Dyer Pond, above, in all its winter glory. We certainly take our ponds for granted, although the National Seashore posts signs warning of environmental risk of say, adding soap to the water. It is crucial that we stop taking the purity of water for granted. Endocrine disruption is the issue that bothers me the most. My Swedish husband told me today that a new study shows more girl babies are being born in Greenland than boy babies. Why? Male sperm do not survive in the toxic tide that is sweeping through our environment. Or, perhaps this situation is due to the fact that these chemicals act as "estrogen mimics"? I read in Our Stolen Future how toxic chemicals ride on the Gulf Stream winds and end up in the Arctic. Sperm counts are dropping dramatically, as reported recently in Denmark, a country which is considering a ban on Glyphosate, yes, that same chemical intended for use on Cape Cod.
This is horribly serious. Synthetic chemicals, unregulated in the environment, are disrupting reproduction, causing sexual abnormalities and disease. So, why does no one in power do anything to change the situation? Have they all been bought by the chemical industry?
On Cape Cod, three members of the Ad Hoc Management Risk Committee, including my friend Laura Kelley, have resigned in disgust. Read all about why here.
It is only a matter of time before citizens demand regulation of the synthetic chemicals added to our world since World War II.
You may wonder how this horror story pertains to Wellfleet, one of the more pristine places in New England, pristine at least until Spring, 2011. Despite citizen outcry and the support of legislators, executives of our utility company insist on their plan to use herbicidal spray for vegetation management under the power lines, a choice that will contaminate our sole-source aquifer for generations.
There is an excellent excellent opinion piece on endocrine disruption in the Cape Cod Times today. Please read it and take a stand against herbicidal spraying.
