In a major setback to the environment last night, the Laredo TX city council voted to allow the Border Patrol to aerially spray the US-Mexico border with the toxic herbicide Imazapyr, a substance which begins to kill all vegetation immediately upon application. Many residents at the meeting opposed this move, citing the environmental impact and potential health side effects, as well as the likelihood that the chemical could contaminate the water supply for Nuevo Laredo, their Mexican sister-city.
The accompanying photo (above) shows the effects of an aerial spray conducted six months prior on a test site near Laredo. Federal officials considered the results "successful" in efforts to eradicate the invasive plant carrizo; however, the site now slated for defoliation contains 1000 living species, including four endangered species. This photo was taken on the Zachary Ranch in March 2008 by Dr. Jim Earhart of the Rio Grande International Study Center.
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Environmentalist are up in arms over this plan but fail to take into consideration the fact that the carrizo cane is not native to this area and is adversely affecting farming on both sides of the river. It should be eradicated.
But, helping farmers is not the reason Homeland Security wants to destroy this desert ecosystem. The carrizo cane offers a cover for illegal immigrants trying to cross the border. And since we all know building a wall along the border is impossible the American government has decided to treat the carrizo cane as a terrorist threat, and they seek to eradicate it with herbicides.
The unfortunate side effect is it will poison the water table and act as neurotoxins that affect human central nervous system. But, hey, the Border Patrol figures if they can wipe out a few illegals along the way well it just makes their job easier.
Just another short-sighted plan to show action without considering long-term disastrous side-effects. Our tax dollars at work!
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