For decades, Glyphosate, a toxic pesticide, has been sprayed on the fields where our fruit, vegetables and grains grow. Our parks and neighbourhoods are likely being sprayed with it, and almost every other European tested had this toxic poison in their urine. [1] Studies show that it is probably carcinogenic. [2]

And we have the chance to take it off the market since EU countries will be coming together to discuss whether to allow or ban Glyphosate. However, it’s the most commonly used pesticide worldwide, and Monsanto is one of its biggest producers, earning millions from it yearly. So they are are lobbying hard to keep it on the market.

But today we’re launching our own offense, with a European Citizens’ Initiative. It is the most powerful tool we have as European citizens to address the European Commission. If we collect 1,000,000 signatures, the Commission is legally bound to listen to our demands. Without it, they could fall on deaf ears. To have real impact we need the signatures by this summer, when the most important discussions will start. That means collecting over 5,800 signatures every single day. Starting right now.

Last year, the European Commission was meant to relicense the use of glyphosate for 15 years, but it fell under huge pressure from hundreds of thousands of Europeans (WeMove community included)! Due to public pressure the Commission could only agree on a temporary measure extending the licence for 18 months. This is now the final stretch.

If we succeed, we will be opting for our health and the health of the generations to come. But not only. If we succeed, this can be the start of a revolutionary change to the way we do farming, that could have a positive impact on our planet for centuries. But Monsanto, Syngenta and Bayer make their millions from the current way we do farming — toxic pesticides, GMOs, green deserts. We know they are doing everything in their power to protect their interests, so we are doing the same.

This is no regular petition, so we are partnering with a massive European coalition to launch the initiative and reach the required signatures. [3] We need all 1,000,000 signatures by this summer so we can impact the proposal the Commission adopts towards this toxic pesticide. But that requires every single one of us from the WeMove community to play our part if we want to be rid of this poison. Today is the first day of the campaign. Will you be part of a massive push to get the word out?

With your signature, we can demonstrate the public opposition to Glyphosate, and keep up the pressure on EU member states to vote against its re-authorisation this year.

Thank you,

Martin (Berlin/London), Jörg (Lübeck), Mika (Bordeaux), Olga (Bologne), David (Brussels) and the whole WeMove.EU team

PS – For a signature to count towards an European Citizens’ Initiative, you need to provide a bit more information than for a normal WeMove petition. The information fields required are not set by WeMove.EU, but are determined by which member state you are signing the ECI for. The extra information that is being asked of you is a legal requirement for your signature to be considered valid. WeMove will not store or use this extra information. Please sign!

[1] https://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/press_releases/foee_5_environmental_impacts_glyphosate.pdf

[2] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carey-gillam/iarc-scientists-defend-gl_b_12720306.html https://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/pdf/Q&A_Glyphosate.pdf

[3] Circle of Organising Partners: Campact | Corporate Europe Observatory| The Danish Society for Nature Conservation | GLOBAL 2000 (Friends of the Earth Austria) | Greenpeace | Health and Environment Alliance | PAN Europe | Skiftet | WeMove.EU |