MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

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  GeoffWard

  The picture accompanying this article purports to show Gramoxone crop spraying (Paraquat dichloride).
  
  “Paraquat is used as a quaternary ammonium herbicide, one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. It is quick-acting, non-selective, and *kills green plant tissue on contact.*
  It is redistributed within the plant, but does not harm mature bark.
  Being a herbicide, paraquat protects crops by controlling a wide range of annual and certain perennial weeds that reduce crop yield and quality by competing with the crop for water, nutrients, and light.”
  
  Anybody doing this on his coffee crop (picture) is clear-killing all plant life to make ready for replanting. The caption doesn't match the picture as this is clearly a mature and productive plantation.
  
  PentaBDE and octaBDE (polybrominated biphenyls) are good flame retardants, though the tetrabrominated product is less hazardous. PBBs have a history of accidentally getting into the foodchain ref: Mitchigan Firemaster contamination of animal feedstuffs.
  
  But Burkina Faso is hitting at the wrong target.
  The key to using toxins is workforce EDUCATION,
  especially in the handling (particularly correctly diluting) and application.
  
  The materials themselves are spectacularly good at doing their job.

  Apr 04th, 2011 - 11:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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