Monterey County Urges Reconsideration of Methyl Iodide
SALINAS, Calif. - February 14, 2012 - The Monterey County Board of Supervisors joined Santa Cruz County in urging Governor Brown to re-examine the registration and approved agricultural use of the chemical methyl iodide in agriculture.
The resolution was proposed to Supervisor Simon Salinas by a diverse coalition of residents from Monterey County, Monterey County Safe Strawberries. Monterey County joins Santa Cruz County in expressing concern about the safety of methyl iodide and the need for non-toxic alternatives for agriculture. The group is part of a statewide coalition organizing to urge Governor Brown to revoke the permitted use of the chemical in agriculture and to help the CA offer safe alternatives for farmers. Methyl iodide is a fumigant that causes cancer, late-term miscarriages, fetal death, thyroid diseases and could permanently contaminate groundwater.
Scientists who use methyl iodide for cancer research commonly refer to this chemical as "one of the most dangerous chemicals on earth." Experts cite health care and lost labor costs for farmworkers and neighboring communities, as well as the cost to clean up damage to protect and clean-up local water supplies.
Santa Cruz Supervisors Vote on Methyl Iodide
Exciting news! On Tuesday November 8th the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for a resolution asking Governor Jerry Brown to reconsider the registration of Methyl Iodide.
Santa Cruz residents and members of Santa Cruz Safe Strawberries have been organizing very hard and have earned a much deserved victory!
Demand Safe Strawberries!
Fresno residents protest California's first permit for use of methyl iodide.
For more information on how to participate locally, visit www.safestrawberry.org
Take Action Against Methyl Iodide
Ignoring the assessments of top US scientists and its own Scientific Review Committee, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced on December 1, 2010 its approval late yesterday of methyl iodide, a new pesticide to be used in agriculture, exposing communities and farm workers to toxic pesticide drift. Read More...
Personal Pesticide Stories
Profiles of Poison: Survivors of Pesticide Poisoning Say No to Methyl Iodide
Nine victims of pesticide poisoning share their stories and asked that methyl iodide, a new strawberry pesticide, not be registered for use in California. They are now joining groups across California to ask Governor-elect Jerry Brown to reverse the recent registration. Click here to view the full report.
Community Defenders
Amy Barden is the modest coordinator of Pesticide-Free Sacramento, a regional coalition made up of farmers, elected officials, physicians and businesses, supported by Pesticide Watch Education Fund, working to reduce and eliminate pesticide use in the Sacramento Region. And she wasn't born a pesticide reform activist. Read More...
Trainings
Pesticide Watch co-coordinates grassroots activist workshops in Sacramento with the Environmental Health Legislative Working Group (EHLWG) and Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ). Stay tuned for the next training in the Fall of 2011.
