A Small Action with Much Impact

This may not be the newsletter you want to read. But if you take action after reading it, it may become the newsletter you’re glad you read.

We’ve spoken before about how easy it is to switch off from the state of the world, to retreat into scrolling, dinner plans, chocolate, or just our own small bubble. But sometimes there is a lowhanging fruit of change, something simple and immediate that future generations will thank us for.

Mindfulness is more than observing ourselves. It is more than catching ourselves in unwise action. It is also observing the world around us — noticing what unwise action is happening in our environment, and recognising where we might be able to make a difference. Mindfulness asks: given what I see clearly… what is the next wise action? What change might I be called to effect?

One of those changes is ending the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup and more than fifty other herbicides used across Australia.

A Moment That Opened My Eyes

In May, I saw a young council worker spraying weeds at Blackbutt Reserve. On her back: a tank labelled Roundup. She told me it was “a less toxic version.” Ten metres ahead: a sign reading “Warning: Glyphosate in use.”

No mask. No coloured dye. Meaning: your dog, a toddler, ducks, or wildlife could walk through it immediately without knowing they were in direct contact with a toxin.

I posted the incident on Facebook. Council contacted me, assuring me glyphosate was “efficient” and “not harmful.” I contacted the three Green councillors, one replied, promising to raise the issue at the next meeting.
In the meantime, I spoke with Copilot, asked for rigorous evidence, and was contacted by three retired professors, two in biochemistry, all deeply concerned about glyphosate’s ongoing use.
Here is what the science actually says.

What We Now Know About Glyphosate

1. The foundational research used to justify glyphosate’s safety was retracted.
The original studies used to support early safety claims were withdrawn, and the researchers were prosecuted for scientific fraud. These papers are still cited in older regulatory documents.

2. Monsanto patented glyphosate as an antibacterial agent.
This means it kills bacteria — good and bad — with major consequences for:

• soil fertility
• nutrient cycling
• plant and animal health
• the human gut microbiome

3. Bayer (the company producing Glyphosate) has set aside USD $7.25 billion for people with NonHodgkin Lymphoma.
Action like this says more than any denial of cancer risk.

This settlement covers:

• current NHL cases
• future NHL cases
• anyone exposed to Roundup before Feb 17, 2026

Why this matters: The Trump administration provided Bayer with regulatory protection, including an EPA declaration that glyphosate is “not carcinogenic,” which Bayer is now using in the U.S. Supreme Court to argue it should not be held liable for cancer warnings.

In 2024, the EPA admitted its earlier evaluation (including the Trump “not carcinogenic” claim) did not meet legal standards and must be redone. This undermines Bayer’s defence.

Internal documents released during litigation show:

• Monsanto ghostwriting scientific papers
• coordinated lobbying campaigns
• pressure on regulators
• attempts to discredit independent scientists

Despite this protection, Bayer is:

• facing ~200,000 claims
• settling 77,000 cases
• increasing litigation reserves from €7.8B to €11.8B
• preparing for a Supreme Court case

4. Cancer links are real.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, with strong associations to NonHodgkin Lymphoma.
Independent studies now show harm at common exposure levels.

5. Glyphosate disrupts hormones.
Prenatal exposure affects maternal hormone pathways and may influence fetal development.

6. Glyphosate affects fertility.
Research shows ovarian damage, endocrine disruption, and potential links to endometriosis.

7. Glyphosate is everywhere.
Biomonitoring shows:
80%+ of children and adults in the U.S. have detectable glyphosate in urine
primarily from food residues

8. Glyphosate harms ecosystems.

• Gut microbiome: disrupts beneficial bacteria in humans, bees, and animals
• Soil health: damages microbes and earthworms
• Pollinators: affects navigation and immunity in honeybees

9. Chronic exposure causes neurological and developmental harm.
A 2022 systematic review found:

• neuroinflammation
• oxidative stress
• mitochondrial dysfunction
• altered neuronal growth
• behavioural and motor disorders

And critically: “These effects occur at doses below regulatory limits.”

10. Others have already banned it.

• Randwick Council
• France (private use)
• Many European municipalities

11. Agriculture uses more glyphosate than ever.
Originally for GM crops, it is now sprayed just before harvest, increasing residues in wheat, oats, barley, soy, corn, and cotton.

Why This Matters

When I was young, I attended meetings trying to ban passive smoking. The tobacco industry used the same tactics we see now, muddying the waters, sowing doubt, and reassuring the public that everything was safe.

The distinction between acute toxicity and chronic exposure is central. As with cigarettes, you don’t die instantly when you take the first drag. Glyphosate is similar: it is not “instant death upon exposure.” It has low acute toxicity, meaning shortterm contact is unlikely to cause immediate poisoning. But chronic exposure, through food residues, repeated environmental contact, and longterm accumulation, is where the harm lies.

One of my favourite reminders from the Buddha is his invitation not to take any teaching as truth simply because it is spoken. Instead, weigh it yourself. Test it against lived experience. See whether it leads to clarity or confusion, to harm or to freedom.

I would add a contemporary extension: If someone stands to gain, financially, politically, or reputationally, from a particular narrative, then be suspicious. Not cynical, but discerning. Do your due diligence. Look for the evidence, the incentives, and the impacts.

This is precisely what we are hoping councils and policy makers will do now: To pause, examine, and evaluate rather than accept the loudest or most convenient claims. To weigh the message, not the marketing. To act from responsibility rather than pressure.

A Small Action That Matters

If we raise awareness, if you share this, if you click here to copy the letter to send to your council asking them to stop using glyphosate and collaborate with Newcastle University (or another university) on alternatives, then we can make a real difference.

Imagine Newcastle leading the way. Imagine this toxin removed from our ecosystem, healthier soil, healthier waterways, healthier wildlife, healthier children. Perhaps even a reduction in gut problems, endometriosis, and infertility. Imagine future generations thanking us for acting now.

Remember Erin Brockovich; she did it. The more of us who take action, the more likely it is that we can do it too.

Glyphosate is the new asbestos. The new DDT. Let’s work together to get it banned.

With love and gratitude in advance,
Charlotte

If you are needing assistance with mindfulness, start with our free resources on our website: https://themindfulnessclinic.com.au/resources/