Urgent work must be undertaken to prevent this. Our local authority project assists councils to reduce or eliminate pesticide use in urban areas. We have pioneered a scheme with leisure management authorities to promote a Green Flag Park award for green space managed without hazardous chemical pesticides. This scheme rewards local green initiatives. The gas leak in Union Carbide's pesticide plant in Bhopal in 1984 killed over 3,500 people.
Victims are still largely uncompensated.
The environmental implications of introducing GM herbicide resistant crops remain unclear. We provide briefings on key issues relating to pesticides, for the public, journalists and students.