Asking for Public Comment And Bright Ideas

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Permalink Reply by Jade Lai on June 4, 2008 at 5:15am

Some ideas that need workers to bring into reality:


I am not a scientist or a legislator, but I would be happy to work with others on

1. Enhancing the work started on LBAMspray.com about boycotting Roll International products leading to effective national boycott.

2. Work with legislators and research how to demand federal USDA Environmental Impact Studies on both ground and aerial treatments that everyone has an opportunity to comment, question, and be heard. In order to do an adequate job on their reviews, NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act, requires that the public insists on what it needs. We can demand studies for our health and environment from NEPA as well as CEQA. The EIS studies are more extensive than the EIR. We can use the EIR written standards and have these studies performed by outside the government, independent labs..which lead me to...

3. Develop a close relationship with Rep. Bart Stupak and Rep. John Dingell who are/were investigating the ties between the chemical industry and the expert review panels hired by the EPA. Right here in California is Rep.Henry Waxman is the Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Our federal government needs to know what is happening to us so that they can protect us. Their work is so terribly important for all Americans. We need to ask our state legislators to communicate with the federal legislators who are members of the oversight committees. We can put together the best packet we can from all the don't spray related organizations and send our most reknowned scientists and activist leaders ( John Russo, Frank Egger, Nan Wishner, I nominate you.) to represent us to our legislators, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

4. Media event at the airport from which the Dynamic Aviation crop dusters plan to take off. Die In? Human Chain? Letters to the Board of Directors.

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Permalink Reply by Esther San Miguel on June 4, 2008 at 11:54am

I have an idea I started working already. In other to rise some international awareness I think we should write letters to all the consulates located in SF.
I will do Spain since I am from Spain.
The email or letter or both should say something like this:
- Asking if they are aware that SF along with the Bay Area are going to be spraying with untested chemicals which already cause more of 600 health complains in the last year spraying of Santa Cruz and Monterey in order to eradicate a pest (the LBAM), which as up to day did cause $0 in damage to crops.
- They need to inform their nationals about this aerial fumigation of the urban areas as well as their friends and relatives who may be thinking of traveling to SF Bay area. since this untested health-damaging-proved chemicals are particularly dangerous for children, elderly, chemical sensitive people and people who has respiratory's problems.

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Permalink Reply by Esther San Miguel on June 4, 2008 at 6:48pm

I have another idea:

Do posters around shops in commercial areas.
We can utilized posters already printed from StopTheSpray Marin or any other group who would like to share a poster. Is there any creative folk who would like to create a poster for SF ? A parent from my son's school told me that he saw posters only around the Lower Heights, we need to put posters on the windows' shop of heavy traffic areas.
I have a map from San Francisco Green Map (www.sfgreenmap.org) where tons of green business are listed.
Any volunteers? Please contact Esther San Miguel at esthersanmiguel@gmail.com

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Permalink Reply by Jade Lai on June 13, 2008 at 8:43am

I can help with this. I think that having the green map would be a tremendous boost and time saving. Call me.

Jade

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Permalink Reply by Sharif on June 11, 2008 at 12:39pm

I've just launched a new site to help raise awareness about the LBAM spray plan. Please take a look and let me know what you think:

http://dontspray.com/

I'd love for you to link to the site from sprayalert.org, and I'd be happy to discuss future collaboration ideas as well. I'm also planning to produce posters and flyers with the same design and messaging.

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Permalink Reply by Jade Lai on June 13, 2008 at 8:48am

I love it and will send it to everyone I know. Thank you so much for your simple, strong message!!

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Permalink Reply by Sharif on June 15, 2008 at 9:44pm

Thanks Jade ;) Glad to help.

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Permalink Reply by Jade Lai on June 13, 2008 at 8:55am

Has anyone actually seen any notices from the public schools to the parents about the sprayings?
I asked two teachers and they both said they did not receive any materials or instructions to pass on to their families despite the district's resolution to do so. We must resume this this effort as soon as school starts again in Sept and find out which schools are having summer school. Will the point person in contacting the Board please contact me?

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Permalink Reply by Alice Mosley on June 17, 2008 at 4:24pm

Dear Jade,
I am a teacher (music teacher at five different elementary schools, so I don't necessarily know all that's happening), and I didn't see or hear anything.

I did write to Norman Yee about a week before the end of school, and he said the information was at the translation department. I did hear that Miraloma ES sent out information, but then again, they have active participation from lots of parents, and are generally better at informing each other of what is happening.

Perhaps a meeting could be arranged with various concerned parties and those in charge?

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Permalink Reply by Jade Lai on June 17, 2008 at 6:21pm

Let's meet with Norman Yee at the beginning of the new semester unless the Board is working during the summer. I was also told that the notices were being translated, but have not heard of schools other than Miraloma and Grattan that have sent them home. Maybe they did, but I am not aware. Did the Child Development Centers receive the notices?

We seem to do well at the start of a project, yet have trouble following through. I would love to have an experienced organizer come and help us with organizing...structure, process, lines of communications. I hate to let all that good energy dissipate.

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Permalink Reply by Alice Mosley on June 17, 2008 at 4:20pm

We could set up something like Neighborhood Spray Alerts.

People who agree to join could fill up a card which records their objection to the proposed spraying, their interest in being informed of plans to spray the area, and their willingness to pass on this information to at least one or two other neighbors, friends, colleagues, etc.

If enough people join, this could be another powerful way of letting politicians, the Governor, in particular, of the weight of objections and concern over an issue which he can resolve with the stroke of a pen.

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Permalink Reply by Jade Lai on June 17, 2008 at 6:45pm

Hi Alice,
We have had a lot of people join by signing up,not in specific neighborhoods, but I think that is an excellent idea.What is your neighborhood? There was a neighborhood meeting in the Sunset at the beginning of the movement, but I do not know if they are still active. Maybe ndighborhood groups is what is needed for growing a more cohesive movement. One neighborhood group was started in the Lower Haight, but we do not know how long that will be active since the lovely people who have the space are having difficulties paying the rent. The biggest problem, as I see it, is keeping people involved. I don't know why, but people have been dropping off and disappearing. Part of the reason may be burn out...a few people doing a lot of really heroic work. I'm guessing that another reason is that we may need to meet as a great big whole to let people know procedures and to meet. Hopefully, the meetings at 253 Hyde will resume. Some complain that they don't want to go there, but until they can supply an alternative... There just don't seem to be enough people even though we must have hundreds on the email lists. Does anyone know why? How many active workers are there in SF?
Going back to your idea of neighborhood groups..excellent! If you could find a space for your neighborhood and announce a meeting at this site, I think you'll find people. If you do this, I recommend having a sign up sheet with telephone numbers as well as email addresses. Do you want to meet at 6 pm - 7:30 pm at 776 Haight Street bet. Pierce and Scott?

I'm delighted to meet a new participant!

Jade

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