Oops

In the corporate world's tortured language, workers are no longer fired. They just experience an "employment adjustment." But the most twisted euphemism I've heard in a long time comes from DuPont: "We are investigating the reports of these unfavorable tree symptoms," the pesticide maker recently stated.

How unfavorable? Finito, flat-lined, the tree is dead. Not just one tree, but hundreds of thousands all across the country are suffering the final "symptom."

The culprit turns out to be Imprelis, a DuPont weed-killer widely applied to lawns, golf courses, and — ironically — cemeteries.

Rather than just poisoning dandelions and other weeds, the herbicide also seems to be causing spruces, pines, willows, poplars, and other unintended victims to croak.
~ from DuPont's Herbicide Goes Rogue by Jim Hightower ~

Why am I not surprised at this news story? Could it be that the government relies too much on corporate data for testing purposes? Could it be that such tests typically consider only short-term, not long-term, impacts? Could it be that profit almost always wins out over safety?

Of course, it's all these things and more. We are poisoning our planet to death! We allow this to happen so a few corporations can rake in big bucks.

There are many earth-friendly ways to combat or control weeds, varmints and diseases. It takes some thinking, sweat and patience. But we live in a world that expects instantaneous success and so it's much easier to drench our lawns and gardens with a toxic brew of chemicals. I mean, who pulls weeds anymore?

And why are so many people eager and willing to turn their properties into chemical cesspools? Because industry and the government promise it is safe, even when they have no idea if this is true or not. That's why stories like this aren't surprising in the least.

We will reap what we sow!