Gimme Green (2007)

This thirty minute documentary explores the American Obsession with lawns and gives statements about how individuals feel about their lawns. Also holding some shocking facts such as that 41 million acres of the United States is covered by lawns. It also discusses the perceptions of the
house and how the exterior effects the resale value of a home, that there is a competition between neighbours for the better exteriors. The fear that these pesticides the homeowners use can get into the groundwater, is confirmed when the video states that of the 30 most commonly used pesticides 17 of them are routinely detected in groundwater. When the cameraman asked what the smell was when the pesticide spray was applied to the lawn, the lady (in charge of the company) stated it was terflone and that it was one of the chemicals used to kill weeds, then she went onto saying that "the analogy that people sometimes use is that when you walk by a bakery you're not going to get fat, although some people think they will just by walking by". To me what she is saying is that we shouldn't fear these chemicals in our air, yet the EPA finds that nearly half the 30 most popular pesticides are possible or probable carcinogens. The National Cancer Institute found that children who grew up in a household that used pesticides to control their lawns had 6.5 times the risk of developing leukemia. The women is quoted on saying "And the word 'safe' is not a word you use anywhere. What is safe? Nothing. Water, water is not safe. Crayons aren't safe. When people say that pesticides are not safe, what is?"

What does the word 'safe' mean to you?
Is it really worth the risk to use pesticides?

http://vimeo.com/47783406