State Dept Helps Monsanto
Cover Up Fallout from
Biowarfare in Colombia

60 Minutes: Herbicide Problems

Congressman Decries Spraying Of Herbicide In Colombia
Says Practice Is A Health Hazard And Waste Of Tax-Payers'
Money Steve Kroft Reports Sunday at 7 P.M. ET/PT

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2002

(CBS) Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) tells Steve Kroft that spraying herbicide
on Colombian coca plants not only fails to curb cocaine production, but it may
also pose a health hazard to thousands of innocent people living near the
fields. Kroft's report on the controversial practice - the centerpiece of
America's $1.3 billion aid package to Colombia - will be broadcast on 60
MINUTES Sunday, Jan. 13 at 7PM, ET/PT

The spraying program has destroyed hundreds of square miles of coca fields,
yet production continues to rise. "Once a field is destroyed, they just go
deeper into the forest and they start all over again," says McGovern. "We
are not stopping the production.and to me that's a colossal waste of money."

On his visit to Colombia, Kroft found people suffering from rashes that a
Colombian health department worker believes were caused by the spraying.
The worker, Nancy Sanchez, also says illnesses like fever, diarrhea and
allergies were up 100 percent in the spraying areas and that 2,300 families
have complained of sicknesses.

A recent U.S. State Department report said that the main ingredient in the
herbicide, glyphosate, was no more irritating than baby shampoo or salt.
Rand Beers, the State Department official in charge of the spraying, admits
that the herbicide, brand named Roundup in the U.S., can be harmful to
humans in high concentrations, but said his program uses concentrations well
within safety levels.

Scientists working for the State Department could find no link between the
spraying and illnesses. They attributed symptoms to unsanitary conditions,
common infections in the region and to chemicals used in the cultivation and
processing of coca.

Elsa Nivia, a Colombian agronomist who opposes spraying, tells Kroft her
research indicates a much more dangerous concentration of Roundup. "They
are applying concentrations up to 26 times higher than what is recommended
for agricultural use," she tells Kroft. "Also, they are applying Cosmo-Flux,
which quadruples the biological action." Cosmo-flux makes the herbicide more
effective by increasing its sticking and penetration power. It is known as a
surfactant, something Roundup's producer, Monsanto, specifically warns its
customers against using. Cosmo-flux has never been approved by the EPA for
use in the U.S. and its ingredients are a trade secret of its Colombian
manufacturer.

Says McGovern, "[The herbicide] is powerful stuff and I think it's
ridiculous to say that we shouldn't worry about the health impacts.Nobody
really can tell me.what the health effects of this spray might be."