Citizen celebration in Burlington

Heather and I, along with a number of other Annapolis County residents, went to the Burlington Community Hall in Kings County to hear about the protest against aerial spraying of glyphosate of 115 acres of land owned by Five Islands Forest Development Ltd.

At the meeting, it was confirmed that the property owners no longer intend to spray. In the words of Don Osburn:

“We are asking Nova Scotians to stand up and join us to get the province to agree to end the spraying of herbicides on the woodlands in Nova Scotia. It has to stop. It’s unsustainable. We’re in a climate emergency. That’s all there is to it.”

— Don Osburn

As residents of Annapolis County, we are asking our municipal council to pass a motion to stop clear cutting and aerial spraying in the county. We know that there are parcels scheduled for spraying in the Inglisville and Paradise section of South Mountain.

The next steps are to identify the parcels on a map, their size, ownership and the schedule for spraying. We need to know where organic farms/orchards and operations exist. The spray season has started September 1st. We need to come up with a citizen action plan.

In Burlington, Leo Glavine, MLA for Kings County spoke against the spraying of glyphosate. We need the same leadership in Annapolis County, at both the municipal and provincial table. In Burlington, Nina Newington from Extinction Rebellion, and resident of Annapolis County, spoke against clear cutting and aerial spraying in Nova Scotia.

In the words of Dave Gunning, “What shall I do with these hands of mine?“

Acknowledgements

Cathy and Rick Ketcheson joined us for the drive to Burlington. Nina Newington, Jane, Olga and Stephanie were also there from Annapolis County. Edward joined us in spirit.

References

Ashley Thompson. Kings County News. September 3rd.

Dave Gunning, These Hands, 2012.