Probably the most alarming thing I got from chapter 5 is the lack of regulations on pesticide use across the globe. Here in the United States we import most of the food we eat from nations of the South. In these nations there are few if any restrictions on the use of pesticides that we have banned here in America. This means that companies from the North who have large plantations or food farms can use all the pesticides they want to get the best harvest and only have to worry about shipping that food back into the U.S. However, due to trade restrictions in place the U.S. only monitors a tiny amount of imported foods and then allows everything else in if the small portion checks out. Due to this, as long as a company can get a crate of food to check, they don’t have to worry about the hundreds of other crates. They can essentially use as many banned pesticides as they want on the majority of their crops as long as there are a few places in which they do not use them. We could be eating food that has proven toxins in them. These pesticides are banned in the U.S. because they have been proven to cause cancer and many other horrible health effects. However, banned use does not mean banned production.
Pellow points out that there are no restrictions currently in place in the U.S. to prohibit the production and trade of banned pesticides. Essentially, chemical companies have gotten the ability to continue to produce items that will kill people and there is no way to stop them. By being so noncommittal in attempting to stop the use of pesticides, we have allowed environmental injustices to continue to occur. Not only are we at risk from the food we import, but the people who work the farms or plantations are exposed to toxins that kill them on a daily basis. If a pesticide is deemed too harmful to human health, it should be banned across the globe or at least trade restrictions should be put in place which would make it too costly to produce.
What seems to be the best option provided by Pellow is the work by TSMOs to get restrictions in place in the global South. If these governments create bans similar to the U.S. there will be no market for such pesticides to exist and chemical companies will be forced to create better alternatives. However, this is a lofty goal and one that will take a considerable amount of time and effort before it is realized. What is most frustrating about this problem is that it leaves the average joe very few options when it comes to action. Unless a person has the ability to get involved with a TSMO they are very limited in the amount of effect they can have. The governmental system is too open and chemical companies have too much power in interest groups to allow trade implications to be started or accepted by the U.S.
