Treat our earth like a nest egg
Reading and watching the videos on the use of pesticides were appalling and eye-opening on the amount that is currently being allowed on the market. Not only were the videos were at my dismay but what was found in my food I had eaten the day before shocked me. The chicken I had contained 14 pesticides, the Brussels sprouts and asparagus had about 11 pesticides, and to my surprise, the bottled water I consumed had pesticides in to too. I drink bottled water because I do not trust our city water because of the chemicals and pharmaceuticals that seep into the ground water. I also wondered prior to taking this course, if the pesticides ever got absorbed into the meat of the fruit and not just a residue on the outside. Nonetheless, I am grossly shocked to know how our government is regulating our consumerism, and how we are treating our gentle and giving earth.
Then I do agree with organic, sustainable and preservative farming and agriculture. We do not need to expend every resource it has given us, so then, why aren't we treating our world like a nest egg? Our attitudes and practice towards organic sustainable agriculture will ensure the nest egg we have relied on for thousands of years, to continue to produce, protect and regenerate for a thousand more years to come.
The public should be informed through media sources and doctor visits on how to live and eat healthier by giving them the facts about pesticides, that it is not all good. In fact, most of the pesticides according to the literature are harmful, causing birth defects and chronic diseases. Maybe we should not just talk about calories and exercise, maybe we should talk about the root of the problem to our populations at risk, I think this will be a good start.
If there are postings about pesticide use in my children's playground, I would take them somewhere else to play, maybe a community center. There is no guarantee that the pesticides are kid-proof.
I am more aware of the effects of pesticide poisoning but I would need more education and exposure to the clinical cases to be 100 % prepared and confident. I do have a clearer understanding on the exposure risks to pesticides.
Michelle, I do agree that '...organic, sustainable and preservative farming and agriculture', is a good thing. We just have to bear in mind that economics do matter, sustainable agriculture must be financially as well as ecologically so. We, as nurses, can definitely be a part of achieving that. I'm not a curmudgeon, just being a pragmatic Capricorn and devil's advocate.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Michelle,
ReplyDeleteAfter the incident that happened in our residential care home in which a caregiver after using some kind of pesticide, developed irritation of the nose, throat, eyes or skin, headache, dizziness, vomiting excessive, salivation, coughing, mental confusion, and she ended up in the emergency room.
As clinician, I have learned to keep my eyes and thoughts open for when a patient presents with such symptoms, hence experience is the best teacher.