South African agricultural laborers fight the “toxic trade” of EU pesticides

Dina was working on Entellini Vineyard When, suddenly, He was breathless. A journey to the hospital quickly caused a series of events, which led to her health, her work and her, with her, and her home.

According to his doctor, the exposure of a chemical mixture called Tarmax is usually used to control plant growth in South Africa, generally, which is his active ingredient. CinematismThis is as describedIs very dangerous Source European Institute for Chemical Products and Products (ECHA) And has been banned in the EU since 2009.

Despite this, more than one of the Darmex Long listThe most dangerous chemicals It is continuously manufactured on European land and sold to third countries. Foods manufactured abroad with these chemicals are later imported to sell on the shelves of European supermarkets.

Tina is one of the many stories recently shared by agricultural workers and health and health professionals The famous court of pesticidesIs celebrated in the heart of the world Slandbosh wine areaIn South Africa, from March 21 to 23.

Although this is not a formal court, this investigation, led by the community, provides a place to share their testimony to the victims before examining the complaints of expert judges Violations of international lawIncluding human and environmental rights.

South African agricultural workers ask Europe to stop “poisons”

When he heard his message to Europe, Dina was clear. “We say that as farming workers, we don’t want much Pesticides of Europe“, He says,” Stop sending us their poisons. ” Exposure to pesticides In their life, from Lung damage Slide Egg cancer y Vision problems.

“If this is not enough for Europeans, why do you think it is for us?” Another agricultural worker says that he wants to be anonymous and says that European consumers should know, “The human reality behind it Wine to drink“.

According to the Biodiversity African Center, South Africa They are legally used 192 the most dangerous pesticidesOf these, 57 are banned in the EU. Some neurotoxic or cancer, others are considered a severe toxic to the environment.

Women, most vulnerable by pesticides

The first row of exposure is agricultural workers and their families, which live near the fumigations, which are found in a very low step of complexity The imbalance of wealth and power The country, rooted in their past Aphart.

With dangerous contracts, work loads, poorly pay and rarely protected, agricultural workers are not voiced in managing these farms, Ruled by rich landlords ‘Boers’ (farmers).

The most exposed women,Biologically high vulnerability to express pesticides yMore vulnerable In South African communities, step Women in the farm South African program (WFP) is a charity that works to protect the western and northern Cabo workers.

Throughout the court, workers confirmed it again They are not provided with personal safety equipmentMany testified that women wear handkerchiefs to cover their face when they usually work. Others said they had no access to Driver A Toilet In vineyards.

“Double moral blunt” to ban pesticides exports

By releasing a new road map, efforts to reform business standards attract attention to Brussels European theory of agriculture It establishes plans to control food imports from third countries with restricted pesticides residues in Europe. This is not the first time that the EU proposes this type, because the commission has been rumored that the commission has been able to Stop exports of prohibited pesticides.

But the projects face the company Antithesis In Agricultural Commerce Groups, including pesticide pressure group KirplaifHe has maintained these for a long time Pesticosters They are essential in some situations.

“The production realities of South African agriculture are very different, so it is difficult to compare them to other countries and regions,” the Crabs said in a statement after the South Africa court. He maintains that “different solutions and pesticides” needed for different crops, insects and climatic conditions.

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The United Nations on toxic and human rights for this argument. The special reporter has no weight, Dr. Marcos Orelana. “The human body is the same everywhere; Whatever differs from “Brauded Double Standard”.

International Security, a training of “Mark Boxes”

South AfricaIt has legal systems that control the use of these chemicals and acts to gradually eliminate the most dangerous pesticides in the future, but court participants often argued Terms are not implemented. In the meantime, agricultural workers usually ignore their rights or are reluctant to protect them.

In terms of Orelana, the argument that governments are sovereignty to make their own decisions, “in many of the developing countries engaged in international pesticides, underline the lack of skills” and “question”. Corruption And the seizure of the corporate of government agencies that make these decisions. “

More common words, called an international contract Rotordam contract It is designed to promote informed decisions of countries that trade with hazardous chemicals.

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But for Andrea Rhodar, the head of the Cape University’s Environmental Health Unit, the deal was very complicated. “If a pesticide is added to the list, it is usually obsolete,” he says, and the deal says that the deal is more than the real security mechanism.

Roster argues that the EU’s ban on South Africa will be a “big help” by pointing out that no African country produces its own pesticides. “These pesticides have alternatives”He says that the ban on such exports may be a “catalyst”, and he argues Agricultural systems And Steady.

Kara Macke, PMA campaign coordinator, continues to produce and export the EU every day to South Africa for banned chemicals Ue Another “Workers and farms are the complicity of daily poison with people’s pesticides” “We must end this toxic trade, and vice versa expresses unreasonable racism and colonial thinking,” he says.

In the meantime, the judicial judges of the judge The Tribunal is popular Dina and the farming workers will evaluate the evidence presented Judgment and legal advice Within a few months.

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