Reducing Pesticide Use in Ashland, Oregon
For more than a year, community members in Ashland, Oregon have been advocating for reducing pesticides in their parks. Their year-long campaign came to a close at the end of May with mixed results.
While pesticide-free parks were not officially added to the city's pesticide reduction plan, many good things resulted from the community speaking out and staying the course. For example, a notice of 48 hours before and after pesticide applications will be required as well as 50 foot buffers around playgrounds, schools, picnic areas, wetlands and streams.
These additions are vast improvements to the parks' policy. Community members are still working to ensure pesticide-free parks become a permanent program. Read the full article in the Ashland Daily Tidings.
If you are interested in working to reduce pesticide use in your community, check out NCAP's "10 Steps to Pesticide Free Parks."
NCAP is a Member of a New Group Promoting Strong Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policies
NCAP is a member of an emerging group, IPM Voice. IPM Voice is an independent organization working to secure the attention and resources that IPM deserves and needs. IPM Voice is organizing around a mission developed with input from 40 professionals representing industry, government, universities and nongovernmental organizations:
IPM Voice advocates for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that is genuinely progressive and seeks continuous improvement of environmental, social, and economic conditions through application of accepted scientific principles. We comprise diverse philosophies and approaches united to support a broad foundation upon which IPM will be strengthened and improved.
Unfortunately, the President's 2011 budget eliminates funding for the Regional IPM Centers and other IPM programs included in United States Department of Agricutlure.
Please consider supporting IPM Voice. By supporting IPM Voice, you can help educate key decision makers about the importance of IPM in ensuring safe, healthy and environmentally sound agriculture, communities, schools and workplaces.
Click here to contribute to IPM Voice
Oregonians Save the Date: Organically Grown in Oregon Week!
The governor has proclaimed the week of September 13-19, 2010 as Organically Grown in Oregon Week and plans for this year’s celebration are under way.
Save the Date: Wednesday, September 15 the Oregon Organic Coalition Awards for Excellence Luncheon at the Ecotrust event space in Portland, 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
Submit nominations for the Awards at www.oregonorganiccoalition.org
Learning from the Past: Don't be Duped by the Pesticide Industry
On June 2 and 3, CNN aired a special investigative report "Toxic America" highlighting how Americans are exposed to toxic chemicals everyday. Check out CNN.com for replay times or to watch online.
One thing that stood out about this series was a 1947 marketing video for DDT that was shown in department stores' housewares section. The video shows a woman liberally spraying DDT in every nook and cranny of her house, exemplifying how safe and easy it was to use.
DDT has been banned from use for more than forty years in the U.S. because of safety concerns. However, before it was taken off the shelves, this video painted a much different picture of the chemical. How many other pesticides are we being told are safe to use today? What current pesticide marketing video will our children and grandchildren be shocked to see?
Want to Be a Part of Shaping NCAP's Future? Join our Board!
NCAP is looking for leaders who are committed to our work and mission to be an integral part of our team. Please help us find some new faces to help lead us into the future. If you live in our 5-state region (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, northern California, western Montana) and are interested in serving on our board, or know someone who might be, please contact Kim Leval.
One Step Closer to Cleaner Water
Our effort to protect Northwest waters and endangered salmon is working. The government is in the process of enacting some of the strongest protections to date to keep pesticides out of salmon-supporting waters in Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho!
The EPA and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) agree that current use of the organophosphate insecticides chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion harm endangered salmon populations.
In addition to jeopardizing salmon, these pesticides pose serious risks to people especially young children. A number of recent studies have linked prenatal exposure to organophosphate insecticides with behavioral problems, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. A 2006 study published in Pediatrics, compared the risks of chlorpyrifos to prenatal cocaine exposure. Diazinon exposure has been associated with an increased risk of brain cancer in children and the cancer non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in farmers.
Not surprisingly agrochemical companies responded negatively to EPA and NMFS' recent announcement. They are working both in the courts and in Congress to stop the implementation of these important water quality protections. NCAP along with our allies at the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and Earthjustice are working to combat industries efforts. We may not have millions of dollars in resources, but we’re feisty!
