GPNJ: Malathion, the Medfly, and Money

Saturday, June 21, 1996

Malathion, Medflies, and the Multinationals

By now what should be no surprise to anyone, the Mediterranean fruit fly has once again been spotted in orange groves near Tampa Florida. And to protect the $3.6 billion citrus industry, both the US Federal and Florida State governments are now spending millions of tax dollars with another incecticide eradication program.

The 'all out attack'

State and federal officials have begun what they describe as an 'all out attack'. Inspite of the fact the most of the crop has been picked already, they are spraying over 200 square miles of Florida. Every day, for the last two weeks, Vietnam War-era Huey helicopters have been spraying malathion. And by this weekend, the choppers will be replaced by three DC-3 mosquito control planes which move faster, and have an even larger spraying capacity. Over the next few months, federal officials already plan 8 separate applications of malathion in each of the areas they believe are affected. In addition, these officials have stated they plan to continue spraying in these areas as long as they keep finding Mediterranean fruit flies.

Managing this team is a task force of 140 people surveying, setting and checking traps, and manning telephones (handling the flood of complaints from concerned citizens).

Although medfly project officials say malathion is safe, they have urged residents to "seek shelter from the spray, cover fish ponds and keep pets indoors". Residents also are advised to "cover their cars and carry umbrellas in the event spraying occurs overhead".

All I can say is, if the paint on my car isn't safe, how on earth can my lungs be safe?

The truth about malathion

Well, the truth is that malathion isn't safe. Not even close. And alot of people in Florida know this, and are trying to stop the spraying.

Malathion:

Weakens the immune system

Is genotoxic: Causes genetic damage/mutation

Has caused injury and death in farmers

Of course its cancerous

Effects on wildlife: Deaths with bee colonies, crayfish, reptiles. Tumors in turtles.

For more information about malathion, and to help the activists in Florida trying to stop this 'all out attack', check out Malathion, More Dangers Than Previously Realized brought to you by Chem-tox.com.

Trends

As is often the case with government in America in 1997, we can again see the familiar pattern emerging. This attack on the medfly is being conducted by the government at taxpayer expense. Who benefits? Big business of course, both chemical companies and the Florida growers. We foot the bill, but business gets the free ride. And the casualties of this war? The consumers of America of course. We pay for the poisions with our tax dollars, and then we pay twice as we injest them, both financially and with our health.

So who makes this Crap?

Answer to the magic question: Ciba-Geigy

Actually, Ciba-Geigy is now a little bigger. They recently merged in April 1996 with Sandoz to become Novartis in the largest merger in history. At the time Marc Moret, Chairman of Sandoz, stated: "The globalization of markets, and therefore of competition, is taking on gigantic proportions."

Alex Krauer, the current Chairman of Novartis and former Chairman and CEO of Ciba, said at the time, "Novartis holds the number two position in pharmaceuticals, number one in crop protection (corporate speak translation: they are the ones most responsible for poisoning our drinking water and and rivers with the totally unnessesary herbicides/insecticides like malathion), and has tremendous development potential in nutrition" (this really scares me!).

If you read my recent article Lawn Care Time, you might be beginning to get a twinge of déjàvu. Lets see, similarities with Rhone-Poulenc, Inc.: They both manufacture cancer causing chemicals. They both manufacture questionable, yet highly profitable cures for diseases, many of which are caused by the very chemicals they market. And neither of them are even American corporations (80% of Coca-Cola's production is now overseas. Its getting tough to tell which American companies are American!).

Its hard to believe the politicians are looking out for our interests when they so readily take money from these kinds of foreign companies.

Alternatives and Action

Jim McGreevey, the Democratic candidate for governor of NJ, was a lobbyist for Ciba-Geigy. Do not vote for this man if you care about the environment. Do not vote for this man if you care about corporate corruption of the government. Send a message: Vote for Madelyn Hoffman.
Think Whitman is any better? Check the Whitman Fact Sheet.
Call/Fax/Write/Email your senators and representative. For contact info, check out Government Contacts. Tell them you want federal subsidy for pesticides banned. Tell them any representative who supports wholesale spraying of cancerous chemicals on schoolyards, wildlife preserves, parks, waterways, and foods will lose your vote, and the environment vote.

Use the strongest vote you have, the dollar vote:
(with all the corporate money in politics, many would argue the only vote)

Only buy certified organic oranges and orange juice, preferrably from a local health food store, or a local organic food cooperative. (You never know what the major corporate chains are getting).
If you like oranges/orange juice, make it a point to go out of your way to get organic oranges. If you must go to a big store, let your grocer know you will only buy certified organic. They'll get the message. The average customer spends between $5,000 and $10,000 in a grocery store each year. Believe me they know this, and their managers will listen if you call.
Call/Fax/Write/Email companies which use Florida oranges. Their address, and probably phone number, should be on the back of the juice carton in your fridge. Tell them that you refuse to eat or drink any oranges from Florida, or purchase products containing them, while the spraying of malathion continues. If they say they can't grow oranges without chemicals, tell them to go to a library and read about the far superior technologies of organic farming (lower disease rates and insect damage, without chemicals).
For your own health, don't buy Mexican or Brazillian as a substitute. These countries not only use malathion, but also use DDT.
Unlike Rhone-Poulenc, Inc., Novartis has lots of consumer products to boycott. They own Gerber, the world's biggest jarred baby food manufacturer. Give them a call!
Now I'm sure if you are green you are at least somewhat into healthfood (if not, maybe this will help you consider it!). But you can also boycott:

Calcium Sandoz® supplies mineral supplements.
Desenex® fights athlete's foot.
Dulcolax® is a laxative.
ExLax® is a laxative.
Fenistil® helps combat allergies.
Gas-X® is an antacid and anti-gas medicine.
Importal® is a laxative.
Lemocin® helps relieve sore throats.
Maalox® is an antacid.
Neda® is a laxative.

Nicotinell®/Habitrol® are smoking cessation agents.
Optalidon® is an analgesic.
Otrivin® is a cold remedy.
Perdiem® is a laxative.
Rhinomer® helps with nasal hygiene.
Tavist® helps combat allergies.
Theraflu®/Neocitran® are cold remedies.
Triaminic® is a cough and cold medicine.
Venoruton® helps with circulatory disorders.
Zymafluor® supplies mineral supplements.

Boy, all this reading is making me thirsty for another glass of malathion laced OJ!

Isn't Florida a tourist state?

Tell everyone you know about the spraying in Florida. Tell them about how bad it is, both for health reasons and environmental reasons. Tell them you couldn't be paid enough to travel to Florida, that you don't trust the water, and you don't trust their oranges. Do this until they stop spraying. You may be at this for a while.
Call/Fax/Write/Email Disney and tell them you won't be 'going to Disneyland', Disneyworld, to any Disney movies with the kids, or to the video store to rent their movies until the state of Florida greens up its act. If they say its an issue between the State of Florida and the growers, tell them that you weren't born yesterday. If Disney makes a stink, it will happen. Also tell them that they should stop spraying at Disneyworld while they are at it.
Call/Fax/Write/Email Universal Studios. Same thing.
Call/Fax/Write/Email the state of Florida Tourist Board and tell them you won't be visiting the Florida sun until the spraying stops. And yes, that you will mention it to everyone you know that is considering a Florida vacation, especially those considering moving to Florida. Tell them to green up their act.

Call/Fax/Write/Email Jim McGreevy just for the fun of it. Tell him that if he has such a great relationship with Ciba-Geigy, why doesn't he do something good for the environment and ask them to stop manufacturing malathion! Surely he cares about the environment!

Contact Information

Government Contacts

State Senator James E. McGreevey , Democrat
Plaza 35, Suite 302, 1030 St. Georges Ave., Avenel, NJ 07001 (732)-634-2526
No Email

Companies:

Novartis
Tell investor relations you are going to tell your friends and collegues to drop Ciba-Geigy. Its too risky, and the boycott of its products is going to catch up with it sooner or later. Its only a matter of time before state governments divest their portfolios of Novartis just like the tobacco stocks. (hey, now thats an idea!)

Gerber

The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
Phone: 818-560-1000
Email
Here's the board of directors. Other officers and executives are listed as well.

Universal Studios Florida
1000 Universal Studios Plaza
Orlando, Florida 32819-7610
407-363-8000
webmaster@usf.com

Florida Travel

Florida Department of Commerce

Here's a list of travel companies in Florida. Email a dozen of these. Do it again in a few weeks. Make them sweat.

Florida Oranges

Florida Department of Citrus - I can't believe they have a government agency for this!
FDOC Email

JuiceKing
941-299-0440
1-888-438-3565

Tropicana Products, Inc.
Bradenton, FL 34206
1-800-237-7799