Monday, July 23, 2007

"Healthy Preschools Project"

Action Now's

"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 Staff and Administrators

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.






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!





Game: "Keep the Pests Out."


Pests try to get into the schoolhouse.
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!

Hopefully the children
become 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!"

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