Blum in Post-War France (06:31)

FREE PREVIEW

Blum was serving on the national assembly during the economic downturn after World War I. Blum called for the Popular Front, a socialist workers party, to protest against a fascist takeover of France. The communist party also protested and Blum convinced both sides to join together against fascism.

Blum and Socialist France (09:34)

After Blum survived an assassination attempt in 1936, a huge protest of socialist and communist party members broke out against the French government. The socialists won the most seats in the next election and Blum was made prime minister. Blum worked with workers and industrial managers to create better conditions for workers.

Blum and the Spanish Civil War (03:39)

The Spanish Civil War broke out shortly after Blum was elected. France could not officially help the Spanish Republicans, but Blum provided support and weapons. With an economic crisis and opposition controlled national assembly, Blum resigned as prime minister in 1937.

Child Pesticide Study (03:03)

Martin Boudot’s team takes hair samples from students at schools located next to sprayed vineyards. Analysis reveals 44 pesticides, include those banned or classified as carcinogenic, neurotoxic, mutagenic, or hormone disruptive. French scientists believe pesticide exposure has increased childhood cancers by 1% each year since 1980.

Folet Use in France (03:26)

Bayer's pesticide is a suspected carcinogen and has been found in the air in 15 of France's 22 regions; there are no air pesticide concentration regulations. Bayer does not respond to interview requests, so Boudot’s team attends the annual shareholder's meeting in Cologne. The pesticide and seed sector has grown by 11% in 2014.

Holding Bayer Accountable (03:31)

As Boudot’s team films secretly at a shareholder's meeting, Elizabeth Lucet asks CEO Marijn Dekkers why the corporation sells folpet, a carcinogenic pesticide, across France— endangering child and fetal health. He denies Bayer products are dangerous to health.

Blum and the Vichy Government (05:35)

Blum was one of the few senators to vote against giving over power to Marshal Philippe Petain and the Vichy government. Blum was soon being blamed for France's defeat. He was arrested and imprisoned in France.

Autism Pandemic (03:23)

Autism expert Florent Chapelle says the disorder is exploding among children globally. Cases have increased from 1 in 100 to one in 68 in the U.S. over the past 5 years. Endocrine Society scientists produced a study showing that two chemicals produced autistic behaviors in animal models.

Pesticides and Autism (03:28)

Harvard scientist Philippe Grandjean says 12 chemicals harm brain development, including the insecticide chlorpyrifos. In Tulare County, California, 95 tons are used on citrus groves annually and there has been a six fold increase in autism among local families.

Chlorpyrifos and Autism (03:56)

Renee's son Nathan is severely autistic; she believes the insecticide is responsible. He is enrolled in a U.C. Davis study of 1,000 children led by environmental epidemiologist Irva Hertz-Picciotto. She has found that most mothers lived within a mile of application zones while pregnant. The pesticide industry is trying to hide this evidence.

Manufacturing Birth Defects (02:16)

Dow is the second largest chemical producer globally, and distributed Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. In 1995, the EPA published a study of accidental chlorpyrifos poisonings; the chemical was banned from public sale but is still used in agriculture. The company refuses interview requests.

Protecting a Multinational Corporation (04:10)

Dow directs Boudot’s team to the European Pesticide Lobby in Brussels. Lucet confronts ECPA representative Jean-Charles Bocquet about chlorpyrifos exposure in children. Boquet questions scientific studies linking the chemical to brain development disorders and autism.

Agrochemical Industry Experimentation in Hawaii (03:55)

Dow, DuPont, Syngenta, BASF, and Monsanto use large quantities of pesticides to conduct GMO testing in Kauai. Pesticides travel in dust to nearby communities, impacting children. Dr. Surachat Chatkput says incidence of birth defects such as gastroschisis is ten times the national average.

Hawaii Public Health Bill (02:51)

Kauai residents call for legislation requiring agrochemical companies to disclose pesticides and create buffer zones between fields and schools. Councilman Gary Hooser shows footage of a hearing in which nurses and parents testify about birth defects. An industry lobbyist argues the law would set a precedent for other regions.

Bill 2491 (03:13)

The agrochemical industry spent millions on an ad campaign to defeat the initiative, but it passed. Dow, Syngenta, BASF and DuPont sued Kauai on the grounds that it did not have the right to pass such laws. Syngenta argues that disclosing pesticides used would create an administrative burden.

Defeating Democracy (03:59)

On Maui, judges rule against a law that would require pesticide disclosure. Agrochemical industry lawyer Margery Bronster says the county does not have authority to regulate and refuses to comment on public health impacts. Locals supporting the initiative feel their votes do not count.

Blum's Trial (05:44)

Blum used his trial to denounce Petain and the Vichy government. The trial was suspended without a verdict and the Nazis took Blum to the Buchenwald concentration camp as a political prisoner.

Credits: Toxic Chemical: Children In Danger (00:37)

Credits: Toxic Chemical: Children In Danger