[ [link removed] ]Photo of meadow bathed in golden sunlight

Belgium's tiny Brussels Region just passed a law to use way less
pesticides, to protect vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women
in particular. That's what we need ALL our politicians to do!

Tell the European Commission to ensure the whole EU goes pesticide-free.


[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition 

   
John,

Good news: Brussels will allow only low-risk pesticides after 2030 – the
tiny Brussels Region that is.

Brussels’ ban comes from an obligation that all EU governments have had
for years to cut pesticides and protect vulnerable groups like children
and pregnant women in particular.

The European Commission hasn’t blocked Brussels’ ban – but it’s also not
doing enough to ensure millions more people can enjoy safer air, water and
food.

That’s why we’re building a huge grassroots coalition to pressure the
incoming Commissioners before they're approved by the European Parliament
and their plans are announced. Join quick and spread the word:

[ [link removed] ]Tell the European Commission to follow the Brussels Region’s lead, and
ensure the EU goes pesticide-free.

We've got to counter the corporate lobby NOW.

Polls show that people everywhere are concerned about the health impacts
of pesticides – and rightly so. Hormone-disrupting and cancer-linked
pesticides are still widely used in the EU. What's more, Europe is the
world’s No.1 exporter of pesticides too.

The European Commission’s own official polling, the “EU Barometer”, shows
that 84% of EU citizens are worried about harmful chemicals. And the same
percentage agrees EU legislation is needed to protect the environment.

Still, a powerful coalition of reactionary politicians and industry
lobbyists want the European Commission to abandon the Green Deal’s goals,
and to keep farming hooked on conventional pesticides. 

The EU had aimed to halve the use of synthetic chemicals in farming by
2030 as part of its Green Deal, but Ursula von der Leyen gave in at the
end of her previous mandate, saying it was a "symbol of polarisation."

There's no time to waste -- the European elections are behind us, and
Brussels is getting back to work. 

[ [link removed] ]Add your name: Ensure the EU is free of synthetic pesticides by 2035.

Bayer and other chemical companies have cut thousands of jobs this year.
And judging from Bayer’s share price (-68%) since its merger with Monsanto
in 2018, it looks like the company can’t even do capitalism right. That
said – Bayer’s still a beast at lobbying.

Let’s take inspiration from the Brussels Region’s example, and push EU
leaders for more.



[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition 



Thanks for all that you do,
Eoin, Ildem and the team at Ekō


More information:

[ [link removed] ]Brussels to become the first European region to ban synthetic
pesticides in agriculture in 2030
PAN Europe 23 July 2024
 
[ [link removed] ]Attitudes of Europeans towards the environment
European Commission 01 May 2024
 
[ [link removed] ]EU's von der Leyen backtracks on cutting pesticide use
Le Monde 06 February 2024
 
[ [link removed] ]Parliamentarians sharpening their knives for commissioner hearings
Euractiv 06 September 2024

 

 

Ekō is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy.

Please help keep Ekō strong by chipping in $3. [link removed]