Pesticides are everywhere: in our food, our drinking water, our environment, even in our blood… Bees are disappearing at an alarming rate. Pesticides are destroying biodiversity. Worldwide, citizens are increasingly concerned about the impact of pesticides on their health and the environment. This platform aims to spread the message of those who have a story to tell. They are the Voices of Pesticides.
Generations Futures, PAN Europe’s member organisation in France, has been working with farmers who are victims of pesticides in France. Together they have been trying to raise political and public awareness of the gravity of the issue and to make sure that the victims’ stories are heard. The testimonies of hundreds of victims have been collected and can be viewed on a dedicated webpage. An interactive map shows the areas where people have been affected. The anonymous testimonies include accounts of headaches, fatigue, and coughs, all ailments attributed to the use of and exposure to pesticides: "Victims des Pesticides". In France there has been increased awareness of the victims of pesticides, there has been a number of important court cases, certain diseases have been recognized as professional diseases by the public health insurance while the topic has also gotten a lot of media attention. Last but not least as something very special in France the victims of pesticides have an association assisting them: http://www.phyto-victimes.fr/
Not only in Europe but also across the world citizens tell their stories on how pesticides affect their health and the environment. From Argentina to China, pesticides have been causing far-reaching and long-lasting damage for decades both to humans and nature. These stories have been documented to give a voice to the unheard and ignored victims of pesticides. Continue reading and watching stories here.
