Time to ditch Roundup

SIR, — As the letter in last week’s edition pointed out, the risks of Roundup/Glyphosate have been proven in a number of landmark cases in the United States.

With 42,000 pending lawsuits against Monsanto/Bayer, it is time to stop spraying a known toxic herbicide along every street, park and grassed area in Northern Ireland when there are other safe alternatives like steam. With stream there is no risk to anyone. 

With Austria banning glyphosate followed by France and numerous other councils in the Republic, what makes Newry, Mourne and Down councillors think they are the smartest ones in the room?  

What right do they have to spray the public without informing them of the known risks, the lawsuits being won in America and the breach of our human right to health and bodily integrity?

Since councillors have been made aware of the dangers and have chosen to allow continued spraying, they have personally taken full legal liability for their reckless actions off civil servants and Monsanto. 

With 42,000 pending lawsuits the case against Roundup is clear. 

It only requires a citizen or group here to take a legal action against a councillor who has voted to continue this dangerous practice to see if they still wish to continue to ignore the science with the very real threat to their property.

Yours etc,

CONCERNED,

Downpatrick.

(Name and address supplied).