Environmental Future in Orleans Engages All Ages

 "'To change is really important ... We need to start to change our ways because the world will not be the same in a few years and we need to make sure we protect our environment, our wildlife, and make sure there is a better tomorrow "

 — Edie Speigel

Student, Nauset Regional High School

What is the Orleans home rule petition for pesticide reduction?

As Orleans gets ready to vote on a home rule petition to reduce pesticide use, some younger citizens have taken the lessons of local government to heart, using the political process to work for a change that directly impacts their future

The petition appears as an article on the October 16 special Town Meeting and would enable Orleans to set its own guidelines for pesticides rather than defaulting to the state guidelines. The process begins in Orleans but then moves to the statehouse, and the cycle could take several years.

Who is involved in the pesticide reduction petition?

Many different groups have engaged in the process, including high school students. Edie Speigel and Coleman Lincoln shared with Lower Cape News the reasons why they began engaging in local political activity with the pesticide reduction petition, why it makes a difference for their generation, and what they learned along the way.

Why do proponents say the pesticide reduction petition is important?

Proponents say that indiscriminate pesticide use creates many environmental damages and that commercial scale application already happens in Orleans across residential properties. The chemicals spread far beyond the area in which they are used, contaminating local waterways and ponds as well the drinking water aquifer. In addition, they decimate the insect population. Insects form a  cornerstone of the ecosystem by serving as a food source for larger animals and pollinating plants; without them our environment would not function.

The petition would not ban all pesticide use, but would reduce and manage it.

For more information:

Pesticide home rule petition