie Flaherty in DC with Washington questions (202 861 2242) and Sue Mackey in NY with NY questions (212 979 3071)
E-mail John Bianchi in the Press Office of Audubon: [email protected]
4. If you live in MASS., please note that Massachusetts Audubon is a separate organization from the National Audubon. You may want to call them (781-259-9500) and ask them to send their protest to National Audubon.
You can read how the chemical pesticide industry is positioning this campaign by cutting and pasting the following into your search engine.
http://grounds-mag.com/ar/grounds_maintenance_environmental_groups_lawn/
However, please be aware that they neglect to tell you that the group RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sustainable Environment) is a organization made up of Monsanto, Dow Chemical, Du Pont, Scotts, to name a few of the major pesticide manufacturers!) ~ and that Monsanto has given National Audubon a donation of $2 million!!! To see the article on the donation cut and paste
http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/Montsano_Release.html
Please forward this email on to your own email lists –garden clubs, naturalists, birders, environmental groups, concerned citizens, friends and family across the state, across the country.
This is one of those times that I feel we all need to join forces and speak out on the following: National Audubon’s intention to ally itself with chemical pesticide manufacturers!!!
For more than forty years, the National Audubon Society has been involved with the national effort to reduce and eliminate the use of pesticides, especially for aesthetic purposes. So it is alarming to see that National Audubon is poised to join with the Monsanto Corporation, DuPont, Dow AgroScience, the Scotts Corporation and other pesticide manufacturers, to publicly endorse the use of pesticides on lawns and gardens.
A consumer guideline, entitled “Environmental Guidelines for Responsible Lawn Care and Landscaping,” (written primarily by the pesticide industry - and apparently agreed to by representatives from both Audubon and the National Wildlife Federation as part of this alliance)- is scheduled to be finalized at the Lawns and Environment Conference next week in San Antonio, Texas.
In a nutshell, the guidelines promote the use of chemical pesticides by homeowners ~ couched in “expert advice” on lawn and landscape care.
The point is that these guidelines will be flaunting the Audubon/National Wildlife names wherever pesticides are sold NATIONWIDE, confusing consumers and sending a false and dangerous message about pesticide use.
Not many consumers (if any) will go through the guide thoroughly, and/or be able to pick out the sound advice from the pro-pesticide advice. Most will just assume these toxic chemicals are “safe” , since Audubon’s name will be in front of them. Make no mistake - the Audubon name will be trumpeted by the pesticide industry as it rolls over any effort to curtail pesticide use in this country – if these guidelines go forward.
Historically, when it came to protecting the environment Audubon has spoken with authority and integrity.
When Rachel Carson wrote “Silent Spring,” the National Audubon Society stood firmly by her side as the giant pesticide companies sought to derail her noble effort. One can only imagine her reaction to learn that Audubon has taken such a step to reverse its position and is now standing side by side with those same companies!
Now, Audubon has a shocking alliance with the manufacturers of the very pesticides that have killed untold millions of birds and other wildlife, polluted our land and water, taxed our bodies (and the bodies of wildlife) with a chemical body burden that affects the very quality of life on earth. And it undercuts years of effort and progress by individual members, citizens, state and local Audubon chapters and other environmental organizations to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides for aesthetic lawn care. More importantly, it erodes the trust thousands have placed in the name “Audubon”. With this alliance, Audubon is publicly promoting the use of pesticides, (no matter how carefully worded the endorsement might be), and sends the wrong message to homeowners across this country.
We need to STOP AUDUBON from following through on this ill-advised, irrevocable and perilous action!
There is a meeting to finalize these guidelines next week – we need to act NOW.
1. Call the National Audubon headquarters at (212) 979-3000 TODAY or Monday and let them know how you feel. Ask for Public Relations.
2. E-mail Audubon’s top executives and tell them how you feel:
· Bob Perciasepe, Chief Operating Officer, at [email protected]
· John Flicker, President, at [email protected].
· You may get an “out of office” reply, but that’s OK. Two other phone numbers come up on the out of office reply, so you can call them as well: “Contact Eddie Flaherty in DC with Washington questions (202 861 2242) and Sue Mackey in NY with NY questions (212 979 3071)
E-mail John Bianchi in the Press Office of Audubon: [email protected]
4. If you live in MASS., please note that Massachusetts Audubon is a separate organization from the National Audubon. You may want to call them (781-259-9500) and ask them to send their protest to National Audubon.
You can read how the chemical pesticide industry is positioning this campaign by cutting and pasting the following into your search engine.
http://grounds-mag.com/ar/grounds_maintenance_environmental_groups_lawn/
However, please be aware that they neglect to tell you that the group RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sustainable Environment) is a organization made up of Monsanto, Dow Chemical, Du Pont, Scotts, to name a few of the major pesticide manufacturers!) ~ and that Monsanto has given National Audubon a donation of $2 million!!! To see the article on the donation cut and paste
http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/Montsano_Release.html
Please forward this email on to your own email lists –garden clubs, naturalists, birders, environmental groups, concerned citizens, friends and family across the state, across the country.
