Thursday, May 28, 2015

Stop Pesticides Near Schools

Speak up starting today on pesticides use near CA schools 
Last year, the Department of Public Health (DPH) published a report on the use of health-harming pesticides near California schools. Their findings? California’s current pesticide rules don’t protect schoolchildren from health-harming pesticides. These toxic chemicals are sprayed within a ¼ mile of hundreds of schools where more than 500,000 schoolchildren spend their days. The report documented 144 different highly hazardous pesticides being used near schools — many of these chemicals can cause cancer and derail the development of a child’s brain and nervous system.

This week, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) will host the first of five  hearings across the state to gather input. It will consider creating no-spray zones around schools, increasing public notification and limiting aerial spraying. Changes like this could protect schoolchildren from exposure to hazardous pesticides. 

Click here to e-mail Brian Leahy, the Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation and tell him we expect to see real change. Our kids deserve better. Ask DPR to designate school safe zones and put incentives in place for farmers to shift away from outdated use of hazardous pesticides.  
After you take action, please ask your friends and family to take action too. You can send them an e-mail, post this campaign on your Facebook and/or Twitter page by clicking here.
If you are interested in attending, click here for hearing information

Thurs., May 28: Sacramento — 5:30pm, Cal EPA, 1001 I Street, Sacramento CA
Tues., June 2: Salinas — 5:30pm, Cesar Chavez Library, 615 Williams Road, Salinas CA 93905
Wed., June 3: Oxnard —7pm, Rio Mesa High School (Library), 545 Central Ave, Oxnard. CA 93036
Thurs., June 4: Lamont — 5:30pm, Kern County Library, 8304 Segrue Rd., Lamont CA 93241
Tues., June 9: Coachella — 5:30pm, City of Coachella Corporate Yard, 53-462 Enterprise Way, Coachella, CA 92236

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