All about the week
The Pesticide Action Week is an annual campaign taking place from March 20th to 30th that aims
- to raise awareness on the health and environment risks of synthetic pesticides
- to highlight alternative solutions
- to build a global grassroots movement for a pesticide-free world
With the continuing success of the original French campaign that has been running since 2006, we’re working at building an even bigger and stronger movement in new countries throughout Europe and globally every year. In 2011, 16 countries took part in the event:
- In Europe : Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Spain, Switzerland
- In Africa : Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia
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13What it is about
In 2011, the Pesticide Action Week represented nearly a thousand grassroots events across France and 16 countries : conferences, film shows, theatre shows, outings, open doors, exhibitions, workshops, information booths, farmer markets, organic meals … and hundreds of media hits !
These events are led by hundreds of citizens, associations, farmers, companies, teachers, local governments…
The event takes place from 20th to 30th as 20th is the first day of spring. We want to call for a pesticide free spring as spring is the main period for spraying pesticides (in the Northen hemisphere).
Some key events in 2012
- 50th anniversary of Silent Spring publication by Rachel Carson
- Press conference launching the event
- An International Congress on Pesticides and Health on March 23-24 in the French National Assemblee.
- An event at the European Parliament. In 2011, an award was given to the best-practice European farmer at the European Parliament.
- Symbolic actions held at the same time in different places. In 2011, 16 marches were organized across France, Belgium and several Africa countries.
All ideas are welcome to help demonstrate that we can and should live without pesticides!
Who we are
This event has been initiated in France by the association “Generations Futures” and a collective of 170 organizations: WWF France, National organization of gardeners, National Organization of Beekeepers, City of Paris …
Internationally, it is supported by Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN), Patagonia, Health and Environmental Alliance.
Add your voice to this expanding international movement: call for a pesticide-free world!
Help us to build an international event that gathers together thousands of grassroots events with the same message: it’s time to get rid of pesticides! The more countries that take part in the event, the stronger the message will be. It is when we come together that we truly feel the strength and power of this movement. More and more decisions are being taken at a global level: we also need to globalize our movement through countries, culture, political ideologies…
Get involved! It’s easy!
No need to have lots of money, lots of logistics or a seasoned experience, every single action is important and amplifies the movement. Every single person, association, company, local government, teacher etc. can participate at their own scale. Actions can range from 10 persons visiting an organic garden to a 500 persons attending an international congress!
Be inspired to hold your own creative action and plan an event for 2012 March 20th-30 2012!
2011 campaign results
For further informations, you can download the the balance of the campaign 2011 here (french).
