Bananas and Pesticides

Elisha Vergowe

Streaming Media

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2009

Abstract

The pesticide, DBCP, is sprayed on bananas in Central and South America. The United States banned the use of DBCP due to the devestating effects it has on the human body. However, the United States still imports bananas from farms in Central and South America that use DBCP. This pesticide can cause any number of health problems, including but not limited to, infertility, birth defects, cancer, skin problems, breathing problems, dizziness, confusion, and even death. The people who work on the banana farms are often unable to work due to the pesticide poisoning and in turn are unable to provide for their families. Many have moved into the city and have created tent cities outside of government buildings in order to protest the use of DBCP and other harmful pesticides on banana farms. They also plead with their governments to provide workers who have been affected by the pesticide with good medical care and financial compensation. This commerical advocates Americans being informed about DBCP and the affects it has on human life. It calls for them to act upon that knowledge through talking with the United States Government about raising pesticide restrictions on banana imports (this would cause foreign countries to reduce the amount of pesticides sprayed on bananas in order to sell them to the United States) and by buying organic bananas. Both of these actions would reduce the demand for pesticide sprayed bananas and would support organic farms.

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