Did you know a poisonous, potentially cancer-inducing chemical could be present in your body? [1, 2] This is possible because our food is being sprayed with it. In fact, scientists have found traces of the hazardous chemical Glyphosate in the urine of nearly 1 in 2 people tested. [3]

Glyphosate is a common pesticide, used on everything from food to gardens. The World Health Organisation has labeled it as “probably carcinogenic”. It is also very harmful to plant and animal life. In short, it’s a pretty damaging pesticide.

In Summer 2016, after a long campaign by hundreds of thousands of Europeans, the European Commission was unable to relicense the use of Glyphosate for 15 years, but instead had to settle for a short 18-month renewal. This was a huge success achieved in the face of intense lobbying by the chemicals industry. But big producers of weed killers like Monsanto are still lobbying to protect their profits. Their deep pockets have been paying for “studies” and “expert” opinions to show that their product is safe.

It seems to be common-sense that cancer-inducing poison should not be sprayed on our farms, our countryside, and our neighbourhoods. We now have the chance to make our voices heard through a European Citizens Initiative — a legal route that means the European Commission has to listen to us if we collect one million signatures this year.

We know what a constant use of Glyphosate will mean for us, the people of Europe: sick people, dead animals, burnt grass, brown leaves, and a loss of biodiversity. Last year, we were able to block Monsanto’s plans in ways they did not expect. But it’s not over, and in 2017 they will be fighting hard to extend the currently short-term approval of glyphosate to 15 years. Which is why we will be fighting even harder to stop them.

Take action now: sign our Citizens Initiative against Monsanto’s cancer-inducing poison.

References

[1] This chemical is called Glyphosate and is one of the most widely used active substances in pesticides worldwide. [2] World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies Glyphosate as ‘potentially causing cancer’: http://sustainablepulse.com/2015/07/30/who-publishes-full-probable-human-carcinogen-report-on-glyphosate/#.WInksFwTDL5 [3] Glyphosate found in human urine across Europe: https://www.foeeurope.org/weed-killer-glyphosate-found-human-urine-across-Europe-130613