Your Views for September 6

Take next step

The Volcano transfer station needs to accommodate those who pay for it, not those who govern it.

We beseech the county to open it 24/7 and keep it clean, as opposed to restricting hours and not tending to the mess that builds up due to overly full bins.

We also implore the county to erect signs so that we know before we pass the bin we need. We applaud the new transfer station and the county’s effort to recycle. Please take the next logical step.

Tom Young

Volcano

Magical weed-killer

After reading the various articles in the Tribune-Herald recently, it occurs to me that I must be a living miracle. So be it!

You see, I have experiences with the “deadly,” “toxic,” “poisonous” chemical known as glyphosate. Glyphosate is manufactured and sold by several chemical firms, each with its own trade name. Included in these is Monsanto, which uses the patented name of Roundup for their own product. Glyphosate also is manufactured in China, imported to the U.S. and sold here locally.

Let me remind you that water is also potentially a “deadly,” “toxic,” “poisonous” chemical. However, to my knowledge, properly administered glyphosate has never had competent research that confirms any physiological damage to any creature. (Future advisers to Councilwoman Margaret Wille would do well to state their sources and scientific analysis of the research. This would save Mrs. Wille a lot of loss of face and help preserve her veracity in her professional capacity for the future.)

Prior to approximately 1975, where I lived in Southern California, weed control was accomplished universally by a substance marketed under the name of “weed oil.” It was a mixture of kerosene, or distillate, combined with carbolineum (a coal-tar product that was known to cause cancer; even the slightest contact would give you a bad “sunburn”).

Weed oil had a vile smell for many days after its application, and the vegetation that was sprayed became a brownish-yellow eyesore. Any creature that came in contact with newly sprayed weeds was subject to severe physical and physiological injury.

One day, more than 40 years ago, when I went to the farm supply store, I was amazed, delighted and dumbfounded that a product called Roundup had arrived on the agricultural scene, and was said to have none of the hazards of weed oil. It was even said to affect only organisms that had chlorophyll in their makeup.

Since I had no chlorophyll in my anatomy, I handled it as if it were no more toxic than water. I waded through the weeds I had sprayed ahead of me as I walked. Typically, I didn’t bother to wash the Roundup off my legs and feet until my next shower – which sometimes did not happen on that day. Also, it was routine for kittens to end up looking like drowned rats until they licked themselves dry after playing in the Roundup-wet weeds.

Now, the activities that I have described above, have occurred on several days each month consistently for more than 40 years. I am aware of the fact, that at least on the surface, my procedures seemed irresponsible. I am giving you the facts that imply that glyphosate seems to be no more toxic than good old water. However, it may be that it affects others differently … so even though such a pattern of activity has permitted me to celebrate 90 healthy birthdays to date, I don’t recommend that others follow my example.

Be it known that I am a retired physician who has always enjoyed farming and horticulture as an avocation. For me, glyphosate has been an almost magical indispensable tool that makes my avocation possible and pleasant.

C. H. Martin

Keaau