The Environment & Agriculture table also discussed the effects of pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) our ecosystem (incl. human health). Here’s what the participants had to say:

  • Saltspring does not support GMOs, but does not have legislation for it (myth that they actually do)
  • Communities can agree to be GMO free, but legislating it is difficult
  • Lobby the government
  • Set up a system that doesn’t require chemicals (plan staff time); nurture a “resilient” system
  • It takes awhile for the system to build resilience to pests (Derek Masselink, the table Resource Person and expert, saw bugs that weren’t even supposed to be in BC)
  • Support beneficial insects
  • The Hardware store (on Galiano) is now selling fewer harmful and more organic pesticides. Stores now have to get a certificate to sell pesticides, so some are dropping them from their inventory. Home Hardware on Pender stopped carrying them, but farmers did lose some treatments that would be helpful.
  • Watch the Pender Island documentary on pesticides (can someone provide a link?)
  • Watch the documentary: The World According to Monsanto
  • Run or support an educational campaign
  • Related to obtaining clean water
  • Purchase a Water Catchment System – maybe a bulk purchase by Island’s Trust, subsidized, transportation plan (barge). Engineer Needed.
  • Look up the (see also: http://www.pesticidefreebc.org -Ed.)
  • Funded education
  • CRD’s jurisdiction
  • Ground water protection is not regulated in BC
  • Mayne Island Water Protection Agency
  • Brian (on Thetis?) had a service for setting up water catchment systems

The Galiano Island Health Care Centre imports water – why? Complicated process of getting, storing, maintaining