An online community for eradicating bogus bug eradication programs.
Who is afraid of the big bad moth?
I just read an article in Forbes that got me riled up. I keep hearing it over and over, that us paranoid hypochondriac whiners along the California coast are "scared out of our minds" of "innocent pheromones" and are willing to sacrifice our economy out of fear of the unknown consequences of chemicals we can't pronounce.
I have great sympathy for the Central Valley farmers. That is where I grew up. But when I saw this quote from Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, I had to respond with the response I copied below.
I think it is very important for us to help the moth out with its image, especially if reclassifying or declassifying it is the only way to end this pointless eradication program. We have to help the farmers understand the facts about it, so they don't fear it like they think we fear the widespread applications of toxins. What do you think?
"Let's not let fear destroy the economy of the state," said Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield.
The fear that is destroying our economy is the fear so many have of this innocent little moth. What harm has it done? Where is the evidence?
If you dig beneath the surface of this, and follow the money trail, you'll see this moth has been improperly classified as a class-A threat to agriculture, which it is not. Meanwhile, the press and the CDFA likes to spin this as if we are all just a bunch of paranoid hypochondriac moms "frightened out of our minds" of chemicals we can't pronounce. Look at the labels of the "innocent pheromone" they plan to crop dust our playgrounds, backyards, gardens, and malls with. It says "Keep out of reach of children" along with dozens of other warnings.
And who is going to do these so called "tests"? How are the foxes guarding the hen houses going to test for long term exposure, especially for kids who frolic close to the ground ingesting these plastic time-release micro-capsules? The truth is that the real test will be on the millions of people living in the Bay Area.
Meanwhile the farmers in the valley are falling for the CDFA spin - hook, line, and sinker, passing resolutions to give permission to shower us, even thought the moth can't even handle the summer heat where their "invasive" crops are. I encourage everybody to do some fact-checking on this if they care about the economy of California. Our health is our wealth, and our kids are our future. We can spends hundreds of millions to eradicate a harmless moth, or let natural predators do the job and invest that money into our education and infrastructure instead.
www.sprayalert.org
I have great sympathy for the Central Valley farmers. That is where I grew up. But when I saw this quote from Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, I had to respond with the response I copied below.
I think it is very important for us to help the moth out with its image, especially if reclassifying or declassifying it is the only way to end this pointless eradication program. We have to help the farmers understand the facts about it, so they don't fear it like they think we fear the widespread applications of toxins. What do you think?
"Let's not let fear destroy the economy of the state," said Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield.
The fear that is destroying our economy is the fear so many have of this innocent little moth. What harm has it done? Where is the evidence?
If you dig beneath the surface of this, and follow the money trail, you'll see this moth has been improperly classified as a class-A threat to agriculture, which it is not. Meanwhile, the press and the CDFA likes to spin this as if we are all just a bunch of paranoid hypochondriac moms "frightened out of our minds" of chemicals we can't pronounce. Look at the labels of the "innocent pheromone" they plan to crop dust our playgrounds, backyards, gardens, and malls with. It says "Keep out of reach of children" along with dozens of other warnings.
And who is going to do these so called "tests"? How are the foxes guarding the hen houses going to test for long term exposure, especially for kids who frolic close to the ground ingesting these plastic time-release micro-capsules? The truth is that the real test will be on the millions of people living in the Bay Area.
Meanwhile the farmers in the valley are falling for the CDFA spin - hook, line, and sinker, passing resolutions to give permission to shower us, even thought the moth can't even handle the summer heat where their "invasive" crops are. I encourage everybody to do some fact-checking on this if they care about the economy of California. Our health is our wealth, and our kids are our future. We can spends hundreds of millions to eradicate a harmless moth, or let natural predators do the job and invest that money into our education and infrastructure instead.
www.sprayalert.org
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jenifer Ransom on -
Kevin,
Re your question here:
"And who is going to do these so called "tests"? How are the foxes guarding the hen houses going to test for long term exposure, especially for kids who frolic close to the ground ingesting these plastic time-release micro-capsules? The truth is that the real test will be on the millions of people living in the Bay Area."
Let's watch our words and work on maintaining a positive vision of the outcome.
Our experience tends to follow our expectations.
You may be interested in this letter I got from the office of the SF City Attorney.
My impression is that it would not be so easy for CDFA to fake the results of
the required tests--especially of the environmental impact report.
It's nice that she (the Deputy Secretary) welcomes further contact. I think you'd be the ideal person to keep in touch with her, Kevin! - jen
Dear Ms. Ransom,
I first want to thank you for your email expressing your concern about the
state's proposed aerial spraying to eradicate the light brown apple moth.
As you may be aware, the California Department of Food and Agriculture's
efforts to pursue aerial spraying in Santa Cruz County were halted by a
Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge on April 24, 2008. Shortly after
that ruling, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that CDFA's future plans
to spray in 12 other counties -- including the City and County of San
Francisco -- would be postponed until at least Aug. 17, after safety tests
could be completed.
Along with several other legal officials in the Bay Area, San Francisco
City Attorney Dennis Herrera has been closely monitoring the state's plans
as well as litigation and pending legislative efforts to halt those plans.
Strictly speaking, the Santa Cruz Court's ruling only affects spraying in
Santa Cruz County. As a practical matter, however, the current facts make
it difficult to imagine how CDFA could rely on another emergency exemption
to proceed with aerial spraying in Bay Area Counties given the Santa Cruz
ruling. The bottom line is that the same statute that applies in Santa
Cruz also applies in San Francisco, and we are aware of no unique facts
before the Court in Santa Cruz that would result in a different decision
were it to be litigated in a different state court.
It is the City Attorney's informed belief that the writing is on the wall
for CDFA that it will need to perform both the safety testing mandated by
Governor Schwarzenegger, and a comprehensive environmental impact report --
as required by the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA -- to more
fully assess potential risks to human health prior to any proposed aerial
spraying.
Notwithstanding that belief, however, City Attorney Herrera continues to
closely monitor the CDFA's plans, and his office remains in regular contact
with CDFA and public law offices throughout the Bay Area should legal
action be required to protect the public health of our citizens.
Should you have further questions, or if I can elaborate further, please
don't hesitate to contact me by email or by calling me personally at the
number below.
Best,
Alexis P. Thompson
Deputy Press Secretary
Office of the City Attorney, Dennis J. Herrera
alexis.thompson@sfgov.org
(415) 554-4653
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