Please sign this petition* only if you are a resident of Lake Braddock Community:

WHEREAS:

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, health authorities, and a growing body of scientific evidence have linked many pesticides (which do include herbicides) that are currently on the market to cancer, nervous and immune systems damage, hormone disruption, reproductive harm, birth defects, liver or kidney damage, developmental and learning disabilities, and asthma;
• Current federal and state regulations do not adequately regulate pesticides to protect human and environmental health—especially children’s health;
• Babies, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems or chemical sensitivities are especially vulnerable to exposures;
• Pesticides are harmful to pets, wildlife including threatened and endangered species, soil microbiology, plants, and natural ecosystems;
• Toxic runoff from pesticides and harsh chemical fertilizers pollute streams and lakes and drinking water sources;
• The use of pesticides and chemicals is not necessary to create and maintain healthy green turf given the availability of viable alternative practices and products;
• We have a right not to be involuntarily exposed to pesticides in the air, water or soil that inevitably result from chemical drift and contaminated runoff; and
• A “precautionary approach” toward pesticides and other chemicals is needed to protect the health and safety of ourselves, of the environment, and of future generations...

THEREFORE:

We the undersigned residents of Lake Braddock Community, in an effort to protect the health of our residents and our environment, to improve turf management practices, and to encourage the community’s Board of Directors to take immediate action, hereby request that LBCA and the community’s landscaping provider ("LCS"): (A) immediately stop the unnecessary use of pesticides (which do include herbicides) throughout the 130 acres of common areas (turf, paved, etc.) throughout the Lake Braddock Community; and (B) adopt a least-toxic integrated pest management plan (IPM), which:

• Ends the unnecessary use of pesticides on the common grounds in our community;
• Allows pesticide use only to protect human health or safety (such as in public health emergencies); and
• Requires that all residents be given 48-hour advance, written notification before pesticides are applied, AND that such notice shall include accurate identification of products used, AND that material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all products used shall be made readily available and accessible to residents.

The fact is, we shouldn't have to choose between a beautiful place to live and the health of our community. We can voice our desire to err on the side of caution and to not allow more known toxins into our lives and an environment, which are already over-burdened with so many pollutants and poisons.

Please sign this petition to help our community keep its residents, including our children and our pets, happy and healthy ... and live in harmony with our environment, mindful of future generations.

THANK YOU, SO MUCH!

For more information about this petition, alternative turf care practices, IPMs, the community's Green Initiative (including a progress-to-date), and related efforts and issues, please visit: https://lbcgreenblog.wordpress.com

* Adapted from sources available through Beyond Pesticides (http://www.beyondpesticides.org/) and Toxic-Free Future (https://toxicfreefuture.org/).