Date: Sun, 05 Mar 2000 11:15:03 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Lyndon Hawkins <hawkins@empm.cdpr.ca.gov>
State of California,
Department of Pesticide Regulation
Integrated Pest
Management
Dear Lyndon, I thought you might like to read an article I just received, it was taken from Issue 3 of The CHEC Report. This latest report from The Children's Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC) was written by a California Mother named Rubina Suwol, who lives in Sherman Oaks, CA.
In March of 1998, I was dropping my sons off at their elementary school in Sherman Oaks, California, and noticed a man in a hazardous materials suit. He was spraying the grounds as children walked into the building. The mist was so dense that car windows had become coated. As they ran through the mist, my children cried out, "It tastes terrible!" My youngest son Nicholas has asthma. I needed to identify the chemical used, in the event he had an asthma attack.
I contacted the school, but they had no idea what chemical had been used in the spraying. It was through the L.A. District Office that I learned the chemical applied was called Princep (Simazine), a toxic herbicide. Confirming my fears, Nicholas had a horrible asthma attack that same evening. Have you ever heard the sound of a child gasping for air? I assured Nicholas this would not happen again at his school. I made this promise knowing that there was no turning back.
My efforts to protect all children from school sprayings led me to Pesticide Watch, Action Now, Californians for Pesticide Reform, and Childrenšs Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC). I discovered standard procedures in the LA District included spraying during school hours, applicators applying many times the required amount, and mixing of pesticides, which could cause even more harm.
Through a united campaign of environmental groups and the LA District, a policy was written that is one of the most restrictive policies in the nation. It includes the "Precautionary Principal"- chemicals are used as a last resort and must be proven safe by the manufacturer; and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - which eliminates using chemicals in schools that are known to cause cancer, hormonal and neurological disorders, and genetic mutations. It also requires that parents are notified of pesticide spraying schedules and all schools are required to post application location, date and time.
One year later, we succeeded when the LA District (800,000 students) adopted this policy, which is being implemented with community supervision.
Well Lyndon, horror stories like this really put a face on all of the innocent people who are routinely being harmed by your "registered" POISONS. When will it be "legal" (in your opinion) to use safe and effective alternatives to actually control pest problems without harming the children/people in California?
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
Editor's Note: This story is being played out in thousands of schools across the country. More parents everyday are taking the stand to protect their children from bureaucrats and chemical companies who continue to poison, maim and kill their children. No child will be safe until all pesticides are banned.
Please!
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