[BNS_members] Meeting Tonight + Calling for a Moratorium on Glyphosate Spraying

[Caroline Beddoe]

Good morning, 

Two things this morning: A reminder of tonight's BNS meeting, plus ways
to get involved in calling for an end to the aerial spraying of
glyphosate on forests across Nova Scotia, including a letter from the
BNS, a print petition, and an action for engagement tomorrow. Details
below. 

FIRST, A REMINDER OF TONIGHT'S MONTHLY MEETING. In-person at the
Wolfville Curling Club (upstairs) with tea and treats, starting at 7:00
pm, or online on Zoom, with the official meeting and presentation by
Patrick Kelly, entitled "The Sun is not an average star, the Earth is
not an average planet," starting at 7:30 pm. (Register for the Zoom here
[1]). 

-- 

GET INVOLVED: CALLING FOR A BAN ON GLYPHOSATE 

There has been a lot of mobilization to ensure communities aren't
sprayed by glyphosate this September. We are heartened by the hard work
and care shown by people across the province to stand up for public and
environmental health and say, in many ways, "don't spray us." The bigger
push is to call for a moratorium on the use of aerial glyphosate spray
across all forested lands in this province. 

The BNS Board recently submitted a letter to this effect, attached. 

Moreover, there is a PRINT PETITION (ATTACHED) being circulated by the
No Spray North Mountain group to encourage A MORATORIUM ON THE AERIAL
SPRAYING OF GLYPHOSATE BASED PRODUCTS ON OUR FORESTS IN NOVA SCOTIA. It
must be printed, signed and then sent. Please print it out (without
making any changes to the wording) and share it if you can! 

TOMORROW, THERE IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGAGEMENT: on SEPTEMBER
20TH, THE NORTH MOUNTAIN GROUP AND ALLIES WILL BE PRESENTING TO KINGS
COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE WHOLE ASKING FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN THE EFFORT TO
CONVINCE THE NOVA SCOTIA GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION
(MORATORIUM) ON AERIAL HERBICIDE SPRAYING. The complete "ask" is posted
below. Please come if you are able to show your support in the gallery
and/or outside of the Municipal Complex (181 Coldbrook Village Park
Drive, Coldbrook).

The meeting begins at 9am and the presentation is on the agenda for
9:40am. Space in the gallery is limited to 50 people and masks are
strongly suggested. 
Following a 10 minute presentation by Nina Newington and a 10 minute
question period, Councillor Dick Killam will present "the ask" to the
council (see below) . 
We hope to see you there. The petition for presentation to the
Provincial Legislature will also be available for signatures tomorrow at
the Municipal Complex . The petition will be presented by MLA Carmen
Kerr (Annapolis) to the House of Assembly in October. (More details
here: https://eco-action.ca/include/no-spray-north-mtn.htm) 

The ask: 
(1) That municipal council write a letter to Premier Tim Houston and
Environment and Climate Change Minister Tim Halman, requesting that a
moratorium be placed on aerial herbicide spraying until a formal report,
requisitioned by the provincial government, on the net benefits or net
losses of such activity to the residents of Nova Scotia can be obtained.
(2) That council ask our solicitor to provide a legal opinion as to
whether the municipality has any jurisdiction on banning the aerial
spraying of glyphosate.
(3)  That council  send a resolution based on (1) above to the NSFM
(Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities) for their fall meeting. 

-- 
Caroline Beddoe
 She/her
 613-619-1098
 Program Coordinator
 Blomidon Naturalists Society
 Wolfville, Nova Scotia

_ Blomidon Naturalists Society activities take place in Mi'kma'ki, the
traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq People. We
acknowledge that we have a responsibility to honour and learn about
their histories and current cultures and to actively work in support of
reconciliation. We are committed to fostering respectful and sustainable
relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of this land, with all other
organisms, with the land and with the water._ 

Links:
------
[1]
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvc-ysqD0qHdSyecogK6m5TMQilmakrA_E
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