On 27 September, French and Belgian Health Mutuals are launching in front of the European Parliament an 'Odysseum for our Health' to mobilise health actors to advocate towards a pesticide-free future. While an increasing number of scientific publications point at harm caused by pesticides on people's health, health actors are increasingly mobilised against pesticides-related chronic diseases such as cancers or Parkinson's disease.
Historically, the most important anti-pesticides mobilisation came from environmentalists, as the most evident short- and long-term impact of pesticides is seen on the environment. Beekeepers have helped sound the alarm on the disastrous impact of pesticide use on their bees and wild flora. But scientific evidence on the collapse of insect and bird populations over the last decades is mounting.
Martin Rieussec-Fournier, President of the Mutuals for Planetary Health movement (1) and lead organiser of the Odyseeum said: 'One century was required to ban asbestos, despite knowledge on its toxicity was there since 1906. More than 90 000 people keep dying of asbestos every year in Europe. We cannot accept the same with pesticides, that make citizens, including children, sick!'
Martin Dermine, executive director at PAN Europe added: 'Scientific evidence shows that chronic exposure to pesticides via food residues or pesticide drifts leads to cancers, Parkinson's diseases or birth malformations. Fortunately, health professionals are becoming more and more vocal on this sanitary scandal.'
The 3-year bicycle Odysseum that gathers Health mutuals, civil society and farmers who suffered from pesticides-related diseases aims at raising awareness on the health impact of pesticides, while promoting pesticide-free agriculture. The launch is taking place on 27 September at the Esplanade of the European Parliament at 14h. Brussels-based EU institutions are the heart of pesticides decision-making processes and the place where the post-2027 Common Agriculture Policy is being debated.
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