DID YOU KNOW...
Pesticides may be exacting a large toll on a Northwest icon — the Pacific salmon. Recent research has found that even low levels of pesticides that are commonly found in Northwest waters can dramatically impact salmon's ability to survive and thrive.
Endangered Pacific salmon need your help. Tell the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to protect salmon from 37 pesticides known to harm them. The Environmental Protection Agency, under court order, reviewed the impact that 54 pesticides have on salmon. Starting four years ago, EPA told NMFS that 37 of those pesticides would likely have a serious impact on salmon.
The Endangered Species Act requires NMFS to take the next step - to evaluate EPA's information and, if necessary, create protective measures so that harmful pesticides no longer jeopardize imperiled salmon populations. It's been FOUR YEARS, and NMFS has done nothing.
Please join Action Now and the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides in urging NMFS to do the right thing! Write a letter to NMFS today. Click here for more details.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
"Healthy Preschools Project"
Action Now's
"Healthy Preschools Project"
We mail our brochure to nearby preschools;
then walk in to request a preliminary interview.
The interview helps us understand their pest problems
and practices.
Later, our children's program preconditions the staff
to accept IPM (integrated pest management) concepts.
Put up screens! Plug holes!
End with a song:
"Toxi don't spray! This is where the children play!"
Hopefully the children
become ambassadors
with the message!
Are You?
Find out what your preschool is learning to keep your child safe!
"Healthy Preschools Project"
Dedicated to ending chemical and pesticide abuse
Action Now has been working in Los Angeles as a local community arm on the statewide effort to help preschools transition to Integrated Pest Management.
2219 West Olive Ave. #254, Burbank, CA 91506
For more information contact Annie Waterman:
(818) 762-6462; awatt40@yahoo.com
Project creation funded by the
City of Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department
For more information contact Annie Waterman:
(818) 762-6462; awatt40@yahoo.com
Project creation funded by the
City of Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department
For Staff and Administrators
IS YOUR PRESCHOOL SAFE?
IS YOUR PRESCHOOL SAFE?
Send Those Bugs Packing!
We mail our brochure to nearby preschools;
then walk in to request a preliminary interview.
The interview helps us understand their pest problems
and practices.
Later, our children's program preconditions the staff
to accept IPM (integrated pest management) concepts.
Children's Program
Children become a garden with flowers,
veggies, weeds and insects.
Children become a garden with flowers,
veggies, weeds and insects.
Toxi-Moron, a hand-puppet, tries to spray the garden w/ "F-Raid!" He is scared of weeds and roaches!
Toxi learns that some bugs and weeds are good for the garden and that poison sprays can hurt the creatures and the children!
Toxi learns that some bugs and weeds are good for the garden and that poison sprays can hurt the creatures and the children!
Game: "Keep the Pests Out."
Pests try to get into the schoolhouse.
Students learn to put away food;
Students learn to put away food;
Put up screens! Plug holes!
End with a song:"Toxi don't spray! This is where the children play!"
For the Parents!
The most difficult audience to reach!
The most difficult audience to reach!
Hopefully the childrenbecome ambassadors
with the message!
Packets are sent home covering adverse effects,
IPM -integrated pest management, lawn care alternatives,
specific pests.
Your Preschoolers Are "Eco-Smart!"
IPM -integrated pest management, lawn care alternatives,
specific pests.
Your Preschoolers Are "Eco-Smart!"
Are You?
Find out what your preschool is learning to keep your child safe!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Action Now Board Members Testify
Action NowBoard Members Pierre and Mitzi went to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation hearing in Ontario, CA, on July 10, to testify supporting the court-ordered reductions in soil fumigants (methyl bromide amongst others). Below is a summary of the hearing from Luis Cabrales at Coalition for Clean Air.
The Public Comment period is open until 5PM July 13, 2007, so anyone from the public can email comments to DPR at http://us.f625.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=dpr07002@cdpr.ca.gov .
THIS ISSUE SPEAKS TO ACTION NOW'S PRIMARY MISSON---Methyl Bromide, a major ozone depleter, was scheduled to be banned world-wide years ago, but the US has refused to stand by that decision. WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD! THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS ARE A DROP IN THE BUCKET---WE NEED REAL CHANGE. THESE SOIL FUMIGANTS ARE 1/5 OF THE PESTICIDES USED IN CALIF, BUT THEY EMIT 1/2 OF ALL THE VOLOTILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS FROM PESTICIDES.
For more info, go to these websites:
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/ click on "regulations" then "proposed regulations"
http://pesticidereform.org/article.php?id=300
http://capwiz.com/coalitionforcleanair/issues/alert/?alertid=9996606&type=CU&show_alert=1
Contacts for more info on the fight:
Californians for Pesticide Reform, Andrea Wilson 888-277-4880, http://us.f625.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=andrea@igc.org or Teresa DeAnda, http://us.f625.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=teresa@igc.org
Coalition for Clean Air, Luis Cabrales, 562-858-5596, http://us.f625.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=luis@coalitionforcleanair.org
?To=luis@coalitionforcleanair.org
The Public Comment period is open until 5PM July 13, 2007, so anyone from the public can email comments to DPR at http://us.f625.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=dpr07002@cdpr.ca.gov .
THIS ISSUE SPEAKS TO ACTION NOW'S PRIMARY MISSON---Methyl Bromide, a major ozone depleter, was scheduled to be banned world-wide years ago, but the US has refused to stand by that decision. WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD! THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS ARE A DROP IN THE BUCKET---WE NEED REAL CHANGE. THESE SOIL FUMIGANTS ARE 1/5 OF THE PESTICIDES USED IN CALIF, BUT THEY EMIT 1/2 OF ALL THE VOLOTILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS FROM PESTICIDES.
For more info, go to these websites:
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/ click on "regulations" then "proposed regulations"
http://pesticidereform.org/article.php?id=300
http://capwiz.com/coalitionforcleanair/issues/alert/?alertid=9996606&type=CU&show_alert=1
Contacts for more info on the fight:
Californians for Pesticide Reform, Andrea Wilson 888-277-4880, http://us.f625.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=andrea@igc.org or Teresa DeAnda, http://us.f625.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=teresa@igc.org
Coalition for Clean Air, Luis Cabrales, 562-858-5596, http://us.f625.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=luis@coalitionforcleanair.org
?To=luis@coalitionforcleanair.org
Friday, June 29, 2007
Protect Your Health from Pesticide Smog!
Dear Action Now Members,
Please consider attending one of these hearings--they speak directly to our mission statment in Action Now--this is our reason for being. Please come and make a statement---we don't often get a chance to let those who have the power to regulate hear us---take advantage of this opportunity.
Let's not wait and have to fight them later when they are spraying us again. Let them know that we are still here and we want the pesticides OUT of our lives.
Please pass this on.
Mitzi
Protect Your Health from Pesticide Smog!
Demand that regulators reduce the use of smog-forming pesticides!
Come and tell regulators to protect public health and reduce the use of smog-forming pesticides! DPR is holding two public hearings to get feedback on their plan. Come and tell them that unreliable technical fixes aren’t enough! The only guaranteed way to reduce smog emissions and protect public health is to reduce use of these smog-forming fumigant pesticides. DPR must create strong regulations to require reduced fumigant pesticide use.
Attend these public hearings:
Ontario
Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 5:00 p.m.
Doubletree Hotel Ontario Airport
Lake Gregory Room
222 North Vineyard Avenue, 91764-4431
Parlier (near Fresno)
Thursday, July 12, 2007, 5:00 p.m.
University of California Kearney Agricultural Center
Nectarine Room
9240 S. Riverbend Avenue, 93648
People who wish to speak will be asked to register before the hearing at the hearing site from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Attend informal conversation sessions with DPR:
· Coachella: Thursday, July 5 Ÿ Lamont: Monday, July 9 Ÿ Ventura: Date TBD
Smog-forming pesticides cause air pollution and poison communities
Air pollution from smog damages lung tissue, exacerbates asthma, reduces lung capacity, increases respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, and increases school and work absenteeism. Pesticides are the third largest contributor to smog in Ventura and the fourth largest contributor to smog in the San Joaquin Valley.
Many smog-causing pesticides are fumigants. Fumigants are pesticides that are applied in large quantities and easily become gases and drift away from where they’re applied, exposing nearby workers and other community members to harm. They have caused many mass farmworker and community poisonings, and day to day exposure can cause cancer, reproductive harm, respiratory or nervous system damage or damage to children’s development.
Pesticide polluters have been getting a free ride for over a decade
Regulations to reduce smog from pesticides are long overdue. In 1994, California regulators promised to adopt regulations that would reduce smog-forming emissions from pesticides by 20% below 1990 levels. But the regulators did not keep their promise, leaving California communities breathing polluted air. In 2006, a coalition of community-based environmental justice groups won a lawsuit that requires regulators to fulfill their promise to clean the air from smog-forming pesticides.
By playing with numbers, regulators are continuing to allow high use of smog-forming pesticides
As a result of the lawsuit, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is creating regulations to reduce emissions from smog-forming pesticides by 20% below 1991 levels in the Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley, Ventura, Southeast Desert and South Coast air basins. However, in the draft regulations, DPR has played with numbers and used unreliable studies to allow growers to keep using as much smog-forming fumigant pesticides as before, while trying to make it look like they have achieved emission reductions. With this slight of hand, DPR is undermining public health by continuing to allow extensive use of health-threatening, smog-forming fumigant pesticides.
For more information, please contact Californians for Pesticide Reform (Andrea Wilson 888-277-4880, andrea@igc.org, or Teresa DeAnda 661-304-4080, teresa@igc.org) or Coalition for Clean Air (Luis Cabrales 562-858-5596, luis@coalitionforcleanair.org)
__._,_.___
Please consider attending one of these hearings--they speak directly to our mission statment in Action Now--this is our reason for being. Please come and make a statement---we don't often get a chance to let those who have the power to regulate hear us---take advantage of this opportunity.
Let's not wait and have to fight them later when they are spraying us again. Let them know that we are still here and we want the pesticides OUT of our lives.
Please pass this on.
Mitzi
Protect Your Health from Pesticide Smog!
Demand that regulators reduce the use of smog-forming pesticides!
Come and tell regulators to protect public health and reduce the use of smog-forming pesticides! DPR is holding two public hearings to get feedback on their plan. Come and tell them that unreliable technical fixes aren’t enough! The only guaranteed way to reduce smog emissions and protect public health is to reduce use of these smog-forming fumigant pesticides. DPR must create strong regulations to require reduced fumigant pesticide use.
Attend these public hearings:
Ontario
Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 5:00 p.m.
Doubletree Hotel Ontario Airport
Lake Gregory Room
222 North Vineyard Avenue, 91764-4431
Parlier (near Fresno)
Thursday, July 12, 2007, 5:00 p.m.
University of California Kearney Agricultural Center
Nectarine Room
9240 S. Riverbend Avenue, 93648
People who wish to speak will be asked to register before the hearing at the hearing site from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Attend informal conversation sessions with DPR:
· Coachella: Thursday, July 5 Ÿ Lamont: Monday, July 9 Ÿ Ventura: Date TBD
Smog-forming pesticides cause air pollution and poison communities
Air pollution from smog damages lung tissue, exacerbates asthma, reduces lung capacity, increases respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, and increases school and work absenteeism. Pesticides are the third largest contributor to smog in Ventura and the fourth largest contributor to smog in the San Joaquin Valley.
Many smog-causing pesticides are fumigants. Fumigants are pesticides that are applied in large quantities and easily become gases and drift away from where they’re applied, exposing nearby workers and other community members to harm. They have caused many mass farmworker and community poisonings, and day to day exposure can cause cancer, reproductive harm, respiratory or nervous system damage or damage to children’s development.
Pesticide polluters have been getting a free ride for over a decade
Regulations to reduce smog from pesticides are long overdue. In 1994, California regulators promised to adopt regulations that would reduce smog-forming emissions from pesticides by 20% below 1990 levels. But the regulators did not keep their promise, leaving California communities breathing polluted air. In 2006, a coalition of community-based environmental justice groups won a lawsuit that requires regulators to fulfill their promise to clean the air from smog-forming pesticides.
By playing with numbers, regulators are continuing to allow high use of smog-forming pesticides
As a result of the lawsuit, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is creating regulations to reduce emissions from smog-forming pesticides by 20% below 1991 levels in the Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley, Ventura, Southeast Desert and South Coast air basins. However, in the draft regulations, DPR has played with numbers and used unreliable studies to allow growers to keep using as much smog-forming fumigant pesticides as before, while trying to make it look like they have achieved emission reductions. With this slight of hand, DPR is undermining public health by continuing to allow extensive use of health-threatening, smog-forming fumigant pesticides.
For more information, please contact Californians for Pesticide Reform (Andrea Wilson 888-277-4880, andrea@igc.org, or Teresa DeAnda 661-304-4080, teresa@igc.org) or Coalition for Clean Air (Luis Cabrales 562-858-5596, luis@coalitionforcleanair.org)
__._,_.___
Monday, June 25, 2007
On-going Campaign!
The Faith Community letter outlined below in the June 22 post will be an on-going campaign to educate the public about healthy lawn care. The deadline for presenting the first letter to ChemLawn will be this coming Thursday, June 28, but con't let that date end your efforts to contact faith institutions to sign on!
Last year Action Now addressed pesticide use in several church preschools in Los Angeles and we found the teachers and staff very open and interested in the issue. Toxics reduction IS a sacred issue. The time has come for the faith community to embrace and begin active stewardship of the health of the planet.
Last year Action Now addressed pesticide use in several church preschools in Los Angeles and we found the teachers and staff very open and interested in the issue. Toxics reduction IS a sacred issue. The time has come for the faith community to embrace and begin active stewardship of the health of the planet.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Lawn Care Action!
Many of us who are concerned about the effects of toxic chemicals on the health of our families and the environment are also members of churches, synagogs, temples, mosques and meditation centers. Action Now is helping to put out a letter to be signed by institutions of faith and presented to the TruGreen ChemLawn company later this month in Chicago. It encourages the company to end thier use of harmful chemicals on lawns throughout the country. This is a huge opportunity to make a difference! If you are connected to an institution of faith (or know anyone who is), please click on this link and pass the letter on to them. Tell them why you are encouraging them to sign it.
http://www.refusetousechemlawn.org/open_letter%20to_the_faith_community2.
http://www.refusetousechemlawn.org/open_letter%20to_the_faith_community2.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Beyond Pesticides Forum Update
We are grateful to BEYOND PESTICIDES for the scholarship which helped two members attend the conference in Chicago in June.
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