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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/b61d5789-6629-4912-a35c-2567d7806251">http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/b61d5789-6629-4912-a35c-2567d7806251</a><br>
<h1 class="pageTitle"> Speak out against aerial spraying - CDFA coming
to town this week!<br>
</h1>
Last week the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) made
an official announcement that they intend to continue aerial spraying
of pesticides over Monterey and Santa Cruz counties in June, and begin
spraying over the Bay Area in August. Once implemented the spraying
will occur every 30-90 days, for 9 months of every year, for at least
3-5 years to come.
<br>
<br>
The proposed areas to be sprayed by air total 444,060 acres, 693.8
miles (see map <a href="http://www.hopefortruth.com/lbam_2008.jpg%29."
title="www.hopefortruth.com/lbam_2008.jpg).">www.hopefortruth.com/lbam_2008.jpg).</a>
And that doesn't include the vast acreage of ground treatments that
allow them to enter private properties to attach chemical twist ties
and traps in your organic gardens, and paint insecticide on trees and
utility poles, all in easy reach of climbing children, pets, and other
beneficial creatures. Hundreds of people have already been made ill by
the spraying last Fall in Monterey and Santa Cruz (list of symptoms <a
href="http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/01/05/18470272.php%29."
title="www.indybay.org/newsitems/...70272.php).">www.indybay.org/newsitems/...70272.php).</a><br>
<br>
The CDFA is battling the little light brown apple moth (LBAM), not
because it has the potential of eating us out of house and home, nor
are they concerned about us not having enough to eat. Their eradication
program has nothing whatsoever to do with public health and safety, but
everything to do with trade. They worry about losing profits because of
potential embargoes on California produce. They are not concerned about
organic farmers, however, and organic standards are in the process of
being diluted further.
<br>
<br>
The CDFA will be holding "scoping" meetings to hear public comments
regarding their Environmental Impact Review (EIR) process. Please be
aware that the spraying is not dependent on completion of such a
review, because they have declared a "State of Emergency", which gives
them the right to overrule other regulations, such as local pesticide
ordinances, private property laws, and health, safety, and
environmental protection.
<br>
<br>
You can demonstrate your concerns at the following meetings, which
the CDFA is expected to attend. More meetings, organized by the CDFA,
various city and county officials, and grassroots activists, in various
communities are being added all the time. Please keep updated by
checking out the calendar at <a
href="http://www.lbamspray.com/calendar.htm"
title="www.lbamspray.com/calendar.htm">www.lbamspray.com/calendar.htm</a><br>
<br>
If you haven't done so already, please scroll down to the links on
the bottom of this mail to sign the petition opposed to aerial
spraying, and vote in the polls.
<br>
<br>
CDFA "scoping" meetings:
<br>
<br>
Monterey
<br>
Wednesday, February 20, 2008, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
<br>
Monterey Peninsula College
<br>
Lecture Forum 103
<br>
980 Fremont Street
<br>
Monterey, CA 93940
<br>
<br>
Santa Cruz
<br>
Thursday, February 21, 2008, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
<br>
University Inn & Conference Center
<br>
Sierra & Dawn Room
<br>
611 Ocean Street
<br>
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
<br>
<br>
San Francisco
<br>
Monday, February 25, 2008, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
<br>
San Francisco County Fair Building Auditorium
<br>
Golden Gate Park
<br>
9th Avenue & Lincoln Way
<br>
San Francisco, CA 94122
<br>
<br>
Oakland
<br>
Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
<br>
Ellis M Harris State Building Auditorium
<br>
1515 Clay St.
<br>
Oakland, CA 94612
<br>
<br>
Oral and written comments will be accepted. The deadline for written
comments is March 20, 2008. They may be sent to:
<br>
Jim Rains, Staff Environmental Scientist
<br>
CA Department of Food and Agriculture
<br>
Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services
<br>
1220 N Street, Room A-316
<br>
Sacramento, CA 95814
<br>
<br>
LBAM on the agenda at City Council meetings:
<br>
<br>
Oakland
<br>
Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 7pm
<br>
Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza (14th St. Between Clay and
Broadway) Hearing Room 1
<br>
Oakland City Council Public Safety Committee considers a resolution
against aerial spraying proposed by Councilmembers Brunner and Reid
<br>
(draft resolution: <a
href="http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/18426.pdf%29"
title="clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/atta....pdf)">clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/atta....pdf)</a><br>
<br>
Berkeley
<br>
Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 7pm
<br>
2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley
<br>
CDFA presentation scheduled at Berkeley City Council meeting
<br>
<br>
To prepare for talking with the CDFA, and to hear from grassroots
opposition to the pesticide program:
<br>
<br>
San Leandro
<br>
East Bay Pesticide Alert/Don't Spray California presents:
<br>
Who's afraid of the Light Brown Apple Moth?
<br>
Sunday, February 24, 2008, 1:30-3:30pm
<br>
Zocalo Coffeehouse
<br>
645 Bancroft Ave @ Dutton, San Leandro
<br>
*(scent-free please)
<br>
<a href="http://www.eastbaypesticidealert.org/"
title="www.eastbaypesticidealert.org/">www.eastbaypesticidealert.org/</a><br>
<br>
Have you signed the petition against the spraying?
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.stopthespray.org/" title="www.stopthespray.org/">www.stopthespray.org/</a><br>
<br>
Voted in the poll in the Marin Independent Journal?
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_8257611"
title="www.marinij.com/marin/ci_8257611">www.marinij.com/marin/ci_8257611</a><br>
<br>
And the one on About.com?
<br>
<br>
<a
href="http://sanfrancisco.about.com/b/2008/02/16/aerial-spraying-over-san-francisco-bay-area.htm"
title="sanfrancisco.about.com/b/2008...rea.htm">sanfrancisco.about.com/b/2008...rea.htm</a>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
"I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." – Che Guevara</pre>
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