Group protests 1080
A group of around 40 adults and their children gathered at the Stratford War Memorial car park on Saturday before marching along Broadway to protest the use of 1080.
The march was part of a nationwide event, Operation Ban 1080, a rolling demonstration promoted on social media. Events were held around the country on the day, with participants calling for an end to aerial 1080.
The Stratford group walked along Broadway, stopping at the southern roundabout, chanting “ban 1080” and other slogans as they went.
Emma Zane said she was protesting “because I don’t want my children drinking water which contains poison. I’m too scared to let them swim in rivers now in case they get sick from 1080”.
She said she didn’t believe 1080 was safe.
“Everyone knows you can’t trust what government groups tell you. If it wasn’t dangerous then why does it have warnings on the containers?” As the group walked past Barbara Simmons, she shook her head.
“How are they going to get rid of all the rats and stoats without 1080. They’ll be the first to complain when we don’t have any kiwis left.”
Opposition to 1080 is largely based on claims it kills native animals and birds as well as the pests it targets, poisons domestic animals who ingest it and gets into waterways. Those in favour claim predator pest numbers are so high and damage so severe, that without extreme measures some native forests would soon be beyond repair. Today’s methods and strength of
1080 are said to be safer and more effective than the 1080 used years ago, according to supporters.
In a joint statement Department of Conservation, Ospri, Federated Farmers, Forest & Bird and WWF-NZ said they believed 1080 was “an effective, safe and valuable tool in the fight to protect New Zealand’s forests and native birds, bats, insects and lizards”.
The organisations said its use was backed by years of testing, review and research by scientists from Landcare Research, Universities, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Ministry of Health and the independent Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
DOC said concerned people should visit
www.1080thefacts.co.nz