Los Angeles Times comes out in support of using pesticides and chemicals in schools by urging the defeat of the
Healthy Schools Bill - AB1207
(It is also disclosed that the LA Times has a financial interest in the use of pesticides.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Urgent - Do what is right for our children!Dear parent or child advocate:
Friday, August 27th, the LA Times wrote a commentary criticizing the "Healthy Schools Bill - AB1207". I am surprised that they would come out against a bill which supports the rights of children. This past Monday, Aug. 23rd, representatives from Community & Children's Advocates Against Pesticide Poisoning (CCAAPP) attended a rally in Sacramento to support AB1207. CCAAPP is a member of Californian's for Pesticide Reform (CPR) and went to Sacramento to support this bill by attending this rally and also to talk to legislators about this bill.
CCAAPP supports AB1207 because it would protect our children from environmental hazards in schools. The bill would prohibit the use of cancer-causing and other highly toxic pesticides in schools. Our children deserve the alternatives which are available for the pests which would appear in our schools. It would also give notification to parents, teachers and students when pesticides are used (To know when we are being exposed, isn't that a right we should all have?). It would require testing for lead and radon in schools. The bill would also provide schools with training and materials necessary to attain minimum environmental health standards. It would require the state to assess the risks of portable classrooms and develop standards as needed.
It is very interesting that the LA Times would come out against this bill. All of the major medical groups support AB1207 (partial list) - American Academy of Pediatrics, California Dist. IX, American Lung Assoc. of California, California Academy of Family Physicians, National Brain Tumor Foundation, California Nurses Association, California School Nurses Association. Other groups are also in support of this bill (partial list) - California State PTA, California Teacher's Association, California School Employee's Association, Children's Advocacy Institute, Children's Health Environmental Coalition. The opposition groups are (partial list) The Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association, Western Crop Association and the Farm Bureau. I guess it makes sense that the Chemical Manufacturers would be against losing some of it's profits if schools stopped using their pesticides, but, what does farming have to do with schools??? It is my understanding that the LA Times owns much of the farmland in Southern California, so I imagine it makes sense that they are trying to protect their "pesticide" interests. My question to the LA Times and anyone opposing this bill: Aren't our children's health and well being the most important issue for our future??
Please write a letter to the editor of the LA Times letting them know how disappointed you are with their politicking. If this makes you angry enough you may even want to cancel your subscription and let them know why!! Click here to send an email to the LA Times and let them know what you think: letters@latimes.com
To read the article: http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/COMMENT/t000076501.html Cleaning Up Toxic Classrooms
Sincerely,
Lynda Uvari
Board of Directors
Community & Children's Advocates
Against Pesticide Poisoning
P O Box 5388
Ventura, CA 93005-0388
805/654-4186
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