[KCB #301] KEYCODE BAYER #301

April 20, 2007
Coalition against BAYER Dangers (Germany)

“Rachel Carson Turns in her Grave”

Open Letter to Patricia M. DeMarco, Director, Rachel Carson Homestead Association

Dear Patricia,

we were shocked to learn that your organization today wants to honor the Chemical and Pharmaceutical company Bayer at the „Rachel Carson Reception“ in Pittsburgh. Rachel will turn in her grave.

Bayer is the worldmarket leader for pesticides which account for pollution of the soil, the groundwater and the environment all over the world. Bayer sells a whole range of highly toxic organophosphates classified as „extremely hazardous“. Pesticides like Endosulfan, Parathion or Methamidophos are responsible for a large part of poisonings, of which the World Health Organisation annually counts more than 2 million. And Bayer produces large quantities of dangerous chemicals, for example Bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor used in baby bottles, food cans, dental sealants, etc.

Bayer has a long tradition in trying to „greenwash“ their image. The company started dozens of partnerships and sponsorships with medical, environmental or educational organizations and even the United Nations. In particular Bayer chooses cooperations in fields where the company is criticized – like the production of pesticides.

As stated on your hompage the mission of Rachel Carson Homestead is to „implement education programs and resources in keeping with her environmental ethic to minimize the effect of man-made chemicals on the natural systems of the world.” Honouring a polluter like Bayer for their “environmental initiatives” contradicts to everything Rachel Carson stood for.

Bayer uses such partnerships to deflect criticism by watchdog groups or the media. The memory of Rachel Carson is used by Bayer to present a corporate humanitarian image without a commitment to changing real-world behavior. This corporation has fought against most agreements on environmental issues, be it the Kyoto Protocol for the protection of the climate, the new European laws on chemicals, the phasing out of CFCs or efforts to reduce the use of pesticides.

We strongly urge you:
· Don´t honour Bayer during the „Rachel Carson Reception“ tonight;
· Stop accepting money from Bayer.

Awaiting your answer,

Board of the Coalition against BAYER Dangers (Germany)

Letter from the Rachel Carson Council, Inc.

May 4, 2007

Dr. Attila Molnar
President and Chief Executive Officer
Bayer Corporation
100 Bayer Road
Pittsburgh PA 15205

Dear Dr. Molnar,

We are writing from the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., a 501(c)(3) environmental educational organization, founded in 1965 by friends and colleagues of Rachel Carson to continue the work started by her landmark book, Silent Spring. We are the first organization to bear the name of Ms. Carson. We are an organization committed to carrying forward her work though the investigation of scientific information, and therefore feel responsible for upholding her reputation and the things that she worked for. We have no formal ties to other organizations bearing Ms. Carson‚s name.

We are writing you in response to your recent press release, in which you state that your company has been „honored by the Rachel Carson Homestead Association“ (an organization associated with the birthplace / childhood home of Ms. Carson; The Homestead Association is not related to our Council.)

This linking of the Bayer Corporation with Rachel Carson‘s name has caused us to more closely examine Bayer‚s environmental practices. Our findings have caused us deep concern. They indicate that Bayer‘s overall record is not in accord with Rachel Carson‚s environmental vision. Therefore, we cannot perceive that your corporation‘s manufacturing and marketing policies reflect a true commitment to the protection of the environment.

While we hope you are reducing your carbon generating capacity and planning to make other energy saving changes at your offices and manufacturing locations, we do not have any direct information from an independent source verifying the level of saving that you have made and expect to make. Thus, we would prefer to hold back our comments on your company‚s performance in this area.

Concerning Bayer‘s pesticide policies we strongly urge the following:

Bayer should phase out immediately, in all countries of the world, all pesticide products classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as either extremely hazardous (1a) or highly hazardous (1b) – including pesticides with the following active ingredients: ethoprop (1a), methyl parathion (1b), methamidophos (1b), triazophos (1b), thiodicarb (1a), oxydemeton-methyl (1b), fenamiphos (1b) and azinphos methyl (1b).

Thank you for giving serious consideration to our comments.

Sincerely,

Dr. Diana Post, President
Rachel Carson Council, Inc.

Munro Meyersburg, Secretary
Rachel Carson Council, Inc.

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Please read a detailed analysis of Bayer´s greenwashing at: http://www.cbgnetwork.de/271.html
Please find an Open Letter on Bayer´s pesticides which was signed by 200 organizations from 40 countries: http://www.cbgnetwork.de/480.html
In yesterday´s press release Bayer stated that the company cut direct greenhouse gas emissions worldwide by more than 70 percent. Please see an analysis of Bayer´s emissions at: http://www.cbgnetwork.de/1392.html