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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Neighbors fight cell tower proposal near Ashland Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Mt. Ashland offers shuttle service Sadness, relief greet Kitzhaber resignation locally Education Levy supporters kick off campaign Bowling for knowledge Sharing black culture It's alive! SOU students create thought-provoking art Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Silvio Calabi: Range Rover Sport, the off-road GT Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Ride & Drive: The 2015 BMW M4 Silvio Calabi: Jeep’s Patriot earns respect Politics and elections Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Sadness, relief greet Kitzhaber resignation locally Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation State News Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) Oregon secretary of state: Meeting with governor 'strange' Oregon's second in command abruptly returns from capital Nation - World Obituaries Arlene M. (Ryan) Mills Michael Wayne South Claire G. Craft Theodore F. "Ted" Carter James Fredrick Shareable This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Raiders perfect on senior day Millers smother Grizz on senior night Three questions facing the 2015 Oregon State baseball team Under SOU spotlight one last time Just following the rules High school Millers smother Grizz on senior night Crater girls, boys cruise to victory in Midwestern League blowouts Grizz boys' upset bid falls just short in loss to Churchill Layton picks Western Oregon Ashland girls go 6-1 in multi-team dual meet Southern Oregon University Raiders perfect on senior day Three questions facing the 2015 Oregon State baseball team Under SOU spotlight one last time Just following the rules Raiders sweep Hope Int., stay perfect Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Workers need more power Landgren cartoon: Disneyland measles outbreak Matthew T. Mangino: The government has access to your emails Our View: Support schools — again Editorial Our View: Support schools — again Our View: Kitzhaber's Delilah? Our View: GMO ruling was correct Our View: The benefits are mutual Wolves in our woods Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 11 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 10 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Guest Opinion: Why so anxious to tax marijuana? Herb Rothschild Jr.: A good day for peace Guest Opinion: A message to my health care colleagues Columns Workers need more power Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Jeffrey Gillespie: Mr. Netanyahu goes to Washington Editor's Notes: More local content in the Tidings Council Corner: Transforming Ashland for the future Revels Latest Stories 'Dames at Sea' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Brett Dennen plays the old Ashland Armory Cotillard embarks on a journey of hope in 'Two Days, One Night' Best Bets: Feb. 12-19 Theater 'Dames at Sea' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Looking inside yourself and finding a character is magic Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Music Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Fifty Shades’ of boring Movie review: ‘Kingsman’ transcends spy-movie tribute status Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Cotillard embarks on a journey of hope in 'Two Days, One Night' Movie review: ‘Leviathan’ tells a whale of a human tale Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories David Murdock: Take a nice little walk Looking Up: The sky on Valentine's night Health Watch: The rise of wearable fitness tech Jimmy Smothers: Car trouble turns into a pleasant experience Marketta Gregory: We are loved Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Neighbors fight cell tower proposal near Ashland ... Ashland Calendar: Feb. 14 ... Workers need more power ... Neighbors fight cell tower proposal near Ashland ... Ashland Calendar: Feb. 14 ... Workers need more power ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Comment By John L. Gardiner DailyTidings.com By John L. Gardiner Posted Feb. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am By John L. Gardiner Posted Feb. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News For decades, we’ve feared potential terrorist contamination of our water supplies. But spraying poisons on our roads, farms and forests for mere weed control? — Legal, throughout the state. The following example is but a flea-bite of what has been going on for the past several decades, in which we’ve also seen a dramatic rise in various diseases. What was once only correlation is now becoming clearer as causation, thanks to independent research — often, international. Recently, a local timber company notified the state of chemical ground application (banned on federal lands). Over 25 logging sites will receive "treatment,” from Selma to the border, of "applications of atrazine, clopyralid, glyphosate, hexazinone, Imazapyr, sulfometuron, metsulfuron methyl, triclopyr, phenoxy, and other herbicides, surfactants, carriers and drift control agents ... applied to within 10 feet of the streams." This is the annual nightmare in our rural community, together with aerial spraying of farms and forests and roadside applications. Glyphosate was thought to be neutralized on soil contact. Now, we know this to be far from the case. These poisons contaminate drinking water for wildlife and humans alike. In Cave Junction, our city water is drawn from Illinois River bankside wells and an aquifer; no tests for pesticides are carried out. In Selma, all domestic water is from wells or springs likely contaminated through years of these practices. Actually, many of these poisons survive a long time in air, soil and water. They are absorbed by, and accumulate (like arsenic) in our bodies, most alarmingly in breast milk — to be passed to our children. Their epigenetic effects include infertility, birth deformities and other severe health issues. Many believe pesticides are causing cancers in the Illinois Valley. Community leaders are dying way before their time. These "visible" people (and animals) are the tip of the iceberg. And state law does not permit those injured by chemical trespass from farm or forest activity to sue those responsible. The conclusions of official investigations into the aerial spraying of people and pets at Lane County’s Triangle Lake and Gold Beach are a white-wash for the logging industry. The Oregon Forest Practices Act, OAR 629-620-400, permits pesticide use. However, the Environmental Protection Agency has finally disapproved Oregon’s coastal nonpoint pollution program, citing poor logging practices: www.opb.org/news/article/feds-rule-oregon-not-protecting-coastal-waters-from-logging- /. Pesticides are poisoning our waters — it’s official. Rachel Carson predicted this 60 years ago in "Silent Spring." Carol van Strum unconcealed the Oregon nightmare in the '80s with "A Bitter Fog: Herbicides and Human Rights." Now a new book, "Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA," by E. Vallianatos, exposes political chicanery in public service. Agencies created to protect we the people have been protecting big business, while punishing whistleblowers. Continued poisoning of our people and landscapes for weed control is no longer excusable. While cheap for farmers, foresters and municipalities, it’s devastatingly expensive for our communities. We demand an immediate moratorium on pesticide use, until legislators change the "Right to Farm and Forest Act." Those suffering "chemical trespass" must be able to sue those responsible. What to do? Petition our governor:  www.credomobilize.com/petitions/our-right-to-life-liberty-and-pursuit-of-happiness . Support efforts to free us from pesticides and GMOs. Join Our Family Farms and the Organic Consumers Association. How would we respond if terrorists were poisoning our environment and public water supplies? John L. Gardiner, Ph.D., is a member of the Cave Junction City Council and a director of the Rogue Basin Partnership. He is a professional engineer specializing in river restoration and management, and has worked on several projects on the West Coast. By John L. Gardiner DailyTidings.com By John L. 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