In a recent press release, Penny Fairbrother of the AHB stated that the AHB are not concerned with the Alabama 1080 factory being closed down because they could simply source 1080 concentrate from China. (click here for news link)
We understand there is no legal source of 1080 in China.
However, it is believed 1080 is being produced illegally in China - where it was reportedly banned years ago.
The following medical report and comments were supplied anonymously...
12. AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE RODENTICIDE POISONING IN NORTH VIETNAM CAUSED BY ILLEGAL FLUOROACETATE
Ho¨ jer J,1 Hung HT,2 Du NT,2 Kylin H,3 Rosling H.4
1 Swedish Poisons Information Centre, Stockholm, Sweden;
2 Poison Control Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam;
3 Department of Environmental Assessment, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden;
4 Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Background: Since January 2002 well over 100 cases of rodenticide poisoning have been admitted to the Clinical Toxicology Unit of the PCC in Hanoi. The responsible product is brought illegally from China, where it is illegally produced. It has been suspected to contain some organic fluorine compound. Methods: NMR spectroscopy, using standards of fluoroacetamide and sodium fluoroacetate as references, was used to analyze four liquid samples of the type of rodenticide ingested. The clinical findings in three typical cases are summarised below:
Case series - Initial GI symptoms - Hyperreflexia, rigidity, S-CPK ". Recurrent seizures
ECG findings - Hospital duration = outcome...
8 years, F accidental Yes Yes Yes T inversions and supravent. tachy. 11 days=survival
17 years, F suicidal Yes Yes Yes Prolonged QT; SVT 7 days=survival
21 years, F suicidal Yes Yes Yes Prolonged QT; VT; ventric. fibr. 1 day=fatal
Results: The presence of sodium fluoroacetate was demonstrated in all four rodenticide samples analysed. Conclusion: Although the extremely toxic substance sodium fluoroacetate has been banned as a rodenticide in China and Vietnam for many years, extensive illegal use is apparent and severe cases of intoxication are numerous.
Are the AHB considering negotiating with an illegal supplier of 1080, who may be responsible for hundreds of cases of human poisonings? Should they come clean with the NZ public and explain exactly who their proposed source of 1080 is in china, and prove that they are not dealing with anyone who is guilty of supplying 1080 illegally? Certainly!
Click here for link to US bill to ban 1080
Showing posts with label Animal Health Board (AHB). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animal Health Board (AHB). Show all posts
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Council urges AHB review
Council urges AHB review
By Laura Mills Hokitika Guardian Wednesday 11th August, and also Greymouth Star 11th August - Council demands AHB review
The Westland District Council has called on Parliament to not only cease all aerial 1080 drops, but review the entire Animal Health Board (AHB).
Mayor Maureen Pugh recently tabled a petition before Parliament's local government and environment select committee indicating that at least 90% of Westland residents were opposed to the toxin.
The committee then called for submissions, which have now been publicly released.
The Westland council's submission urged that "mass poisoning" be halted immediately until there could be a properly designed and executed study, independant of the Department of Conservation and Animal Health Board, showing the benefit of 1080.
The council also noted concern that, as a charitable trust, the AHB was not subject to the Official Information Act, and should be reviewed to see if it offered value to the taxpayer.
"The inability for the public to have access to the information held by the AHB breeds suspicion and mistrust within the community."
It said the AHB had avoided formally recording stock deaths.
"The tolerance for 1080 poisoning is at an all-time low and alternatives 'must' be trialed," the council submitted.
Against that, the Animal Health Board's submission said that in the past decade its strategy of using 1080 to kill possums had been effective in reducing Tb-infected herd numbers.
However, the West Coast still had disproportionately high infection numbers: "The region holds about 4% of all cattle and herds in New Zealand yet has over 30% of the nation's infected herds."
It said the Environment Risk Management Authority (Erma) had reviewed 1080 three years ago and found its use outweighed the adverse effects.
The board noted that the council had offered to work with the AHB and DOC to look into alternatives to the toxin, and while it was happy to do so, "we do not see any realistic prospects."
It had engaged independant survey professionals and in December 2009, 52% of those interviewed did not like 1080, but accepted the need for its use, the AHB submitted.
DOC was the third party to make a submission, and said the case for the continued use of aerial 1080 was "compelling."
It presented case studies, which showed 1080 was the cheapest option - in the Cascade this year the cost of ground control was $48.70 a hectare, compared with $17 a hectare for aerial control. The total saving by using aerial poison was close to $1 million.
Select committee chairman, the West Coast - Tasman MP Chris Auchinvole, yesterday could not say when the submissions would be considered: "It's on the timetable for consideration."
By Laura Mills Hokitika Guardian Wednesday 11th August, and also Greymouth Star 11th August - Council demands AHB review
The Westland District Council has called on Parliament to not only cease all aerial 1080 drops, but review the entire Animal Health Board (AHB).
Mayor Maureen Pugh recently tabled a petition before Parliament's local government and environment select committee indicating that at least 90% of Westland residents were opposed to the toxin.
The committee then called for submissions, which have now been publicly released.
The Westland council's submission urged that "mass poisoning" be halted immediately until there could be a properly designed and executed study, independant of the Department of Conservation and Animal Health Board, showing the benefit of 1080.
The council also noted concern that, as a charitable trust, the AHB was not subject to the Official Information Act, and should be reviewed to see if it offered value to the taxpayer.
"The inability for the public to have access to the information held by the AHB breeds suspicion and mistrust within the community."
It said the AHB had avoided formally recording stock deaths.
"The tolerance for 1080 poisoning is at an all-time low and alternatives 'must' be trialed," the council submitted.
Against that, the Animal Health Board's submission said that in the past decade its strategy of using 1080 to kill possums had been effective in reducing Tb-infected herd numbers.
However, the West Coast still had disproportionately high infection numbers: "The region holds about 4% of all cattle and herds in New Zealand yet has over 30% of the nation's infected herds."
It said the Environment Risk Management Authority (Erma) had reviewed 1080 three years ago and found its use outweighed the adverse effects.
The board noted that the council had offered to work with the AHB and DOC to look into alternatives to the toxin, and while it was happy to do so, "we do not see any realistic prospects."
It had engaged independant survey professionals and in December 2009, 52% of those interviewed did not like 1080, but accepted the need for its use, the AHB submitted.
DOC was the third party to make a submission, and said the case for the continued use of aerial 1080 was "compelling."
It presented case studies, which showed 1080 was the cheapest option - in the Cascade this year the cost of ground control was $48.70 a hectare, compared with $17 a hectare for aerial control. The total saving by using aerial poison was close to $1 million.
Select committee chairman, the West Coast - Tasman MP Chris Auchinvole, yesterday could not say when the submissions would be considered: "It's on the timetable for consideration."
Friday, July 16, 2010
Comments from a scientist
Below is a recent letter from a scientist that has spent allot of time researching the science behind the use of 1080 in New Zealand. He is writing in response to a request about his and his wife's research...
3rd July, 2010
...In general, DoC/AHB has done little of what even they would call “research” establishing the efficacy and ecosystem safety of dropping food laced with a poison universally toxic to aerobic organisms into forest ecosystems, and what has been done is most often methodologically flawed. Little of it would probably be unpublishable except in NZ.
The focus of our investigation was on the evidence regarding the effect of aerial 1080 on native ecosystems. We have only looked superficially at the evidence regarding AHB’s claim that aerial-1080 is essential to bovine TB control, because that assertion is relatively easily dispelled (in our minds) without direct reference to the “research”, despite its dubiousness.
The evidence showing that possums are an important vector in the transmission of bovine TB is circumstantial. No direct experiments have shown transmission and the decline in infection rates in cattle have been coincident with the implementation of herd testing and control measures. Nonetheless, we have generally avoided taking on those issues because there are clear, less risky, cheaper, and equally effective means of controlling possum populations, especially in the 7 km pasture margins where it may to be important for the control of bovine TB in live stock.
Our Appraisal document is now out of date and critical new evidence and analysis has been done that greatly strengthens the case against aerial-1080. However, it does contain a section at the beginning that explains in lay terms the elements of good experimental design in complex systems.
Finally, I would warn that the principles of statistical inference and their relationship to the structure of experimental design are deep and subtle, there only being a few people in the world who truly understand them. They can be reduced to a few simple rules to be followed, but the real connection between randomization and replication in experimental design and the statistical tests is one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th Century and probably goes beyond what is achievable in a few bullet points. The reason why this is important is that it means to some degree the quality of research becomes an appeal to the authority of “experts”, which almost anyone can claim to be. (Name hidden by blogger)(******** for example is Doc’s standard reference and his is riddled with statistical and methodological errors.) Thus, pursuing the quality of research argument tends to descend into “we do good research” “no you don’t” arguments. (Incidentally, these rules are almost entirely ignored or misinterpreted in the DoC/AHB experiments.)
...In general, DoC/AHB has done little of what even they would call “research” establishing the efficacy and ecosystem safety of dropping food laced with a poison universally toxic to aerobic organisms into forest ecosystems, and what has been done is most often methodologically flawed. Little of it would probably be unpublishable except in NZ.
The focus of our investigation was on the evidence regarding the effect of aerial 1080 on native ecosystems. We have only looked superficially at the evidence regarding AHB’s claim that aerial-1080 is essential to bovine TB control, because that assertion is relatively easily dispelled (in our minds) without direct reference to the “research”, despite its dubiousness.
The evidence showing that possums are an important vector in the transmission of bovine TB is circumstantial. No direct experiments have shown transmission and the decline in infection rates in cattle have been coincident with the implementation of herd testing and control measures. Nonetheless, we have generally avoided taking on those issues because there are clear, less risky, cheaper, and equally effective means of controlling possum populations, especially in the 7 km pasture margins where it may to be important for the control of bovine TB in live stock.
Our Appraisal document is now out of date and critical new evidence and analysis has been done that greatly strengthens the case against aerial-1080. However, it does contain a section at the beginning that explains in lay terms the elements of good experimental design in complex systems.
Finally, I would warn that the principles of statistical inference and their relationship to the structure of experimental design are deep and subtle, there only being a few people in the world who truly understand them. They can be reduced to a few simple rules to be followed, but the real connection between randomization and replication in experimental design and the statistical tests is one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th Century and probably goes beyond what is achievable in a few bullet points. The reason why this is important is that it means to some degree the quality of research becomes an appeal to the authority of “experts”, which almost anyone can claim to be. (Name hidden by blogger)(******** for example is Doc’s standard reference and his is riddled with statistical and methodological errors.) Thus, pursuing the quality of research argument tends to descend into “we do good research” “no you don’t” arguments. (Incidentally, these rules are almost entirely ignored or misinterpreted in the DoC/AHB experiments.)
Dr. Quinn Whiting-Okeefe
Monday, June 21, 2010
Filming in Westland -
Filming in Westland -Tuesday - 15th June - Operation site
Steve, father and I arrived at the Animal Health Board's 1080 operation site at about 7.ooam. By the time we arrived, protesters had crossed the fence, and ventured into the loading area. About 7 police cars arrived, plus a paddy wagon which was used to transport the 5 arrested, to Greymouth.
beautiful scenery and must leave visitors wondering what the heck is with the skull and cross bones littered at every track entrance, hut or site of significance.
ENDS.
Steve, father and I arrived at the Animal Health Board's 1080 operation site at about 7.ooam. By the time we arrived, protesters had crossed the fence, and ventured into the loading area. About 7 police cars arrived, plus a paddy wagon which was used to transport the 5 arrested, to Greymouth.Katie Earnshaw was interviewed by 
TV3 and TVONE after she left the protest site.
TV3 and TVONE after she left the protest site. She photographed the event as it unfolded, and managed to walk away without being arrested. She told us that the protesters were told they could leave the site without being arrested if they left immediately. As they were heading toward the gate, police changed their minds, then arrested 5 of the protesters as they left. Another was charged the following day. The police handled the situation very well, and appeared to be sympathetic toward the protesters stance.
When things had settled down, we headed into the drop zone.
At least 5 helicopters were used in this operation, and they managed to poison about 40,000 hectares of Westland forest, in this single day. Two different locations were used for loading the baits into the choppers hoppers.
We drove up the Totara Valley road and filmed and photographed the choppers working. Baits were filmed landed on the road, and in the stream beds.
We drove up the Totara Valley road and filmed and photographed the choppers working. Baits were filmed landed on the road, and in the stream beds.
Apart from the poison baits lying around the valley, the poison signs themselves contaminate the
beautiful scenery and must leave visitors wondering what the heck is with the skull and cross bones littered at every track entrance, hut or site of significance.Wednesday 16th of June - Kiwi Flat
Peter Salter, helicopter pilot and owner of The Bushman Centre, used his R22 helicopter to fly us into the drop zone. We headed into Kiwi Flat, for about 3 hours of looking around.
What struck us the most was the absence of bird life.
Peter Salter, helicopter pilot and owner of The Bushman Centre, used his R22 helicopter to fly us into the drop zone. We headed into Kiwi Flat, for about 3 hours of looking around.
What struck us the most was the absence of bird life.
The weather was perfect, and there was little wind. Admittedly, it was the cold side of the ridge, but in those 3 hours, I didn't see a bird in the bush! I heard several Silver Eyes, and 1 Tomtit. But not a single Robin, Fantail, Weka, Wood Pigeon, Tui, Bellbird, Kakariki, Rifleman or Grey Warbler was seen! Not even a Blackbird. Now normally we would expect to see some of these species following us around, but it was astonishing, when comparing to areas we have visited where 1080 has never been used, just how much damage is being done with these drops.
When we returned to the river flats, and while waiting for the chopper to return, we did see 2 ducks, 2 Tomtits and a Silver Eye.
This area has been aerially dropped at least twice before.
This area has been aerially dropped at least twice before.
Thursday 17th June - Flat Creek
Peter flew us in to Flat Creek on Thursday, for a 5 hour search around.
Peter flew us in to Flat Creek on Thursday, for a 5 hour search around.R22 choppers can only carry 1 passenger at a time, so 3 trips were needed to get us into the area.
As Steve and Peter were flying in they spotted a dead deer in the stream bed. They couldn't land on the site, so flew further upstream, to a suitable landing spot. Our plan was to work our way back down stream, through the bush, and checking the stream as we went.
When we landed, baits were immediately spotted all across the stream bed, and in the 
water.
water. This is typical of all drop zones we have visited.
Helicopters can't avoid smaller waterways, so simply drop the poison across them at the same rate as land areas.
GPS helps ensure the choppers cover their flight paths thoroughly.
GPS does not prevent
baits from being dropped into streams.
All streams under 3 metres wide are allowed to have 1080 dropped directly into them, as stated on resource consents.
These streams, of course, make up the bigger rivers.
In the 5 hours we searched in the Flat Creek area, once again, I did not see a single bird in the bush, not even a Blackbird! However, one Blackbird was found dead, and 1 Kea was heard. Several finches were also heard.
As we progressed, Steve found 2 dead deer. A hind, and her yearling.
The yearli
ng had a large amount of pink froth piled around her nose and mouth, which indicated internal lung damage. 
ng had a large amount of pink froth piled around her nose and mouth, which indicated internal lung damage. The hind had her head buried in a hole under a tree, and when we pulled her out, we could see the froth from her nose, and bleeding from her mouth was clearly visable.
The animals appeared to have suffered a cruel death. Their eyes were hazy, and fogged over, which is not typical with an animal that has died quickly. An animal that has been shot, for example, has clear eyes.
We kept moving down stream, and eventually came upon the deer that was spotted from the chopper.
It was a young stag, and it had its neck bent violently, and head buried behind its back, suggesting, once again, an inhumane death.
It was a young stag, and it had its neck bent violently, and head buried behind its back, suggesting, once again, an inhumane death.
Going by the deer sign, it appeared to have been moving up the creek
eating the baits on the river bed, as it went.
eating the baits on the river bed, as it went.
It is quite common to find animals, dead after 1080 drops, in stream beds and waterways.
The only possum we found in the 2 days of searching, was also dead in the stream.
These animals are left to decompose where they die. They are poisonous, because the 1080 that killed them is retained in their carcass - but they also contaminate the water ways with bacteria as they decompose.
This is just one of the reasons 1080 should never be used aerially - and there are many more.
It is worth pointing out that it is illegal to kill deer with 1080, in New Zealand.
So how do authorities get away with it? Easy, they simply deny they are targeting them!
It is estimated by scientists that 20,000 deer are killed in 1080 drops, every year!
It's not difficult to understand why the people living in the drop zone areas, that use and enjoy the forests, are so against these drops. It is the users of the forests that are most aware of the damage that is being done by the use of 1080 poison in New Zealand. We can expect to see more civil disobedience, as long as these peoples civil rights continue to be breached by authoritative dictatorships.
In the 2 days of searching, we found 1 dead rat, 1 dead Blackbird, 3 dead deer, and only 1 dead possum - and the possum was a small animal, lying in the stream.
ENDS.
Monday, June 7, 2010
"Poison use a sinister tale" - The Press 2002
The following article appeared in the Christchurch Press in January 2002.
What's intriguing is how the British team quickly identified indicators of an industry built on poison, and how their story echoes the voice of 1000's of New Zealanders across the country - even after the ERMA reassessment of 1080 poison in 2007...
Poison use 'a sinister tale'
Article from:
The Press
Article date:
January 29, 2002
NELSON -- A British filmmaker's criticism of 1080 poison use in New Zealand has alarmed government departments.
Terry Brownbill, making a documentary to be screened in Europe, says the real story behind our use of 1080 is "a sinister tale of corruption and bureaucratic indifference".
The Department of Conservation (DOC) says his allegations of public lies and alleged corruption are unfounded.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, worried about the documentary's impact on meat- export markets, says concerns expressed by Brownbill about the possibility of 1080 residue entering food are invalid.
Last May Brownbill led a two- man film crew on a three-week tour of New Zealand, talking to opponents and supporters of aerial 1080 use. The resulting documentary is still being edited.
Brownbill says DOC and the Animal Health Board (AHB) were "empires built on poison" and British viewers of his documentary would be horrified by the poisoning of New Zealand "in the name of the Queen".
Brownbill's documentary was commissioned by Britain's Sky TV.
Brownbill said the programme made it very clear New Zealand's pure image was a sham.
"When the world gets to know the full horror of how New Zealand is carpet bombing millions of acres of farmland and native forest, there will be a backlash which could seriously affect agricultural exports and tourism," he said.
"Both DOC and the AHB are empires built on poison.
"New Zealand seems far more concerned about losing its clean- green image than it does about protecting its people."
Animal Health Board communications manager Nick Hancox said the board was more interested in achieving its aim of reducing TB in New Zealand than "empire building". --NZPA
Supplied by New Zealand Press Association
What's intriguing is how the British team quickly identified indicators of an industry built on poison, and how their story echoes the voice of 1000's of New Zealanders across the country - even after the ERMA reassessment of 1080 poison in 2007...
Poison use 'a sinister tale'
Article from:
The Press
Article date:
January 29, 2002
NELSON -- A British filmmaker's criticism of 1080 poison use in New Zealand has alarmed government departments.
Terry Brownbill, making a documentary to be screened in Europe, says the real story behind our use of 1080 is "a sinister tale of corruption and bureaucratic indifference".
The Department of Conservation (DOC) says his allegations of public lies and alleged corruption are unfounded.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, worried about the documentary's impact on meat- export markets, says concerns expressed by Brownbill about the possibility of 1080 residue entering food are invalid.
Last May Brownbill led a two- man film crew on a three-week tour of New Zealand, talking to opponents and supporters of aerial 1080 use. The resulting documentary is still being edited.
Brownbill says DOC and the Animal Health Board (AHB) were "empires built on poison" and British viewers of his documentary would be horrified by the poisoning of New Zealand "in the name of the Queen".
Brownbill's documentary was commissioned by Britain's Sky TV.
Brownbill said the programme made it very clear New Zealand's pure image was a sham.
"When the world gets to know the full horror of how New Zealand is carpet bombing millions of acres of farmland and native forest, there will be a backlash which could seriously affect agricultural exports and tourism," he said.
"Both DOC and the AHB are empires built on poison.
"New Zealand seems far more concerned about losing its clean- green image than it does about protecting its people."
Animal Health Board communications manager Nick Hancox said the board was more interested in achieving its aim of reducing TB in New Zealand than "empire building". --NZPA
Supplied by New Zealand Press Association
Saturday, March 21, 2009
We went into battle this week and the crowd came with us
We were down Napier way this week in a place called Te Pohue.
We had a meeting to attend - which was also attended by some of the Animal Health Board leaders from Wellington.
Their objective - to inform the locals of the "benefits" of 1080, and the fight against TB.
Our objective - to inform locals of the truth about the AHB objective.
After all, they plan to drop 1080 over 55,000 hectares of the Te Urewera National Park. Can you believe that? One of our most precious wilderness areas.
We decided to really help get the locals stirred up on this issue - so that's what we did.
There were cheers from the crowd, after we encouraged them to fight this stuff, and never permit these filthy toxins to be dropped into their environment - much to the shock of the six in the opposition team, all armed with briefcases, and 150k salaries.
Anyway, the AHB, and regional council were pushing their usual lines, but were lost on some questions from the floor. This crowd was sharp on their knowledge - and besides, this crowd had the same drop dumped on them 2 ½ years ago so the devastation is still fresh in their minds.
They plan to re-kill 55,000 of Te Urewera forest, in the hope of catching a possum with TB. But how big is the TB problem really?
AHB revealed that it is quite safe to consume meat infected with TB. Even the ERMA decision paper said it’s nearly impossible to catch the disease, even if you ate raw meat infected with TB. In fact, TB-infected stock is currently sold into local supermarkets. The TB issue is a STIGMA thing – it’s not a real threat.
But 1080 is a real threat.
So, which stigma would you rather trade with - a low chance of TB in your meat, or a low chance of the deadly 1080 toxin in your meat and water?
I know which one I'd choose.
We had a meeting to attend - which was also attended by some of the Animal Health Board leaders from Wellington.
Their objective - to inform the locals of the "benefits" of 1080, and the fight against TB.
Our objective - to inform locals of the truth about the AHB objective.
After all, they plan to drop 1080 over 55,000 hectares of the Te Urewera National Park. Can you believe that? One of our most precious wilderness areas.
We decided to really help get the locals stirred up on this issue - so that's what we did.
There were cheers from the crowd, after we encouraged them to fight this stuff, and never permit these filthy toxins to be dropped into their environment - much to the shock of the six in the opposition team, all armed with briefcases, and 150k salaries.
Anyway, the AHB, and regional council were pushing their usual lines, but were lost on some questions from the floor. This crowd was sharp on their knowledge - and besides, this crowd had the same drop dumped on them 2 ½ years ago so the devastation is still fresh in their minds.
They plan to re-kill 55,000 of Te Urewera forest, in the hope of catching a possum with TB. But how big is the TB problem really?
AHB revealed that it is quite safe to consume meat infected with TB. Even the ERMA decision paper said it’s nearly impossible to catch the disease, even if you ate raw meat infected with TB. In fact, TB-infected stock is currently sold into local supermarkets. The TB issue is a STIGMA thing – it’s not a real threat.
But 1080 is a real threat.
So, which stigma would you rather trade with - a low chance of TB in your meat, or a low chance of the deadly 1080 toxin in your meat and water?
I know which one I'd choose.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
So what does it feel like to watch your animals die of 1080 poisoning?
Wayne Fairhall of Kaiata never wants to be put through that experience again. The experience of arriving home to find dead deer with blood and foam around their mouths, scattered through his paddocks, and his partner holding a deer as it died, screaming in agony.KAKA has reports like this one called Rains on Farm and some fascinating correspondence with the Animal Health Board about how 1080 poison drops threaten the livelihoods of a wide range of people who depend on tourism in the Karamea region.
It's ironic that even after a debacle like the one in Kaiata, where it is obvious that 1080 kills any unfortunate animal that accidentally eats it, the AHB refuses to acknowledge that it places birdlife at risk.
Does that make sense to you?
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