| Acalanes School District and surrounding district petition | |
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Acalanes School District and surrounding district petition
Parents for a Safer Environment (PfSE) is currently working with the
Acalanes Union High School District to reduce the dependence
on pesticides in and around their schools. We are helping the District to
use proven, safer insect and weed control methods. PfSE has paid for the
district staff to get training on least toxic pest control alternatives due
to the spending freeze. To make sure the District continues their reduction
efforts, we would like the District's Governing Board to pass a written
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy. Many other districts including
Moraga, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Marin have such policies.
Studies have linked exposure to pesticides (which includes insecticides and
weed killers) to health issues including cancer, asthma, hormone disruption
(diabetes, cholesterol, weight problems, thyroid damage, ADHD, ADD,
Dyslexia, chronic fatigue syndrome), immune-problems (allergies, hives, and
developmental and reproductive problems. Children and adolescents are
particularly vulnerable, and the U.S. Center for Disease Control is finding
pesticides at concerning levels in the bodies of children living in both
suburban and urban areas. Also, experts believe that many chronic diseases
are triggered early in life and manifest in adulthood. We're working to collect signatures to show support for a written IPM policy. Please sign the petition by clicking on the link below and forward this email to other area residents who may support this goal. (this will be an on-going project, so please continue to circulate this petition beyond our initial presentation). A person doesn't have to have a child attending the Acalanes Union High School District to sign. Many community members use the District's grounds and facilities. Also, this petition lists surrounding school districts for also adopting a written IPM policy. In addition, please join us at the Acalanes Union High School District Governing Board Meeting on Wednesday, January 14th at 7:45 PM where PfSE will make a presentation, and the Board will decide whether to pursue the adoption of a written IPM policy. We really need your presence to show community support for this effort. If you are able to attend, please email carolshenon@yahoo.com, and also let her know if others will be joining you. A large turnout can make all the difference. We'd like several readers to present during the public comment period. If you'd like to speak, please let Carol know if you'd like to read one of several bulleted fact sheets. PfSE is staffed by volunteers and for this project, we wish to raise $200 to help pay at least our Campolindo intern who has done a great job helping with research and spreadsheet work over the past 6 months. I am attaching the list of pesticides AUHSD has used in our schools and their toxicities and breakdown periods as well as 3 other documents that have been submitted for the Board's review. PfSE is coordinating with other community members to submit additional documents that show the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of IPM. If you'd like to help contribute to our out of pocket expense of $120 for training registration fees for AUSHD staff, $200 stipend for the intern, among other expenses, please send your tax deductible donations to our non-profit fiscal sponsor:
Pesticide Action Network Make the check payable to Pesticide Action Network and include "PfSE donation/AUSD project" on your check. Also, please email me: junfish@gmail.com so that we know how much we can pay out from this fund. Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated! Click here to view the table with the list of all the pesticides being used by the County Public Works Dept and the respective toxicity characteristics, half-lives & ground water contamination potential. Please also click here to see quantified profiles of each of the pesticides used and also graphed in groups of their respective toxicity profiles. Click here to see PfSE's letter to Supervisors Uilkema and Piepho, who presides over the TWIC committee and will be hearing our concerns on Monday. Here are your board of supervisor members you can send your letter of concern to over our county's over-reliance on pesticides for weed control as compared to neighboring counties: Send your e-mail to: gayle@bos.cccounty.us; dist3@bos.cccounty.us; dist5@bos.cccounty.us; dist1@bos.cccounty.us; Dist4@bos.cccounty.us
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