How Selfish Can They Be?

Sally Lewis, Spokesperson, GASP said today that she was appalled at the attitude of MAF and the Government during this festive season.

I thought Christmas was a time of giving not taking, she said. MAF have taken away the rights of spray evacuees to have Christmas at home with our families as MAF are continuing to go ahead with aerial spraying on the 18th of December. This means that those most severely affected will not be home in time for Christmas after being relocated by MAF and will be forced to spend Christmas apart from their families.

Some evacuees have been told by their doctors they must remain away from the spray zone for up to 11 days after each spray because of the adverse health effects they suffer. Some are now unable to return to west Auckland at all because of severe reactions to the spray. I myself must remain away for 7 days. Therefore, if spraying is delayed due to bad weather this could mean that some of us will not be home this side of Boxing Day, possibly into the New Year, and then MAF is scheduled to spray again on the 7th January. So much for the three weekly intervals between sprays. It is now down to two weekly intervals with ground spraying in between, plus Meola Road is sprayed every week, she said.

This has a severe impact on those of us whose health is adversely affected by the spray. We feel we are unable to get any break from the spraying. No wonder we are constantly sick, not only with the spray effects but with this Government and MAF, and their selfish attitude towards the people of West Auckland at this festive time. I personally don't wish them a happy Christmas, she said.

I have two main concerns at the moment, she said. Firstly - the silent ones who have no say. Yes, these are the many animals that I hear of that are getting sick from this spray. What do animals like cats and dogs do when they are feeling ill? Yes you guessed it, they eat GRASS only to get worse as they are poisoning themselves by ingesting the spray particles that are on the grass. So I am asking people to please keep an eye out for their pets as they are part of your family as well.

My second concern is the recent edict from MAF on movement controls on vegetation which also states that people who cover their vegetable gardens, fruit trees etc with tarpaulins to protect them from the spray will be prosecuted. If this is the case I will be standing at my gate waiting for the handcuffs to be applied, as I won’t have any bureaucratic imbecile telling me what I can or can’t do in my own PRIVATE BACKYARD. When is this harassment going to STOP as I take umbrage to such threats? Are MAF prepared to pay for all our vegetables and fruit for the next three years? I would not be prepared to eat them after they have been sprayed on. But oh it washes off, so they tell us. Does it also wash off any spray that has been absorbed - I think not. So please take care of your food supplies.

Sorry to be so morbid at this time of the year, but I am really concerned.

Sally Lewis

GASP

mailto: mailto:antisprayhealthgroup@newzealand.co.nz

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