We need to protect people, birds from pesticides

It is no coincidence that the decline of the bird population has had a direct impact on the rise of insects carrying infectious diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. In North America alone, the bird population has decreased by 3 billion birds since 1970, a decline of about one third. Conversely, mosquitoes and ticks, many carrying infectious diseases, are on the rise because the birds were not there to consume them.

Song birds such as finches, warblers, swallows and cardinals along with many other birds have decreased. The chief reasons are predators that are natural, domestic pets and man, along with loss of habitat due to energy exploration and expansion of living areas, and most importantly pesticides. Seeds of grain are often treated with pesticides before planting and treated throughout the growing season along with lawn treatments.

Companies such as Monsanto continue to mass produce large amounts of pesticides without considering natural alternatives. On the consumer side, glyphosate, otherwise known as Round Up weed killer, has been found in our breakfast cereals, oatmeal and breads unless organic products are purchased. Instead of stricter control or prosecution, Monsanto was given free reign to regulate itself. Plus everyone is at risk for different cancers such as Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Pesticide bans, including chlorpyrifos, put in place by the Obama administration in 2015 were rolled back by the Trump administration in 2017.

The government has decided that pesticides are more important than people and certainly more important than birds who in turn keep people safe from the plague of insect borne illnesses.

While every administration must take responsibility, the onus is on the present administration. Just like Moses in the Book of Exodus, we will need divine intervention to ward off pestilence and autocratic rule.

WILLIAM S. BACKA

Swisshelm Park