A neighborhood group called NICE is utilizing the principles of common law-private and public nuisance and trespass- to bring attention to the problem of air, ground, and water pollution which is occurring on adjoining land to the Northfield Dairy Farm. This farmland is very expansive and requires much manure to ensure the land is kept moist and ready for the crop growth and development. The plaintiff or complainant is a man named Sam Anxious who is tired of having a horrible aroma, as he calls it, floating over his land and making it unbearable to be outside enjoying his property the way he thinks he should. Meanwhile, the local farmer who owns the dairy farm has a large parcel of land to tend to and uses modern methods of manure aeration to spread the manure to all his fields. He doesn’t use pasturing cows like in past times. The problem with this type of operation is that some of the mist with its accompanying odor tends to travel to neighboring landowners’ airspace and additionally, encroaching onto their land and into the public waterway. Even though Mr. Anxious knew of the farm when he moved in five years ago, he didn’t expect to be the recipient of such a large dose of manure-aided wind while receiving liquid manure around his property line. Furthermore, he realized he couldn’t even use the local park where this pollution spread and made it basically unusable to potential park visitors. Finally, he had to even pay a hefty sum of $500 to have his land cleaned due to leakage from a piping system running along the farms property line that encroached onto his. He feels that he shouldn’t have to continue to inhale a rotten smell while watching for leakage from pipes near his property line for potential damage and cleanup and seeing the park become a…
Ladies and Gentleman of the jury, W.R. Grace and Beatrice foods have polluted the aquifer located under East Woburn. There is no question of this, as testimony from workers such as Al Love show that they have spilled, poured and dumped TCE, or Trichloroethylene. Mr. Reilly testified that he should have known what was happening on the 15 acres of property he leased out to the Whitney barrel company. By dumping TCE and other chemicals onto the ground, these companies introduced these harmful substances into the environment, particularly the aquifer underneath. These chemicals are not industrial revolution chemicals; they are modern, harmful chemicals that have adverse health affects.…
As a producer of genetically modified seeds that lead to larger crop yields and eventually larger profits for farmers, Monsanto has a moral obligation to farmers who have grown crops and saved seeds for the next crop for hundreds of years before Monsanto began changing the genetic makeup of the seed. Farmers should not feel obligated to Monsanto as they have manipulated the future of farming through patent protection of intellectual property. Some thoughts should be discussed regarding Monsanto’s position; the comparison of seed manipulation as a form of technology, the use of patent protection, and the bullying of farmers through investigations of farmers reusing seeds from a previous harvest.…
A problem that many farmworkers still faced was their exposure to dangerous pesticides. One incident was a pregnant mother who worked in the fields not knowing that the pesticides would affect her unborn child. The foremen and growers would lie to her, telling her that the pesticides that was sprayed on the crops were harmless towards her. When her newborn baby was born, he was born without arms or legs. The pesticide that was used on the grapes that had affected her was teratogenic pesticides which would cause birth defects.…
Schlosser also addresses the high number of migrant workers working today, as well as being the poorest workers in the United States. Yet, Schlosser does not touch on the health risks that represent working in the fields. I plan to emphasize more on the health risks that are present in the everyday life of a migrant farm working. I will discuss how pesticides have a negative effect on the life of workers, but also to their families. Children of farm workers are at a greater risk of having health risks because of their high exposure to pesticides. Sociological implications that come along with doing this research are or might be the constant demand that [we] consumers make to the agricultural companies, to supply us with fresh fruits and vegetables. This not only has a negative impact in the industry but also to the farm workers. The pressure that consumers places upon the industries makes them produce more and use more harmful chemicals that affect the lives of farm workers but also to those living…
Biotech food corporations have patented a number of genetically altered food and pharmaceutical crops that can only be grown with a proper license and new seeds must be purchased each year. Regrettably genetically engineered crops cannot be contained. Over the years Monsanto has sued hundreds of farmers for patent infringements and many of these farmers have been driven into bankruptcy and have lost everything. Farmer Percy Schmeiser refused to give in, Schmeiser had been in the farming business and developing his own seeds for fifty years, then had his fields carelessly contaminated by Monsanto, when this happened the company tried to take his land and his livelihood. Schmeiser stated, “I never put those plants on my land. The question is where do Monsanto’s rights end and mine begin?” The case went before the Federal Court of Canada, where Schmeiser accused Monsanto of trespassing, improperly obtaining samples of his seed from a local seed plant, and contamination of his crops with unwanted GM plants. In 2008 Monsanto settled out of court, agreed to pay all clean-up costs and agreed that Monsanto may be sued for recontamination if it happens again, also that Schmeiser would not be under a gag order which had been the norm. In this case, Monsanto’s patent was deemed valid; however Schmeiser was not forced to pay for the ‘privilege’ of the contamination. Even more recently Riceland Foods one of the largest rice cooperative in the U.S. won their lawsuit against Bayer when its natural long grain rice was contaminated with Bayer’s unapproved genetically engineered rice. Bayer was also ordered to pay a dozen farmers nearly $50 million for contaminating the commercial market that damaged rice prices back on 2006. (Dr. Mercola, 2012) These companies are trying to convince us these are safe reliable methods of feeding billions and making us healthier, and that they are benefiting us in the long run and if that’s true then they should have these patents, but are they?…
Brewster, the discovery of pests might trigger a pesticide to discharge in the affected area automatically (Agriculture: Expanding and Growing).…
Suppose you live in a new suburban community that combines all the amenities and benefits of a tight-knit small community with the benefits of living close to the big city. Some years pass, and several children and adults in the community start developing extensive and similar illnesses. You think this is clearly not a case of genetics, and you become suspicious that something has gone wrong in the development planning and execution of your community. You start researching possible causes for the illnesses plaguing the community and, upon further investigation, find out that a company’s unsafe chemical-disposal practices may be to blame for the calamity. You decide to notify your community of your findings so that everyone can unite in a fight for justice.…
Bell, W. (2011, July 22). Benifiting from a pesticide ban. Prince George Citizen; Pg. 6.…
Did you know that Calexico is consider one of the worst cities for families? Around the Imperial Valley, we can see various agricultural fields. These agricultural fields are around our homes, parks and schools. Pesticides are sprayed on these agricultural fields to kill weeds, fungus, insects, etc. Pesticides are not only sprayed in our fields, but families are also using them in their homes or in the workplace. However, I feel that they are harming our children and families. Pesticides can cause various health hazards such as headaches, nausea, and skin and eye irritation to acute dangers such as cancer. Driving to the mall or near schools, we can see how they are using a crop duster and pesticides are sprayed, and how easily it can be blown…
I am a criminologist and I have been hired to assist the Farm Workers Union. The Union is making allegations that each year thousands of farm workers are sickened by exposure to pesticides used on the farms where they work. Exposure is said to occur when the workers are in the fields and helicopters spray the nearby fields. However, the industry is aware of the problem, but continues the practice. The government considers the problem of pesticide drift a statistically small one compared to the total amount of pesticide applications. It is my job to help ease the situation regarding the Union’s frustration at the apparent collusion between the industry and government. The questions that I will be addressing are whether or not the farm industry is committing a crime, why or why not? Is the government committing a crime? Why or why not? In my observation if I discover that no crime was committed then I will address as to where the farm workers will be able to obtain relief from. I then will discuss the historical success of other employees working in unsafe conditions and if they have gained any kind of relief from their past exposure.…
The state of the chemical, i.e., solid, liquid, or gas, affects the chances of pesticide penetration into the body. Liquids or gasses can get into the body through all three routes, whereas solids tend to have a lower chance of entry through the lungs. However, if solid particles are small enough or if they remain on the skin long enough, penetration into the body can take place in the same ways to those of liquids or gasses. The most common route by which pesticide users are poisoned is absorption through the skin. Dermal absorption may occur as a result of splashes and spills when mixing, loading or disposing of pesticides. To a minor degree, it may result from exposure to large amounts of residue. The degree of hazard by dermal absorption…
the new mutated pests. So eventually more and more pesticides are created to protect the crop. Carson says, “destructive insects often undergo a ‘flareback’ or resurgence, after spraying, in numbers greater than before” (8) Not only must researchers develop new pesticides, but also farmers need to use more. The farmers use the poison for temporary relief from the pest problems confronting them. The pesticides are a quick and easy solution for a pest issue that, ironically, have left people with a larger and stronger force of pests. Carson says that the problem is not actually with the pests, but with overproduction in farming. She argues that the aim of researchers and the government should be fix overproduction instead of dealing…
The increase in desire for perfect produce, drives the need for pesticides today. Much debate of the effects of chemicals used on commercial crops and overall long term effects on humans is an increasing concern. With the increase in advertising of organic produce, many standards of farming have been criticized. Many are claiming a large increase in risk to humans for consuming commercially grown produce, because of the chemicals used to manage such a large volume of crops. There have been many debates of the actual risk of pesticide consumption. With advancing technology and farm equipment, many types of chemical sprays and powders have been used. The actual effect of these pesticides and long term exposure can be harmful to human health.…
Brewster, the discovery of pests might trigger a pesticide to discharge in the affected are automatically (Agriculture: Expanding and Growing).…