Q&A
On this website, the word 'pesticide' is sometimes used to easily in one word describe ALL 'cides', such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, nematicides, miticides, etc.
Q: What encompasses 'poison' in the context of this campaign?
A: The word 'poison' in Poison-free Peninsula means all man-made (synthetic) chemical compounds or chemical formulations that are toxic to life on Earth. Pesticides are just one example. Where there is any doubt about the potential toxicity of a substance, the environment and our bodies should not be used as a testing ground for it. We echo and endorse PAN International's briefing paper/position statement on The Precautionary Principle, with the added proviso: 1. PRIOR NOTICE to the public of intended release of such chemicals/formulations into the environment/into or near our bodies and 2. INFORMED CONSENT by those who will be exposed and, in the case of minors, informed consent by their legal guardian.
Q: How can I become a member of Poison-free Peninsula?
A: Send an email with your name, suburb name, cell number and reason you would like to join to us and let us know in the email if you wish to be a 'voting' or 'non-voting' member. Visit our About page to read about what it means to be a member.
Q: What about the adage "Only the dose makes the poison"?
A: This saying is often used in defense of synthetic chemical formulations that may have harmful effects, especially for long-term low exposure. It is said that even oxygen, water or table salt can be toxic in excess. We argue that this adage should NOT be used in the same vein as products specifically designed to poison living organisms or plants, especially for those that are being shown to bioaccumulate in the environment and in living tissues such as those containing 'forever chemicals'. When talking about pesticides, enough published literature exists proving that long-term secondary (low dose) environmental exposure can be responsible for significant negative human health and environmental impacts.
Q: Where is this "Peninsula" referred to in the name "Poison-free Peninsula".
A: The iconic Cape Peninsula in Cape Town, South Africa, located in South Africa's Western Cape Province.
Q: I have specific questions regarding the City of Cape Town's practice of blanket spraying herbicides in and around Cape Town Communities.
A: Visit our Resources page for more information. If the answer to your question is not found on this website, drop us an email on poisonfreepeninsula at proton dot me.
Q: I heard that suburbs are applying for and getting exemption from the City of Cape Town's Road Spraying Schedule. How can I make my suburb exempt from road spraying?
A: An organisation called Unpoison SA is assisting volunteers wishing to step up to champion a self-funded community-led alternative road weeding project in their suburb. Visit the Unpoison SA website to find out more. Whilst Poison-free Peninsula is supportive of communities stepping up to weed City Streets as an interim emergency intervention until the City grants Poison-free Peninsula's request for an immediate moratorium on ALL blanket spraying of herbicide on community roads and in parks/recreation areas, we DO NOT agree that civil society weeding roads is a sustainable long-term solution and we are concerned that this will set communities up for failure and that the City will use such failures as an excuse to continue spraying. The City of Cape Town should immediately stop the spraying and come up with a City-funded, City-led non-toxic alternative to such blanket spraying WITHOUT DELAY. We do believe there is an excellent case for a City-led and funded cross-departmental manual weed control programme, if it is well orchestrated and structured.
Q: If we don't know for sure whether a "poison" product or formulation is harmful or not to non-target species, how can a final conclusion be drawn about this?
A: Shockingly and ironically most governments today deem products such as pesticides formulations safe (based on limited assessments made by the manufacturer) until harm is proven. Our hope is that the South African government will join other governments around the world that are starting to adopt the opposite approach, i.e. synthetic chemical formulations should be deemed potentially harmful until proven safe by independent (unbiased) experts. Where there is any doubt, a precautionary approach should be taken.
Q: The manufacturer or importer's safety data sheet for a chemical formulation claims its safety if "used as directed". Isn't this good enough?
A: No, for three reasons: 1. The safety data sheet was drawn up by the product's manufacturer with no oversight by an independent unbiased expert authority. The current system allows for the manufacturer to keep certain ingredients secret and to exclude information which the manufacturer says is unavailable/not tested or "undetermined". Read more about the problem with safety data sheets here; and 2. The safety data sheet contains a disclaimer absolving the manufacturer of any liability from possible harm caused; 3. If everyone around the world use these products "as directed", when does the volume of what is being released into the environment/level of secondary exposure to humans become a problem (currently millions of metric tons of pesticides are used globally each year)?
Q: How do I get a copy of the current City of Cape Town Roads Department herbicide spraying schedule (for spraying roads infrastructure)?
A: The City of Cape Town publishes the "latest" road weed spraying schedules here. It however remains to be seen whether the schedules are updated timeously. To date we have struggled to obtain updated schedules timeously. You are also welcome to send us an email and we will then forward the latest schedule in our possession to you.
Q: There are so many different types of pesticides, what are the differences?
A: Put simply, often the word 'pesticides' is used in broad terms to describe all different types of 'cides' (poisons designed to kill) such as: insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides (i.e. any products designed to kill a 'target' species which is considered to be a pest, whether organisms/insects, plants, fungi or rodents.) [Interestingly, the pesticides industry calls their plant killing products "plant protection products"]
There are selective pesticides (targeting just one species or type of plant) and non-selective (or broad spectrum) pesticides (for example a herbicide that kills all (green) plants it comes into contact with). There are 'surface' (mainly non-systemic) pesticides, 'uptake' (usually systemic) pesticides and 'contact' pesticides (often insecticides). In simple terms systemic pesticides are taken into the organism or plant as a whole (cannot be "washed off"), whereas some non-systemic (usually 'surface' herbicides) is said to "wash off" (although 'washed' off means polluting water and where ever that water is washed off into (soil/water bodies) and residue can still remain on the plant/fruit/grain in some cases even penetrating into the plant/fruit/grain). Some pesticide formulations are more volatile than others (i.e. they readily migrate into the air via gas vapour) and many pesticide formulations have additives (adjuvants or surfactants) that work to enhance efficacy (and usually therefore enhance toxicity and / or enhance uptake into the plant). In addition, there are different classes or families of pesticides determined by their 'mode of action', meaning how they work. Manufacturers of pesticides recommend that products with the same 'mode of action' should not be repeatedly used to help prevent resistance. Pesticide resistance occurs when one type of pesticide is used repeatedly in the same area over time. The target 'pest' population can evolve to 'resist' the pesticide, making the pesticide less effective.
[The above is just a simple brief explanation. There is a much broader/more detailed/technical explanation of the different types and how they impact the environment depending on their mode of action, how they are applied, how often, at what dosage and what they are mixed with]
Q: What is a highly hazardous pesticide (HHP)?
A: Visit UNEP's webpage specifically dealing with this topic here. Because there are a lot of vested interests in keeping certain pesticides available on the market, Poison-free Peninsula has some concerned about which pesticides end up being classified or "defined" as "highly hazardous" whilst others are marketed as "safer" or "less toxic", causing a sense of dismissiveness around valid concerns surrounding exposure to pesticides that are not on government "highly hazardous" pesticide lists. Poison-free Peninsula contends that because a pesticide product or active ingredient is not deemed by government as an "HHP" should not be the determining factor for government to allow continued mass exposure of any pesticide to human and non-human living beings without prior informed consent (in the case of adult humans and legal guardians to children). Because 'prior informed consent' is impossible for flora and fauna, mass/indiscriminate flora and fauna exposure to pesticides should be banned without exception.
Q: How do I follow the latest Poison-free Peninsula news?
A: You need to be signed up on our whatsapp notifications group as a member. Check out our Plan of Action webpage under "Poison-free People" to learn more about membership options.
IMPORTANT SECURITY NOTICE: Although we do pre-approve cellphone numbers attempting to join the group, it is difficult to gauge if a person is joining due to their ligitimate interest or for other potential criminal motives. Always be vigilant and don't engage with anyone you do not know who tries to make personal contact with you requesting money or for you to click on any links or visit any websites. Block such unsolicited messages if need be.
Q: My friend has tried to join the Whatsapp group but the admin has rejected his/her 'join' request. What must he/she do?
A: He/she must please email his/her full name, cellphone number and reason for wanting to join as a member to: poisonfreepeninsula at proton dot me.
Q: I have heard that natural substances can be just as harmful to the environment as pesticides. Is this true?
A: Anything in excess or that does not naturally occur in a particular ecosystem has the potential to have negative impacts. For example, adding salt to soil can destroy soil life.
Q: How can you call this campaign "Poison-Free Peninsula", isn't it impossible to make a geographical area 'poison-free'?
A: It is an undisputed fact that human activities, such as the use of toxic synthetic chemicals, result in the polluting of our environment. The Cape Peninsula, with its rich natural heritage and treasured wildlife, needs our protection to ensure that future generations can enjoy its unique biodiversity. We chose the name "Poison-Free Peninsula" because a poison-free environment is what we strive for now and into the future for this incredibly special place on Earth.
Q: What about alternatives to pesticides? If we don't use them, what are we supposed to use?
A: Pests and weeds are important messengers and helpers. They tell a story about what is wrong. By "listening" to them, we can learn a lot. We suggest you read the book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. This will help you understand the history of pesticides. The public perception that pesticides need to be heavily relied upon is a deeply ingrained false premise based on the industry's marketing tactics and the public's desire for shortsighted shortcuts in an agricultural system that is degrading and not aligned with nature. Thankfully today there are many resources (and examples) available regarding alternative land and agricultural management practices. Key is to first understand what nature is telling us with the pest in question and how we can work with nature to restore balance. Unfortunately the answer of how to deal with pests/weeds is not as easy as just spraying poison on them. In fact, to do so has been proven to worsen the problem and to have knock on effects in the environment. Unfortunately because pesticides have been used so broadly for so long in destructive conventional (industrial) agriculture/monoculture, for those who rely on them, support is needed to phase out their use and to assist in restoring the damaged land on which they were used (this usually involves changing the way the farmer farms).
Q: What does Poison-free Peninsula think about "beneficial" insects/micro-organisms compared to "bad" insects/micro-organisms?
A: We discourage labeling any insect or organism as "good" or "bad". In the case of plants, plants people call "weeds" are often crucially important species of plants that move in first to a degraded, polluted or disturbed landscape to help repair/restore an ecosystem. It is misleading to call them our "enemies". To declare chemical war on them is counterproductive because it will only make these plants return faster and stronger as they continue to come back to try and fix the mess we create with such toxic pollution. Plants people call "weeds" are actually our helpers, humanity's companion plants appearing where ever we are to help us! Similarly, insects and micro-organisms that people call "bad" move in when something is out of balance to show us something is wrong. The so called "bad" guys are food for the so-called "good" guys who cannot exist without them. Through re-establishing our intimate connection to our environment we will start understanding what pests, weeds and diseases are teaching us so that we can get better at managing our environment well. Similar to the phrase "Ubuntu" meaning "I am because you are", we believe the term 'ubuntu' should extend to humanity's relationship with the natural world.
Q: What about biological pest and weed control options?
A: This is a very broad topic and a new industry taking off around the world. Poison-free Peninsula is not yet sure what we think about making boxing, bottling, selling and shipping living organisms a for-profit business model /replacement industry for the current synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers industry. Farmers in South Africa who are transitioning away from high input chemical farming to genuine regenerative organic practices have told us how critically important this industry can be to assist farmers in transitioning successfully. This may be needed as a transitional "bridge", but ultimately, over the long haul, shouldn't the aim be to empower farmers to produce their own (free) biological tools on-site using available resources such as weeds and other organic matter instead of having to repeatedly buy-in solutions? We are excited by "farmscaping" which is about rethinking the design of farmland so as to facilitate suitable habitat to attract and maintain insects and microbes that help farmers reduce pest pressures and disease. We also think there is exciting room for "urban landscaping" which would be a complete rethink of how the problem of "pests" and "weeds" are addressed. In light of an ever changing and increasingly hostile climatic environment, it is crucial for farms (and cities) to be designed to help mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. Extreme weather events (like the reliance on pesticides) stress and weaken plants which also ironically is a vicious downward spiral, attracting more frequent pests and disease pressures and speeding up of climate change by the counterproductive use of more and more toxic pesticides more frequently to "address" these problems. There are organisations working with farmers to implement integrated landscape solutions that naturally and quickly attract more biodiversity that helps limit crop pests to manageable levels and help mitigate extreme weather events. Weeds can be used by farmers as renewable resources in regenerating soil and biodiversity and also in acting as indicator species to assist farmers in diagnosing problems and distractor/sacrificial plants to crop pests. Similarly, they can be used in turf maintenance.
We DO NOT support biotechnology such as gene editing or programming of living cells and genetic modification which certain global companies and organisations are currently pushing into Africa as "biological solutions" to Africa's food security "problems". We believe our government should take a long-term view and exercise extreme caution in considering policies surrounding biological solutions. If we are to start looking at biodiverse and localized healthy food supply systems that are not industrial input-reliant polluting operations, would there even be a future market for shipping in large numbers of living organisms in boxes or bottles from companies who 'raise' such living creatures industrially to solve pest and disease problems caused by continuing to farm in an unsustainable manner? We need to learn from the pitfalls of environmentally damaging conventional monoculture and disease-causing industrial feedlots and not repeat such mistakes with commodifying and/or modifying microorganisms.
With regard to the City's practice of blanket spraying of herbicides on roads and in parks/recreation areas, biological solutions are obviously not a practical or feasible solution. In our view, manual weed control is.
Q: How best can I support Poison-free Peninsula?
A: First and importantly, request to join as a member! This is a People Powered movement which means we need you to participate in any small way you can. This is not a fundraising campaign and we will never ask you for money. By joining our whatsapp group you become a member of Poison-free Peninsula. We will provide regular 'bite-sized' action ideas on the group that make it effortless for our members to make a HUGE impact through taking tiny little actions here and there, usually from the comfort of your home, taking between 2 and 5mins. There is no obligation for you to participate in any particular action, you have the freedom to choose! Refer to our "Plan of Action" page for guidance/more info.
Q: What do I do with the pesticides in my kitchen cupboard/garden shed that I don't want anymore?
A: You need to approach your local authority to enquire about the correct way to dispose of them safely. NEVER EVER THROW ANYTHING (EVEN RINSE WATER FROM EMPTY PESTICIDE BOTTLES) DOWN ANY TYPE OF DRAIN OR INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. In Cape Town there is only one landfill site that accepts pesticides (although a few others accept small quantities which they then transport daily to the one site) and associated contaminated equipment/bottles, AND ONLY BY PRIOR APPLICATION. Find out more about Hazardous Waste on the City website here (general) and here (pesticides).
Note: We are NOT happy with the resources supplied by the City in respect of this issue and have it on our urgent list of 'to-do's' to take this further with them. Should you have a problem with struggling to know what to do about pesticides you no longer use, please drop us an email.
Q: What about the use of herbicide to help clear alien vegetation in the Cape Peninsula?
A: We share concerns around the impact of spreading alien vegetation threatening the rich biodiversity in the Cape Peninsula. We feel there is room for improvement to current clearing programmes and procedures and will be putting forward a statement of recommendation later on in the campaign after further research has been conducted. In the meantime visit our Resources page for more on this.
Q: Did your email address change?
A: Yes, it changed from poisonfreepeninsula at gmail.com to poisonfreepeninsula at proton.me
Q: I can't find your campaign on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Why not?
A: We do not have the resources or time to manage such accounts. We only have this website as a general reference point and our 'notices only' whatsapp group where we post updates from time to time - this is done on a volunteer basis usually outside of our working hours (our main form of one-on-one communication is through our email address. Our email response time is usually within 1 to 7 days).
Q: Whatsapp groups are continuously used by fraudsters to target group participants. How does Poison-free Peninsula keep such fraudsters off its public announcements whatsapp group?
A: We vet all new Poison-free Peninsula members before we add them to our whatsapp public announcements group. There is however always the possibility that someone with ill motives might join the group. It is therefore important to note that: 1. We will NEVER direct message you asking for anything, especially money or "help"; 2. We will NEVER send you a link in a private message or an App to download. 3. We will NEVER direct message you to provide you with a link to an 'online' meeting. All our legitimate communications will only be on the announcement group posted by one of our admins. ALWAYS BE ALERT to potential fraudsters pretending to be one of our admins or someone from our organisation. DO NOT FALL FOR IT. IF ever any doubt, contact one of our admins directly or drop us an email: poisonfreepeninsula (at) proton (dot) me.
ALSO REFER OUR 'RESOURCES' PAGE for further information/resources.