When California farmers spray their crops, they are probably not thinking about the endangered yellow-legged frog which lives far away in the Sierra Nevada. But, according to the formidably researched mylfrog.info site, those farm chemicals blow all the way through the mountains, making one more strike against an amphibian that already hovers on the brink of extinction. Meanwhile the Environmental Protection Agency has legalized over 18,000 pesticides. Two billion pounds of pesticides make their legal way across the shop counter every year and find their way into America's air, soil, and waterways. Pesticides are implicated in the endangerment of hundreds of species from the polar bear to the loggerhead sea turtle.
The Center for Biodiversity notes that "The EPA has never adequately evaluated or regulated pesticides that are harmful to endangered species throughout the nation as well as human health." According to the EPA's own website, if a pesticide is found to be contributing to an animal community's decline, all the agency does is post a bulletin.
Demand that the EPA evaluate all widely used pesticides, especially for their role in killing threatened and endangered animals. Tell that agency not to let the yellow-legged frog and other pesticide victims become just so much road kill.
We the undersigned are outraged at how little you have done to prevent pesticide poisoning throughout America. We demand that you evaluate all widely used pesticides and, in particular, how they find their way into our waterways and how they fly into wildlife areas. Then, we ask that you carefully regulate use of pesticides. Many of them, such as lawn chemicals which support an outdated suburban aesthetic, can and should just be taken off the shelves. Today. Educate home owners and farmers about the dangers of pesticides and just how pernicious they are. Tell farmers to identify more sustainable and organic solutions of managing their crops. You are called the Environmental Protection Agency for a reason. Do your job.
