Mornington Peninsula Insect Massacre

Started

15 July 2019

Petition to

Greg Hunt (Minister for Health)

Signatures: 23,221Next goal: 25,000

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Why this petition matters

Started by Simon Mulvany

Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula Shire council could potentially risk the health of its constituents and decimate the indigenous bee population and other pollinators when it attempts to kill mosquitos by fogging with synthetic pyrethroid neuro-toxins (effectively industrial strength Mortein) which will be misted from the back of trucks.

It will then follow up residual spray which will settle on vegetation to kill mosquitos and other insects for weeks afterwards and “Larvicide” or drop methoprene blocks into waterways to also attempt to prevent mosquitos breeding.

The insect massacre is a impulsive strategy to control the spread of the Buruli ulcer that some people hypothesis is spread by mosquitoes via possums.
Other scientists believe the vector is in the soil and not spread by mosquitoes.

Residents are furious they still have not been officially informed about the spraying that will cover from Portsea to Saint Andrews. Residents have not consented to this intervention.

What dangers does this poisoning program pose to pollinators, fauna and public health?

People in Barwon Heads Victoria are still contracting the Buruli ulcer despite over a decade of spraying. Last year the same area reported a cluster of young people contracting cancer and many of the locals blame the pesticides being sprayed.

Story: https://7news.link/x415x6

One of Australia’s favourite holiday towns is fighting for an inquiry into its tragic history – desperate to find out what’s caused a cluster of cancer cases.

Ross Harrison, a resident of Barwon Heads, has spent years researching the number of locals who have been diagnosed with illnesses including lymphoma, leukemia, brain and breast cancers.

According to Harrison’s data, everyone who has been diagnosed lived in streets near wetlands that were heavily sprayed - or fogged with chemicals - as part of a decade-long program to kill mosquitoes.

“This story is about letting the genie out of the bottle, so we know what happened here,” Harrison told 7NEWS presenter

The famous Peninsula tea tree Leptospermum laevigatum will be in flower when the spraying occurs millions of honeybees will be killed. Ironically the local Tea tree honey has offered relief to sufferers of the ulcer. Many victims are also appalled with the strategy.

The chemical safety data sheet is terrifying and available here.

http://www.apparentag.com.au/documents/msds/67007_APPARENT_DELTAMETHRIN_DUO_INSECTICIDE_MSDS_1.pdf

Note : 'highly toxic to bees' and no data exists for environmental toxicology. section 11 Long term exposure it states 2/3 of workers using the product had adverse effects.

Mornington Peninsula reputation will be tarnished as a tourist destination.

Locally grown produce will be contaminated and less likely to be pollinated.

The reckless risky toxic program happens at a time when insects populations globally are plummeting.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/02/why-insect-populations-are-plummeting-and-why-it-matters/

Join me in appealing to the Mornington Peninsula Council to call it off!

Please sign this petition and urge the decision makers below to put a stop to this toxic scheme.

Email :
customerservice@mornpen.vic.gov.au

https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Contact-Us/Feedback

Office manager for State MP Chris Brayne

joshua.sinclair@parliament.vic.gov.au

Federal Health Minister

Greg.Hunt.MP@aph.gov.au