Cycling Event 'Le Réveil des Carottes' Set to Raise Pesticide Awareness in Béarn
Cycling initiative 'Le Réveil des carottes' aims to raise awareness about pesticide risks in Béarn.
Key Points
- • 'Le Réveil des carottes' cycling event will run June 19-22 in Béarn.
- • Led by Martin Rieussec-Fournier from Pour Notre Santé, the event highlights pesticide health risks.
- • The initiative aims to engage communities with activities at various locations along the route.
- • It precedes a larger European tour beginning in Brussels on September 24.
From June 19 to 22, the Béarn region will host 'Le Réveil des carottes,' a cycling initiative designed to bring attention to the dangers associated with pesticide use. Organized by Martin Rieussec-Fournier, the president of the association Pour Notre Santé, the event aims to engage the public in discussions about the health risks posed by pesticides, highlighted by a troubling trend of increasing cancer diagnoses in France, particularly hormone-dependent cancers.
Rieussec-Fournier pointed out that approximately 500,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed annually, with many linked to pesticide exposure. "Farmers themselves are also victims of this toxic environment," he stated, criticizing current agricultural policies that heavily fund industrial practices while neglecting their health consequences. The cycling route will cover key locations including Bedous, Oloron, Monein, and Navarrenx, featuring community engagement activities like workshops, debates, and film screenings.
Notably, Monein is acknowledged for its progressive food policies in schools, reinforcing the aim of this advocacy. This local effort is just the beginning, as the campaign is part of a wider European tour that will launch in Brussels on September 24, underscoring the urgency of addressing public health linked to agricultural practices.