[This piece by Nico D’Orazio, age 10, was originally published in Maryland’s Montgomery Gazette. The paper has since closed, so no link is available. Nico’s parents shared this with us, we found wisdom in Nico’s words and wanted to share them with you.]

Drawing by Nico D’Orazio

by Nick D’Orazio

I watched on CNN “Why Are All The Bees Dying?” and I felt very sad for those bees. Did you know that bees will fly 90,000 miles to collect enough pollen to make 1KG of honey? Why would people use pesticides on dandelions thinking they are weeds? Dandelions actually are bees food and fun to play with it.

The World Health Organization says: “The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization, has assessed the carcinogenicity of five organophosphate pesticides. “

“The herbicide glyphosate and the insecticides malathion and diazinon were classified as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A).”

Nico D’Orazio

Pesticides have been found in the Potomac River, our source of drinking water. EEW! I don’t want pesticides in my glass of water. I don’t want to get sick !!

I’d love to play on healthy soil and grass, not a bed of pesticides and herbicides. The European famous soccer player Gheorghe Hagi grew up playing on untreated fields. Practice and dedication matters, not the look of a field.

I hope that Montgomery County put people, bees, and environment health first. Take care of kids as they are the future; also take care of bees as they provide us with food. Pesticides are dangerous and should not be on lawns or playing fields. I play there and should be safe.

– Nico L. D’Orazio, Rockville MD

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