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Urgent situation! Please help animals and people in California!
Nov 4, 2007

If you are concerned with civil rights and/or the health and well-being of pets, wildlife, and the oceans please give a moment of your time to this pressing issue in California. A lot of innocent people and animals are being put into immediate danger, they need our voices and support!
Thanks! Maria

Civil Rights Violation - American citizens are being sprayed, against their will, with untested chemicals. This is a major threat to California wildlife, pets and the Pacific Ocean environment - including Monterey Bay Sanctuary. This is happening right now in California!

For more information go to: http://lbamspray.info/ This website has a link to a Care2 petition against the aerial spraying!


There is a lot of information here, please take the time to read through it, make calls, write letters... this is a very serious situation. It affects all of us, even if you don't live in California!

The residents of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties are being used as guinea pigs. There is no real agricultural emergency. The EPA gave the state an emergency mandate for spraying without any previous testing and without doing an Environmental Impact Report. The State legislature then removed the word "emergency" from their mandate and replaced it with "urgent". These people are being sprayed without their consent and against their will by their own government! If it's allowed to happen there, it can happen anywhere. The planes are loaded and waiting, full of synthetic pheromones and undisclosed trademarked chemicals that have not been tested for human health or long term effects on people and animals.

There is no real agricultural emergency. No crops have been lost. One of (California Secretary of Agriculture) Karamura’s own AG spokespeople said if nothing was done to control the moths, crop damage would amount to about 2% which is actually less than from some other pests and minor as far as production.

http://antinewworldorder.blogspot.com/2007/10/governor-schwarzenegger-backs-aerial.html

There are other ways to control the moths which have been used successfully in many areas by this same agency. This way people and animals will be breathing polymer spheres that will release unknown chemicals in the lungs or not disperse but possibly accumulate with successive spraying. It hasn’t been studied. If it gets on the skin or in the eyes they say to wash it off immediately. How does a dog wash it's eyes? Or a kitty? They'll just rub it in more. People are supposed to wash their clothes, their pets and their plants, and not to leave standing water outside because the microcapsules don’t disperse in water. Pets or wildlife will drink water contaminated by the spray. Run off will take it to the ocean, as will wind, where once the microcapsules hit the water they will not disperse so will become part of the marine environment.


There are many people in the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey, CA that have to leave their homes because of respiratory conditions, MCS, and COPD. Many children will be kept out of school and indoors during the week of spraying. Pets will be kept indoors as much as possible. But the spray gets on everything. During the thirty day time release after the spraying it will get carried in on shoes, paws and fur. Wildlife will drink it in water, birds will bathe in it. If they continue a campaign of spraying over several years, as they want to, many people will have to move away just to protect their lives, the lives of their families and their pets! No one actually knows what will be the result of this domestic terrorism.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger demanded the release of ingredients to show "the people have a right to know", but only the ingredients of the synthetic pheromone, not the inert ingredients that are protected by state trademark laws. The pheromone is micro-encapsulated in polymer spheres that stay intact in water and disperse in air. There are isocynates (polymethylene polyphenyl isocynate - PPI) included in the inert ingredients which they denied and later admitted but said it dissipates by the time the spray is done.

In 1986 the US passed the Right To Know Act in response to the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal. Somehow, this aerial bombardment is escaping the purpose of the Right To Know Act. Need more research, there... I do know, however, that the chemical in Bhopal was an isocyanate, a relative of the ingredient in the chemicals being sprayed on the people of Monterey, Marina, Seaside and Salinas, and very soon to be sprayed on the people of Santa Cruz and surrounding areas.

Isocyanates:
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ohb/HESIS/iso.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/isocyanates/index.html

The ingredients in CheckMate LBAM-F are:

Water

(E)-11-Tetradecen-1-yl Acetate

(E,E) -9,11 Tetradecadien-1-yl Acetate

Crosslinked polyurea polymer

Butylated Hydroxytoluene

Polyvinyl Alcohol

Tricaprylyl Methyl Ammonium Chloride

Sodium Phosphate

Ammonium Phosphate

1,2-benzisothiozoli-3-one

2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone

SOURCE: California Department of Food and Agriculture


What you need to know about Published Checkmate Ingredient 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone:

What is of deep concern, is that 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone binds to estrogen receptors not just in animals, but in humans. In other words, it signals people's bodies to take a specific biological action. "Rapidly increasing scientific evidence suggests that many of these chemicals, structures of which cross a wide range, can interfere with normal, hormonally regulated biological processes to adversely affect development and/or reproductive function in wildlife, experimental animals, and humans
(see Colborn et al., 1993; Danzo, 1998; Daston et al., 1997; Kavlock et al., 1996; Sonnenschein and Soto, 1998; Toppari et al., 1996 for recent reviews)."
http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/1/138?
maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=2-hydroxy-4-n-
octyloxybenzophenone&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

Furthermore, many women who are in the spray zone in Monterey County, have immediately experienced severe symptoms related to their reproductive health, which likely correspond to ingestion of 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone. These symptoms include: extremely swollen and tender breasts, exacerbated PMS symptoms, extreme mood swings, hot flashes, sweating, spotting and delayed periods. This even happened to women who were not directly sprayed, but who entered the spray area several days after the spray. Since a hormone is such a miniscule substance, it is likely and probable, that even inhaling one microcapsule, or inhaling some of the time release biochemical from one capsule (there are 33 delivered per square foot) would contain enough 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone to substantially alter the hormonal balance of men, women, children, and animals.

Checkmate is pheromone which is a sex HORMONE. Hormones are not such innocent things. Breast cancer has significantly declined with a major reduction in the usage of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Little girls are getting their periods much earlier (ages 8 and 9 compared to 12-14 when I was growing up). Many people think it is because of all the (supposedly harmless) growth hormones in meat and milk (rBSt). These all are SYNTHETIC hormones like Checkmate, the moth spray. How do we know that Checkmate won't cause cancer or infertility in us or our children?


Aren't we protected by law against the use of chemical testing on humans without their permission? What is our state government thinking and doing? Who paid who? Where is Michael Moore? Do we want another movie about the disater from CDFA, CHECKMATE, LBAM and our current governor? Where is our due process?

Here are some addresses. A.G. Kawamura is the California Secretary of Agriculture, Abel Maldonado (R) is a state senator, agribiz guy. Probably Kawamura and Arnold (Schwarzenegger) are the ones to concentrate on. Arnold wants to be admired, be a hero, you know. He doesn't like anyone to know when he's being underhanded. Suttera is the company who manufactures Checkmate.

CA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Secretary A.G. Kawamura cdfapublicaffairs@cdfa.ca.gov
(he made final decision on spraying)

Governor-Arnold Schwarzenegger governor@govmail.ca.gov
916-445-2841 Press 1, then 5, then 0 You will get a person.
http://gov.ca.gov/about/arnold

Senator Abel Maldonado http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/15/

CA EPA Secretary Linda Adams cepacomm@calepa.ca.gov

Demand twist-ties, pheromone ropes or introduction of sterile moths -- non-aerial options.

Suttera, LLC
213 SW Columbia St.
Bend, OR 97702-1013
866-326-6737

Monterey tried to stop the spraying, and actually got an injunction but then lost it. Santa Cruz City Council and County Board of Supervisors both sued for a restraining order but lost. Monterey was sprayed in October and is being sprayed again now in November. Santa Cruz is being sprayed next. Hundreds of thousands of people and pets, wildlife and birds, ocean life and plants are being sprayed from planes with nowhere to hide from untested chemicals. Schools and playgrounds, parks, cars will all be covered with undisclosed chemicals that could have long range consequences on health and reproduction.

More information rich webpages:

http://www.panna.org/resources/lbam.html?searchMode#alternatives

http://1hope.org/chkmate.htm

The long range plan is to start up again in Feb/March by aerial spraying again for six nights and waiting thirty days for the time release, then six nights again and thirty days later spraying us again and again and again until the year 2010, maybe longer. There will never be any fresh air!

$$$$$
Important also to note that in the Monterey spraying, the wealthy communities of Pebble Beach, Carmel by the Sea and 17-Mile-Drive were NOT sprayed! If there is a dangerous infestation that warrants the aerial bombardment of totally residential (non-agricultural) areas, then why would these communities, which are a part of the area, not be sprayed? Do the moths know to avoid golf courses?!
$$$$$
Ask the Governator, is this really an emergency or a way to pay back Stewart Resnick, who donated $144,000 to the Governor, and owns the Checkmate product.
$$$$$
The chemical company, Suttera of Bend, Oregon, who makes the spray that will be sprayed on all of us contributed $144,000 to the Governer’s ’04 campaign. Secretary A.G. Kawamura gave $21,000 and was appointed as head of California’s Food and Agriculture. $17,000,000 has already been invested in this project $15,000,000 of it from USDA before any notification to the public. Suterra has steadfastly refused to disclose all ingredients of their product which has never been tested for use on humans.

One of the ingredients that was revealed, tricaprylyl methylammonium chloride, has a warning to avoid release in the environment!

Tricaprylyl methyl ammonium chloride warnings from the manufacturer:

Hazard codes:
Xn - Harmful
N - Dangerous for the environment

Risk Statements:
Harmful if swallowed.
Irritating to the skin.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
Very Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.

Safety Statements:
 In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.
 Wear eye/face protection.
 This material and/or its container must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
 Avoid release to the environment.

OUR CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES US THE INALIENABLE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. Our rights are being violated. Once the door is opened for the wide spread aerial spraying of American citizens who knows what it could lead to.

For more information go to: http://lbamspray.info/ This website has a link to a Care2 petition against the aerial spraying!

Here is a letter from California Assemblymember John Laird:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 3, 2007

Laird Statement on LBAM Spraying, Court Decision & Public Health

SANTA CRUZ – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today issued the following statement regarding the latest round of LBAM spraying, set for November 4-9 in northern Monterey County and Santa Cruz County:

“The Santa Cruz County Superior Court’s denial of the request for a temporary restraining order against the CDFA should not be interpreted as an endorsement by the court of the aerial spraying plans.

Following the ruling, my concerns about the CDFA’s aerial spraying program and request for delay are exactly the same as they were before the ruling, especially with regard to environmental review and public health.

I am also concerned about the lack of adequate notice provided to residents in the population center of the Santa Cruz area spray zone.

It is unfortunate the CDFA has chosen to move forward with aerial spraying, despite legitimate and serious concerns raised by me, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the City of Santa Cruz and the hundreds of residents who have contacted my office.

With spraying set to begin tomorrow, it is critically important for those who believe they have suffered health effects from the spraying to contact their health provider directly or visit a local health clinic. Doing so is the only way to ensure incidents are tracked and investigated.

Copies of relevant public health documents:

S.C. County Public Health Dept. 11/2/07 Press Release:
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/071102PressReleaseLBAM.doc

S.C. County Public Health Dept. 11/2/07 Health Advisory:
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/10.07FinalPublicHealtAdvisoryLBAM1.doc

Health Incident Reporting Form, to be filed by doctors:
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/pir_99.pdf

Since August 27th, I have raised dozens of key questions about the spray plans. The questions I have raised (and the CDFA’s responses to them) have become a useful element in the ongoing community dialogue in both Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. Certain questions and requests have been responded to, such as the establishment of a phone hotline and an email notification system. Likewise, at my request, there has been a more open public process than what was originally planned by CDFA.

However, with the first round of Monterey Peninsula area spraying completed, and north Monterey County and Santa Cruz County spraying set to begin this weekend, I am distressed by the fact that many of my questions have not been answered adequately and new questions continue to arise.

With approximately 100,000 people residing in the spray zones for the round set to begin tomorrow, many environmental, scientific and efficacy questions have not been adequately answered. That is in part because so many of the studies and reports that are essential to getting answers will not be available until after the first rounds of spraying have already happened (see chart below). While it is troubling that so many study and report milestones have yet to be met, I’m more troubled by the lack of studies and follow through related to public health.

Of greatest concern to me is the notion that speculative economic impacts may be outweighing the need to protect human health. In Monterey County there are reports of more than 200 health complaints associated with aerial spraying. Yet, to date there is no evidence that reports have been analyzed, and a promised ‘white paper’ on the toxicological data on the pheromone product and the health complaints taken as a whole has not been released. In fact, in his October 26th letter to me, CDFA Secretary Kawamura indicated there are no plans to either study long term effects of the spraying or conduct an epidemiological analysis of the complaints CDFA has received.

In light of the unresolved health complaints and unanswered scientific questions, the “Precautionary principle” should serve as a guide. It has been described as a political and moral principle that says if an action or policy could harm the public or the environment, the burden of proof falls on the proponent of the action—rather than on the public.

It was determined in Superior Court that the County of Santa Cruz failed to meet the burden of proof required to obtain a temporary restraining order against the state. However, in the court of public opinion, the burden of proof ought to be on CDFA to prove LBAM-F and OLR-F are safe prior to spraying it on residential populations monthly for an open-ended period of time.”

###

Thank you for taking the time to get informed and lend your support to this scary situation.

Imported from external blog


Visibility: Everyone
Posted: Sunday November 4, 2007, 1:03 pm
Tags: people animals pets wildlife california health humans on testing oceans rights civil agriculture chemical toxic aerial hormones carcinogens spraying moths respiratory LBAM [add/edit tags]

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Ron Goodman (422) 		Sunday November 4, 2007, 1:56 pm
Thanks for all the great information Maria. They seem to do what ever "they" want these days. VOTE THEM OUT!! BRING LAW SUITES!! CALL YOUR NEWS PAPERS, TV STATIONS, AND ATTORNEY GENERAL. MAKE A STINK!!

Maria W. (48) 		Sunday November 4, 2007, 2:05 pm
Thanks Ron! The people in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties have been making a good amount of stink, but it seems that they don't stink enough yet! So, in go the rest of us! I hope...

Wyatt T. (33) 		Sunday November 4, 2007, 2:59 pm
/arnold... go back to reading lines...

Silvia H. (132) 		Sunday November 4, 2007, 4:51 pm
This is absolutely horrible. Those politicians and the people who run those companies should be ashamed of themselves! Silvia ---

Amalthea Lalaith (3) 		Sunday November 4, 2007, 10:07 pm
scary... thank you all who do not live in California for caring!

Rebecca S. (163) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 4:04 am
Since when do we have a Constitution or civil rights anymore here in America??? Don't you know that those have been done away with? Better watch out or you'll be considered to have violated the "Thought Crime" bill and be locked up soon!!!

Frightening......

Maria W. (48) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 4:34 am
I agree, Rebecca, but that doesn't mean we should stop trying...

peace

Past Member (0) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 5:24 am
I'm Horrified, What The';'; Do They Think They Are Doing... Thank-you Maria

Lisa Swift (79) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 5:58 am
How long before this Fascist government of ours discovers another pest somewhere else to spray a witches' brew of synthetics on, while calling them organic? The fewer there are of us to yell about this illegal, immoral chemical testing program, the fewer they have to worry about when they declare martial law and suspend the Constitution entirely!

Past Member (0) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 10:43 am
When you receive news that the spraying will NOT be done,pls. send me another email too,Our backyard was swarmed several weeks ago,but is COMPLETELY cleared since then. I'm thinking of buying the sticky hanger things to put on trees and near plants to stop pesky insects. We need to keep all people old and young,and all our animals safe and healthy. Thank you for this petition and articles!

Bruce W. (24) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 11:51 am
I have a history in agriculture, the nursery industry, and the greenhouse industry; all on the East coast; and my specialty was biocontrol and IPM (integrated pest management), which is the non toxic control and management of insect pests. I just heard about the spraying plans. I live in Corralitos farm country. Please tell me what the intended schedule of spraying is, and if there is any chance of a stay.

I want to help stop this madness. There are alternatives, and they will take time and ingenuity and common sense; but aerial broadcast spraying of toxic chemicals is dangerous, stupid, short sighted, ineffective in the long term, and evidence of criminal conduct on the part of State agricultural officials and the government. That they have already sprayed in Monterey County shows an incredible lack of regard for our health.

We should do everything possible to stop this spraying.

Bruce Wright

Maria W. (48) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 11:57 am
Linda and Bruce, there is a spray hotline you can call, but they are very uncooperative. As far as I know Salinas and Prunedale will be sprayed tonight (that's Monday, Nov. 5), spraying on Santa Cruz County (by zones) will start tomorrow - Tuesday - night. The website http://lbamspray.info is a great resource - with a lot of attentive wading through information - for finding out what zone you are in. The hotline is 1-800-491-1899, but apparently the pilots are in charge of deciding when and where to fly/spray, so, they say, they can't tell you where is going to be sprayed until an hour or so before spraying starts!!! I know, what a bunch of crap!!!!! If I can find a more direct link to the spray zones, I will post it here asap. Again, the hotline is 1-800-491-1899.

Maria W. (48) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 12:05 pm
Also, Bruce, you are so right, there are a lot of alternatives. In Fairfield they are laying down pheremone ropes (?). Sticky traps work well, too. The idea of eradication is totally absurd since the moths have already been here for years and they will invariably be re-introduced again and again. This has nothing to do with pests and agriculture and everything to do with money, greed and power - hopefully it is not just a ruse to spray people with something even more insidious...

Bruce W. (24) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 12:10 pm
I understand the agricultural industry has a powerful lobby and donates large amounts of money to many political campaigns, but the health of our human citizens, not to mention song birds, wild life, and even good insects (of which there are many) all deserve better than to be sprayed with toxic chemicals. This is reminiscent of the indiscriminate use of agent orange in Vietnam.

This is becoming a civil emergency rather than an agricultural issue, and if state officials authorize any more spraying, they should be taken to court and prosecuted for dereliction of duty and gross negligence; perhaps even crimes against humanity.

Maria W. (48) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 12:15 pm
If the fog comes in again tonight (Monday) then they will not be able to spray - just like last night. They can't do it in heavy fog, wind or rain. I believe that if they don't spray by mid-November, then they will not try again until February, which at least gives us some time to act to STOP this insanity!

Pray for fog, rain and wind!

Bruce W. (24) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 12:22 pm
Ironically, the pilots flying the C-130's dumping agent orange in Nam had a prescribed flight pattern and there was no contact or communication even with our own troops on the ground, and certainly none with the native Vietnamese or the flora and fauna and water sources throughout the countryside. Millions were affected. There was a sign over the door in one of the pilot's barracks that read 'Only you can prevent forests.'

The thought of other chemicals being sprayed on us just to see what happens is macabre, and horrible, because it's been done before. I have emailed the governor, CA EPA Secretary Linda Adams, CA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE Secretary A.G. Kawamura, and the reporter who wrote a related article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, giving my credentials and relating my concerns, but I don't think those who are in control are listening.

Still, we must do our best to stop this; and to prosecute those in a position of authority if they spray any further.

Bruce W. (24) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 12:26 pm
the weather is variously crummy for the next five days, but is forecasted to be clear and sunny by Sunday. Ironically, the property adjacent to the farm I live on is an apple orchard. I'm going to walk over and see if I can find out anything from them.

Maria W. (48) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 1:23 pm
I agree, it is a civil emergency. It has all been done as hush-hush as possible and information that has been released in the news has been terribly misleading - primarily the artificial emergency threat to California agriculture.

Bruce, I will be interested to hear what your apple orchard neighbor has to say. Most of the people from orchards and those in the nursery business have NOT supported the claims of the Ag deptartment and Suttera, LLC.

Another good person to write to is Congressman Sam Farr, who for some unknown reason is supporting the spraying!

Bruce W. (24) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 1:56 pm
Sorry, but I have no idea why that last comment was posted twice... Yes, San Farr and all of our representatives should jump on board one way or another so we the citizens know where they stand and can vote accordingly. It is disturbing to see such clear evidence of our representatives being the champion of big agribusiness and the petro chemical industry.

Bruce W. (24) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 2:11 pm
a map of the intended spraying can be found at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PDEP/lbam/pdfs/maps/LBAM_CA_AERIAL_10_19_07.pdf

This link is courtesy of an ongoing forum at the Santa Cruz Sentinel, http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/story.php?sid=44794§ion=

I'll let you know if I get anything of merit from the apple farmers... but it's compelling to note that they apparently do not intend to spray out here in Corralitos, but they do intend to spray over the entire urban area of Santa Cruz. Why would they do that...? It begs additional questions, the answers to which are likely to be even more sinister.

Bruce W. (24) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 5:38 pm
Here are some people we should be contacting about this matter: Please forgive the redundancies. This list was culled from a very informative post on the Santa Cruz Sentinel website, which is hosting an ongoing forum on this issue, and many of the comments are extremely poignant and useful. Join in.

GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

General information: (916) 445-2841 2841 (press #1, #5, #0)

Fax: (916) 445-4633

Email governor@govmail.ca.gov

Chief of Staff is Susan Kennedy

CA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Public Affairs Officer: (916) 654-0462 or
(800) 491-1899 (press #1, #6)

cdfapublicaffairs@cdfa.ca.gov

Secretary A.G. Kawamura (he makes the final decision on spraying):

akawamura@cdfa.ca.gov

John Connell, the state’s expert in insect eradication: jconnell@cdfa.ca.gov

Steve Lyle (public affairs) in charge of public communication: slyle@cdfa.ca.gov

Nancy Lungren (spokesperson for Kawamura): nlungren@cdfa.ca.gov

CA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

General Information: (916) 558-1784

Director, Mark B. Horton, MD, MSPH: (916) 558-1700, mark.horton@cdph.ca.gov

Kevin Reilly, Deputy Director: Kevin.Reilly@cdph.ca.gov

Online feedback/email:

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programservices/contact/Pages/default.aspx

ASSEMBLYMAN JOHN LAIRD (strongly opposes current spray plans)

(831) 649-2832 or (916) 319-2127

Assemblymember.Laird@assembly.ca.gov

SENATOR ABEL MALDONADO

(831) 657-6315 or (916) 651-4015 or go to his web page to send him an email

REPRESENTATIVE SAM FARR

c/o Alec.Arago@mail.house.gov

DIANE FEINSTEIN

c/o daniel_chen@feinstein.senate.gov

I have written them all, but encourage everyone else to do so as well. There is clout in numbers.

Annie S. (9) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 6:24 pm
The Light Brown Apple Moth likes apples, pears and cherries and loves grapes. The CDFA sent out information saying the moths are a threat to practically everything including redwoods and fir trees. The moths are leaf rollers so I don't know what they would do in needle trees! CDFA was confronted for claiming in their info that the pheromones disperse in water but in fact they are kept in water because it keeps them intact! These are lies they tell the public.

I live where there are supposed to be allot of the moths, I've seen two, and we have a pear tree that was full of pears this year with no problems. I think we can handle the moths with pheromone ropes or sticky traps. They say it's too expensive to hire people to put up the traps but everyone here is willing to do it free and has informed them multiple times.

The wine industry may be worried but that doesn't raise the price of our produce or force us into quarantine as we keep being threatened with. They need to deal with this problem without aerial spraying a huge population.

Maria W. (48) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 6:38 pm
Wow! Excellent everyone! Thank you! I have been working to continue sending this message out to more and more people - and when I check back here, so much has been happening. It makes me feel hopeful and grateful!

Strangely Wild (27) 		Monday November 5, 2007, 8:45 pm
"Why don't they use traps?" The DNR (department of natural resources) has been using "traps" for gypsy moths, with success, way over here in southern Wisconsin.

John Russo (0) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 12:37 am
The politicians think they can push this over on us. They sprung it on us with no notice hoping we couldn't mobilize against them. Down here in Monterey, City Council Member Libby Downey voted against joining w/ Santa Cruz and said in a letter to the editor of the local paper:

There was one overriding reason to vote against joining the suit: lack
of scientific evidence. Monterey could very likely become the target of
legal actions for damages to the agriculture industry for refusal to
comply with the state's order without a credible reason. Additionally,
Monterey would have to post bond to join the lawsuit, increasing the
financial risk to our community.

Well now Libby, don't go risking your neck protecting the PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT or anything if those scary big farmers might come for you with legal pitchforks!

They can say what they will about the Santa Cruz city council, but at least they have the guts to stand up for their citizens' rights!

Bruce W. (24) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 10:28 am

Here in south Santa Cruz county the moths are very evident. They are massing on trees, like a fluttering cloud at times; so this is a very vigorous pest, and exceptionally successful in this ecosystem. That is the problem with foreign pests that are introduced by accident into any new environment, and that is also why the USDA is so concerned about the problem. These moths are from Australia, and they have no naturally occurring predators here in the US, because no organism has evolved to counteract them. They probably were introduced in a shipment of apples from down under, and presto! We have a new pest. With all the fruit and vegetables imported into the US for our hungry and discerning market, it happens all the time; but the LBAM is particularly successful here; they obviously reproduce quickly; and hence the uproar from the agricultural industry. The USDA is under funded, and cannot stop all the pests, and when something like this occurs, the easiest solution is toxic petrochemicals, which I liken to the sledge hammer affect, that of killing a fly with a sledge. In this case, we humans are living with the fly, and the moth; so the "solution" of spraying is evidence of an even larger problem, which could include the wholesale poisoning our citizens.

Left alone, the moth will cause some damage, but will eventually be neutralized by native predators such as our small songbirds, bats, and even some of the larger predatory wasps, mantis, etc.; and eventually other organisms will naturally play a part, smaller wasps, pilot bugs, ladybugs and more, who find a niche in the life cycle of the LBAM and prey upon it's eggs or one of it's larval stages. Human efforts to stop the moth with chemicals, even relatively non toxic growth regulators and pheromones, are mostly ineffective in the long term, and will surely cause additional and far ranging often unknown consequences to our ecosystem and our resident fauna populations, including all the good bugs and songbirds and etcetera who would otherwise provide a real and lasting solution. Human meddling is nearly always counter intuitive. Aerial broadcast spraying is an exceptionally onerous example of how stupid we can get.

The use of petrochemicals and petro fertilizers has transformed the agricultural industry, providing our many supermarkets with cheap, unblemished, good looking produce that tastes like cardboard and has little of the nutritional value found in organic products. Thankfully, the market is evolving as people are becoming better educated and even more discerning, and thereby more receptive to the wholesome and holistic benefits of organic fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat that have not been marginalized and tainted by the profit driven customs of agribusiness and the food industry. Concurrently, this also slowly spreads the good news of how much safer and environmentally sound and intelligent organic farming truly is. This ground swell of knowledge and understanding, however, does not stop the giants of industry from doing business; and promoting death and profit over life and health and even public safety. Our politicians, unfortunately, are too often moved by big business and potential lawsuits rather than anything that resembles good judgment and common sense; and their mission to represent "the people" is thereby compromised. This is an extremely complex and systemic social issue, and I could write a very thick book about it all and not resolve a thing.

The little brown apple moth is probably very well known in Australia, and Aussie entomologists are surely familiar with it's naturally occurring predators. Australia is where the quickest and safest and most environmentally sound solution for the LBAM will come from. In my work as Operations Manager for the University of Rhode Island greenhouse facilities, I employed many "good" insect predators to control the bad pests; and my record of success and safety was exceptional. I worked closely with the URI faculty entomologists to make it happen, and I strongly suspect that there is faculty at UCSC who can do the same for us here and now. Aerial spraying is not the answer. Stopping the spraying is the first order of business, because that is short sighted and dangerous to our population and our natural environment. Patience and good science can provide the rest of the solution.

Annie S. (9) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 1:26 pm
The clouds of moths that have been devastating our area are OAK MOTHS and not suseptable to the lbam spray. Many people are under the assumption that these are the moths to be sprayed but they are not. Nothing was done to control the Oak Moths which have wreaked such havoc. The confusion is understandable considering the local news channels show the wrong moth in their coverage of the spraying. I emailed them about it but it's still there.

Bruce W. (24) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 1:43 pm
and this is precisely why academia and the scientists need to get involved, and I have to wonder why they are so conspicuously silent. It is the lack of knowledge that is driving this issue, and promoting the 'spray anything that moves' mentality, which represents the interests of everyone EXCEPT the environment and the people.

Annie S. (9) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 2:10 pm
It's very frustrating. Today I ran into a friend who thought they weren't going spray anymore because of an unclear newscast that said they were giving up on spraying due to weather conditions but neglected to mention it was temporary. She asked "why are they doing this? I don't understand why they're doing this..." That's the question we would all like to know the answer to.

Bruce W. (24) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 5:28 pm
I did get an email from Steve Lyle, Dir. of Public Affairs @ ca.gov and forwarded some additional comment to him, but of the eleven officials I contacted, he is the only one to personally respond. Aaanold sent the usual carbon copy reply. I am working to get an op ed into the SC Sentinel as we speak. Let's not be frustrated. Let's believe in what we are doing and that our efforts will bear fruit, good organic fruit...

Maria W. (48) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 6:03 pm
From: "Tony Madrigal"
Date: November 6, 2007 4:08:49 PM PST
To: tonymadrigal@gmail.com
Subject: Call to Action re: LBAM, Tuesday, Nov 6, 8:30pm-9:30pm, downtown Santa Cruz, Pacific Ave & Cooper St.

Message from Santa Cruz City Councilmember Tony Madrigal

Call to Action!

Come help distribute Free Protective Face Masks, Information, & Pesticide-Illness Reporting forms for the Light Brown Apple Moth aerial spraying over our Community

We had a great turnout of volunteers to help us distribute protective face masks last Sunday, November 4th 4pm-6pm in downtown Santa Cruz. A lot of people turned out to receive free protective face masks and information about the spraying. However, due to the high number of requests from people who couldn't make it last Sunday, I have decided to organize a second distribution of free protective face masks this evening, Tuesday, November 6 th to people in the community along with important resource information. The goal is to provide concerned community members with information, the pesticide-illness reporting form, and a free protective face mask that could help provide them with some protection.

As most of you may already know, a judge has denied a group of community member's lawsuit for a federal temporary restraining order to halt the aerial spraying over our communities this week (and tonight) to eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth. Clearly this is another setback and I have already asked the Mayor to reconsider my request to call for an emergency joint meeting of the County Supervisors & City Council to discuss next steps we should take now that the spraying is set to occur.

I would be honored if you could join me to help distribute the free face masks and information.

WHAT:Distribution of Free Protective Face Masks, Information, & Pesticide-Illness Reporting forms for the Light Brown Apple Moth aerial spraying over our Community

WHEN:8:30PM-9:30PM, Tuesday, November 6, 2007

WHERE:Downtown Santa Cruz, corner of Pacific Avenue & Cooper Street

WHO:Santa Cruz City Councilmember Tony Madrigal and community volunteers

Also, persons who cannot make it at that time can visit Salud Para La Gente clinic in Beach Flats to get free masks and information about the spraying, including the form to report pesticide-related illnesses, YOU CAN VISIT:

Salud Para La Gente - Beach Flats Health Center 302 Riverside Avenue (close to corner of Liebrandt St. & Riverside Ave.) Santa Cruz , CA 95060 Open Monday- 8:00am - 5:00pm Open Tuesday - Friday 10:00am - 7:00pm Closed Saturday & Sunday (831) 423-0222 www.saludparalagente.org

The masks have been generously donated by local medical professionals offices and retailers including Santa Cruz Medical Foundation, Salud Para La Gente Inc., The Ark Animal Hospital, Santa Cruz Animal Hospital, Companion Animal Hospital, and Longs Drugs.
Please email Tony Madrigal at tonymadrigal@gmail.com or call (831)295-2518 to let him know that you'll be coming to help or if you have any questions.

Maria W. (48) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 6:08 pm
IMPORTANT FOR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY:
The latest information for today, Tuesday November 6: They WILL be spraying Santa Cruz tonight starting at 8pm

Please, everyone who will be in the spray areas, please be careful, stay inside, use every possible precaution, keep your animals inside.... this is so horrible. I can barely believe it.

Maria W. (48) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 6:32 pm
It's socked in with fog tonight and they can't spray in the fog... so they are saying that they will try to do Scott's Valley and not the coastal area...

I'm not in the area so I'm relying on information from people who ARE in the area...

If they can't spray in the fog then the fog is an ally, but they will spray Scott's Valley if the fog doesn't go in that far... please do everything you can to be informed and aware!

Maria W. (48) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 6:37 pm
Call the hotline!1-800-491-1899

Bruce W. (24) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 9:49 pm
The news isn't good, but there is more data and up to date information on 1hope.org... http://www.1hope.org/chkmate.htm Apparently the CDFA determined it may be too foggy to spray Santa Cruz tonight, so if they don't spray SC, they are spraying Scott's Valley. Be forewarned, because the authorities aren't telling us what's really going on; and this is beginning to look mighty suspicious in many ways. The governor's office has declared this to be an agricultural emergency, so you have to ask why they are spraying urban areas.

Bruce W. (24) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 9:59 pm
from 1hope.org

1. Chemicals related to the Spray kill aquatic invertebrates (e.g. abalone, crabs, vernal pool fairy shrimp and krill) in tiny amounts (parts per billion)

2. Chemical proposed for Spraying (LBAM-F) has NOT been tested in any way for harm to biota. US-EPA gave it an Emergency Exemption from testing.

3. University of California Insect Experts say the LBA moth must have been here for "a very long time" prior to this year to spread as far as it has. USDA admits LBA moth is "not spreading now."

4. CDFA Admits there is zero documented evidence of LBA moth harm in California agriculture or ecosystems (none, nada, zip) !

5. LBA Moth has been in Hawaii for more than 100 years – Their Agricultural Agency does NOT consider it a "significant pest"!

6. LBA Moth has been in New Zealand for 100 years alongside the Monterey pine tree farms – and they do not consider it a pest. Yet CDFA’s John Connell constantly raises the fear that we would lose our native Monterey pine forests.

** This is a False Emergency **

If there is no recorded agricultural damage and the EPA still gave it an emergency exemption from testing, and they are spraying urban areas, then the application must be to see the affects of checkmate on the human population.

Bruce W. (24) 		Tuesday November 6, 2007, 10:09 pm
re: my last post... I regret even thinking such a thing, because it should be inconceivable... but given the facts and the circumstances, it is a reasonable deduction.

Maria W. (48) 		Wednesday November 7, 2007, 4:25 am
Biota is the total collection of organisms of a geographic region or a time period, from local geographic scales and instantaneous temporal scales all the way up to whole-planet and whole-timescale spatiotemporal scales. The biota of the Earth lives in the biosphere.
(from Wikipedia)

Maria W. (48) 		Wednesday November 7, 2007, 4:28 am
Bruce, I totally agree! I do not like to believe that the purpose is testing on humans, but it is a difficult conclusion to avoid given all the facts. They seem particularly intent on spraying liberal Santa Cruz County. It is absurd to spray urban areas unless the point is to do just that.

Bruce W. (24) 		Wednesday November 7, 2007, 8:07 am
I am sure we are not the only ones who thought of that. I stopped short of publicly stating that the political liberalism and open minded spirit of our resident population might have something to do with ground zero. I am chilled to the bone to think "they" would conduct such an experiment in the first place; and yet if they wanted to, they would then have to decide where to drop the bomb. The larger question is why? Beyond the test population, what is the ultimate application? Where does it go from here? If "they" are monitoring this forum, we may be in danger for openly discussing this. In danger for thinking.

Bruce W. (24) 		Wednesday November 7, 2007, 8:12 am
I posted exactly the same messages on the SC Sentinel site last night, ending as I did here with my regrets for even thinking such a thing. It has been strangely quiet there ever since I brought up common sense and science in the same breath.

Marisa D. (24) 		Wednesday November 7, 2007, 6:34 pm
My neighbor sprays poison everyday. I cant get him to stop. I feed the birds, and even crows and hawks..hes old and is afraid of a virus. We live in Dana Point..the city wont do anything. My cat died. My dogs vomit and I cant open my windows. I own my hm and cant afford to move

Annie S. (9) 		Thursday November 8, 2007, 1:53 pm
CDFA Sec. Kawamura said at a meeting, I heard him, that there would be no point in spraying beyond the first week and a half of Nov. because the moths would be dormant. So why are they so dead set on spraying Santa Cruz with or without moths? The weather is the only thing between us and aerial bombardment.

Bruce W. (24) 		Thursday November 8, 2007, 4:09 pm
just got an email from the governor's office of constituent affairs. I responded and included an 1100 word essay I wrote as an op ed for the SC Sentinel, (although the editor hasn't responded to my queries...) so perhaps the essay will do some good at the gov's orifice. I will share the contents of that email if anyone wishes to see it. cheers

Annie S. (9) 		Thursday November 8, 2007, 6:25 pm
Bruce, I'm interested. Also would like the address you contacted, it's hard to know the best avenues and what gets through...
I think I'm going to write a song blessing the fog and rain and wind. No more sunny clear days for me, bad weather is what I pray for.

Bruce W. (24) 		Thursday November 8, 2007, 6:36 pm
OK, here 'tis... Some of this stuff you've heard before, but they haven't.

RE: aerial spraying for LBAM‏
From: W Bruce Wright (wbrucewright@hotmail.com)
Sent: Thu 11/08/07 4:04 PM
To: governor@govmail.ca.gov

Thank you for responding. I wish the governor and the CDFA would be responsive to the facts. Please pass this essay on to him. It was intended for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. They are strangely bereft of complete coverage on this topic. Rumors abound, but objective facts are not in evidence. I am amazed by the lack of good reporting in the mainstream media, the lack of good science; and the deafening silence of the scientific community itself, who hasn't made much of a peep.

The LBAM is allegedly damaging to the agricultural industry, and the governor's office has declared an emergency. However, the CDFA has apparently admitted there is "zero documented evidence of LBAM damage to California agriculture or ecosystems." Aerial spraying is evidence of an even larger problem, not limited to bureaucratic negligence, which could include the wholesale poisoning of our citizens. Checkmate has undergone no conclusive testing for harm to biota, but the EPA has given it an emergency exemption from testing. Why?

Some argue they are 'only spraying a harmless pheromone.' The ingredients in CheckMate LBAM-F are as follows: Water, (E)-11-Tetradecen-1-yl Acetate, (E,E) -9,11 Tetradecadien-1-yl Acetate, Crosslinked polyurea polymer, Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Tricaprylyl Methyl Ammonium Chloride, Sodium Phosphate, Ammonium Phosphate, 1,2-benzisothiozoli-3-one, and 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone. SOURCE: CDFA. I'll bet the governor would not want to inhale this, nor would the judges who have ruled against stopping the spraying. How about our congress people? The Office of Constituent Affairs? 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone binds to estrogen receptors; not just in animals, but in humans. "Scientific evidence suggests that many of these chemicals... can interfere with normal, hormonally regulated biological processes to adversely affect development and/or reproductive function in wildlife... and humans." (see Colborn et al., 1993; Danzo, 1998; Daston et al., 1997; Kavlock et al., 1996; Sonnenschein and Soto, 1998; Toppari et al., 1996) Women who were in the spray zone in Monterey County experienced severe symptoms which correspond to ingestion of 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone. These symptoms include: swollen breasts, exacerbated PMS symptoms, extreme mood swings, and delayed periods. Similar symptoms were also experienced by women who were not directly sprayed, but who entered the spray area several days after the application. It is probable that inhaling one microcapsule (estimated @ 33 delivered per square foot) would transmit enough 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone to substantially alter the hormonal balance of men, women, children, and animals. How do we know that Checkmate won't cause cancer or infertility in us or our children? The courts rule that there is no reason to be concerned. Nothing is so simple as a simple explanation. 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone is just one of the chemicals in Checkmate. Browse the list and tell me what else sounds safe. Why aren't the courts stopping it? Why are they spraying it in the first place? CDFA Sec. Kawamura said at a meeting that there would be no point in spraying beyond the first week and a half of Nov. because the moths would be dormant. How can the state government be comfortable justifying and implementing this policy?
Left alone, the moth will cause some damage, but it will eventually be neutralized by songbirds, bats, and etc.; who will naturally come to our collective aid by doing what they do best. Eventually, smaller wasps, Orius, Geocoris, miridae, ladybugs, lacewings, soldier bugs, predatory flies, midges, mites, spiders, and more will find a niche in the life cycle of the LBAM and prey upon it's eggs or one of it's larval stages. Nature finds a way. Human efforts to stop any pest with chemicals are mostly ineffective in the long term, and will cause collateral and unknown consequences to the food chain and our ecosystem, including unidentified punishment to birds, bats, butterflies, and the many good bugs who would otherwise provide a real and lasting solution. Then there's the rest of us biota. In the big picture, it isn't a big problem; and nature will adapt to meet the challenge. Human meddling is nearly always counter intuitive. Aerial broadcast spraying is an exceptionally onerous example of how stupid we can get.

But they haven't stopped spraying. There have been demonstrations, with gas masks passed out to concerned citizens; and there is lively discussion online. The state isn't listening. Legal attempts to stop or delay the spraying were filed by several groups, including the Santa Cruz City Council, but to no effect. Their law suits were found deficient. If I use the scientific method, I might reasonably ask, if the governor's office declared this to be an agricultural emergency, why spray urban areas..? More macabre, if there has been no damage to California agriculture, and the EPA still gave LBAM-F an emergency exemption from testing, and they are spraying urban areas, what is the real application of this spraying? I am loathe to say this, but is it to see the affects of Checkmate on the human population? I am horrified to think such a thing, because it should be inconceivable... but given the facts and circumstances, it is a reasonable deduction. Is that why they call it Checkmate?

The use of petrochemicals and fertilizers has transformed the agricultural industry, providing our supermarkets with cheap, attractive produce that has little of the nutritional value found in organic products. Thankfully, the market is evolving as people become more educated, and thereby more receptive to the holistic benefits of organic fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat that has not been tainted by the profit driven policies of agribusiness and the commercial food industry. The movement towards health slowly spreads the good news of how much safer and environmentally sound organic farming truly is. This ground swell of knowledge and understanding, however, does not stop the giants of industry, banking, and government agencies from their business, which too often results in promoting death and profit over life and health and public safety. Our politicians are prejudiced by big business interests and potential lawsuits rather than good judgment and common sense; and their duty to represent "the people" is compromised. Bureaucrats are in a caste by themselves. This is a complex and systemic issue, and I could write a very thick book about it all and resolve nothing. I'm working on that.

The little brown apple moth is a stowaway from Australia, and Aussie entomologists are surely familiar with it's native predators and environmental controls. Australia is where the quickest and most holistic solution for the LBAM will come from. In my work as Operations Manager for the University of Rhode Island greenhouse facilities, I employed many "good" insect predators to control the bad pests; and my record of success and safety was exceptional. I worked closely with URI entomology faculty, and I strongly suspect there are resources at UCSC, certainly at UC Davis, who have the experience and overseas connections to affect the same control for us. Aerial spraying is not the answer. Stopping the spraying is the first order of business, because that is short sighted and dangerous to our population and our environment. Patience and good science can provide the rest of the solution.

But this assumes people and the authorities use common sense; and common sense appears to be in short supply.


I have a B.S. in terrestrial ecology and a professional background in agriculture, as general manager of a wholesale nursery, and Operations Manager for the University of Rhode Island greenhouse facilities, where I specialized in non toxic IPM (integrated pest management) and biocontrol. When invited, I lectured on this topic at conventions for the American Nurserymen Association. I was a regular op ed contributor and columnist to several newspapers in Rhode Island, including the Newport Daily News and the Sakonnet Newspaper Group, amongst others. I now live in Corralitos.

respects to the governor.

Bruce W. (24) 		Thursday November 8, 2007, 6:39 pm
They are scheduled to spray again tonight. http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/lbam/lbam_main.html

pray for common sense and foul weather

Annie S. (9) 		Thursday November 8, 2007, 6:52 pm
It's scary, I still think the fog may come in but it better hurry! I wasn't supposed to be here for the spray, not with my lungs, but the place I was going had a death in the family yesterday so here I am.

Bruce W. (24) 		Thursday November 8, 2007, 6:57 pm
I just went outside, hopeful... but the stars are out here in Corralitos. I'm sorry. This is one time I'd consider environmental espionage. Did'ja ever read the Pump House Gang? Tom Wolfe. I thought it was Edward Abbey... mebbe I'm thinking of another book. Mebbe I'm thinking of *my* book.

Maria W. (48) 		Thursday November 8, 2007, 7:04 pm
I just had an email from someone who said that she knew a person, I think she said in BC, Canada, who - knowing she/her property were going to be sprayed - let a bunch of helium balloons go when the planes were coming and so they couldn't fly over her land. I'm generally not in favor of helium balloons because of the detrimental effects to ocean life and general pollution, but...

Bruce W. (24) 		Thursday November 8, 2007, 7:11 pm
here we are tryin' to be non violent while they're droppin' poison bombs on innocent people. I'm fortunate to be out here in the country where they're growing the apples and they aren't spraying. How weird is that? And Annie is right. With the weather change, the moths are largely inactive. I can't help but think they're really not spraying the moths. That's a smoke screen. They're spraying the liberal consciousness of Santa Cruz. Helium balloons are too innocuous for these people. I say potato guns at least.

Menna A. (1) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 1:42 am
they should be ashamed of themselves.. horrible people

Bruce W. (24) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 7:13 am
Is everyone OK...?

Bruce W. (24) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 8:50 am
Is ANYONE OK...?

Karl Greenblatt (14) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 9:00 am
Maybe I missed it? was there a place to sign a petition? please get back to me or repost if there is one

Bruce W. (24) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 10:15 am
We're a bit past petition now, Karl. I'm afraid the gov officials wouldn't pay much attention anyway. I have friends who were sprayed last night. I'm concerned for them and their families. I'm not coming into Santa Cruz today because I don't want to inhale any residue from the spraying. I can only imagine how violated people are feeling. They've been bombed. They've had poison sprayed on them by the government authorities who are supposed to be looking out for public safety.

Bruce W. (24) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 10:30 am
I am concerned about their neighbors, and their neighbor's pets, their gardens, the playgrounds in the public schools, the people who walk along the river, or the people getting out of their cars in Trader Joe's parking lot. I'm concerned about the birds and the butterflies and the ducks and the homeless. There are alot of good bugs. There are a lot of innocent victims. I have a map of the area sprayed last night. In another forum on the Sentinel I am hearing accounts that make my skin crawl, of planes flying close overhead all night long, making many passes over the same place. It must have been a scary night in Santa Cruz.

I live in Corralitos, where they grow the apples. They didn't spray here... The cooler, cloudy weather has knocked down the moth population completely. They didn't need to spray. They never needed to spray. There were alternatives. I posed a few good ones myself. I am sickened by what the gov has done.

Bruce W. (24) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 11:35 am
This was just posted on the Sentinel blog I am monitoring:

Concerned!11/9/2007 11:25 AM said

Hi Everyone- connect the dots, One of the published ingredients is
BHT butylated hydroxytoluene AKA
2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol (DBPC) www.mindfully.org/Plastic/B...e-DBPC.htm

In the 1970's Banana Workers in South America were exposed to DBPC in small amounts, many became sterile. They just won a lawsuit against Dole, which Roll International, owner's of Suetera owns part or all of.

www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleane...s7.html

I also have word from someone who looked at a Checkmate sample collected from aerial spraying under a microscope. The individual said it was made out of many 3-4 micron size pyramid like microcapsules. In other words, it is not a 100-1000 micron size capsule for agriculture. If you want to make a biochemical weapon, you make it 1-5 microns because it slips under the bodies defense system. Also, industrial pollution in the size of 2.5 - 10 microns are known to cause short and long term mild - severe health effects on humans. www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp

Bruce W. (24) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 12:45 pm
I am not trying to be funny. BHT is a common food additive, and although I don't go out of my way to ingest it, I don't think the information that guy was giving us is anything to be concerned about. I have to wonder about all the goofballs out there who are spreading erroneous information like a virus, just to mess people up even more. I think people like that were sprayed a long time ago, or dropped on their heads by their mothers.

Please try to think good thoughts and be positive. Your bodies can deal with this better than your minds will react out of paranoia and fear. Your spirit is strong. Have faith.

Maria W. (48) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 2:32 pm
Karl! Bruce!
Yes, it's true, Santa Cruz has been sprayed, but we were working on the petition even after Monterey/Seaside/Marina had been sprayed and since they want to keep trying to do it - resuming in February (assuming that they are stopping mid-November) we must keep working against this madness. The petition still has value and it can be found here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-fumigation-of-citizens-without-their-consent-in-california
please copy and paste link to petition. Sorry it was hard to find from my original share. The more signatures, calls, letters, letters to newspapers, etc, the better! People need to be aware and active! Monterey and Santa Cruz are a starting point - and are certainly NOT the first places to experience this kind of assault... let's stop it now! Speak Up!

Maria W. (48) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 2:33 pm
PETITION:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-fumigation-of-citizens-without-their-consent-in-california

Maria W. (48) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 2:33 pm
IS everyone ok?

Bruce W. (24) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 3:12 pm
Well, I'm glad YOU are at least. I started posting this morning and no one's been on except me and Karl. I've had some contact with David Dilworth, Executive Director of 1hope.org, which is a great site for environmental progress in the Monterey Bay ecosystem and full of useful info. The SC Sentinel continues to be a source of conflicting stories and gossip, and their editorial staff doesn't appear to be interested in anything but the party line. No more word from the CA.gov orifice of consumer affairs. (smile)

Good to hear from ye.

Annie S. (9) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 3:18 pm
We got sprayed last night. I can't believe I was home, I've been totally packed and ready to leave for a week. I was supposed to go to my sisters but the night before the spraying her father-in-law passed away, her husband had family coming and a memorial to plan. My vigilance slipped, the weather had been shielding us every day and I got caught up in leafleting at Trader Joe's. At least the information was timely and hopefully allowed some people to better prepare. By evening I had convinced myself the planes weren't coming. My daughter called pleading with me to go out of town to a motel, I feel really bad about telling her not to worry that everything would be fine.

Well after the time the spraying was to begin when we thought we were safe we started hearing planes in the distance. Always looking at the best possibilities I decided they would not come over us because of our closeness to the coastline and the fog. It was late when I got ready for bed, Mike was already asleep when the first plane came in low and loud. Too late to leave without going outside into the worst of it. I counted the many passes, one was so loud and close it woke Mike.

The dangerous thing for me is I have multiple chemical sensitivity and restricted lung capacity, the fortunate thing was the concern of my partner because as a precaution he had sealed all air leaks around the house with plastic and tape including the chimney and heater vent. Also we are right on the border of the spray zone with one side open to the ocean.

Tonight they unleash their poison again on other people who will spend a frightening night listening to the planes dive bomb them. It feels like what it must be like for families in Iraq, or London during WW2 wondering if the planes will pass, hoping they'll miss your home.

I'm staying in for a couple of days, like being under house arrest, and hope I never have to go through this again. I worry about long term health consequences that will be unknown until the testing on us is long past. We have to prevent this from resuming in Feb.

We live in an area that's supposed to have the apple moths but in the last two weeks we haven't seen any kind of moth at all. The moth's are dormant so why spray? Well, they finally got Santa Cruz!

I was just told you can call Rep. Sam Farr's office at 831-429-1976 to leave a message as to why he should reconsider his stand on the aerial spraying. He's a good man, I think they got to him early with misinformation.


Annie S. (9) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 3:35 pm
Kari, you can get the petition at www.lbamspray.info

Bruce W. (24) 		Friday November 9, 2007, 3:49 pm
Glad to see yer OK, Annie. Jeez.

Annie S. (9) 		Saturday November 10, 2007, 9:59 am
Thanks Bruce. I'm leaving town for a few days.

Maria W. (48) 		Saturday November 10, 2007, 2:19 pm
I have been trying to send this out to my entire list of "friends of friends" - a GIGANTIC undertaking. I have made it halfway through the alphabet, but have not been able to be working on that for the past couple of days... please do pass this on, if you are so inclined! Let's create so much awareness that the momentum to stop this AND other spraying, cloud seeding, chem trails, etc, becomes an unstoppable force!

I will keep spreading the word, but I am asking for as much help as anyone is willing to give! Power to the people!

Bruce W. (24) 		Sunday November 11, 2007, 7:58 am
I have been so moved by this incident that I am incorporating the story into my novel. I am doing a re-write now, and I was already dealing with social and environmental issues in the book. It fits perfectly.

Bruce W. (24) 		Sunday November 11, 2007, 9:16 pm
Yeah, well I didn't really expect that would result in a passionate outpouring of commentary or relief. Tragic about the oil spill in the bay.

Maria W. (48) 		Monday November 12, 2007, 3:55 pm
THIS IS STILL RELEVANT!

Santa Cruz is being sprayed, lawsuits are being built. Please continue to write letters, make calls and spread the word!

It rained the first night that they sprayed in Santa Cruz County. Since the stuff is preserved in water - it's little "packets" are NOT water soluble - the rain would help it wash into the ocean where it becomes a tiny, pervasive and villainous threat (especially to invertabrates).

Maria W. (48) 		Monday November 12, 2007, 4:01 pm
Bruce, I think it's GREAT that you are including this in your book! You should talk to people in both counties for personal experiences with this. Sounds like a great project...

...and it's horrible about the SF Bay! I was just saying today, how astonishing it is! Monterey Bay being poisoned by ???, SF Bay AND the Black Sea poisoned by bunker fuel! What is going on?! People need to get it together and realize that this Earth is our HOME. Would ANYONE treat their house they way "we" (more like "they") treat our planet and fellow living beings??!

Past Member (0) 		Monday November 12, 2007, 5:40 pm
It's scary, I live about 3 to 3 1/2 hours away from Monterey and Santa Cruz. Thank you Maria for the information.

Peter D. (61) 		Thursday November 15, 2007, 12:42 am
Democrazy brings crazy people with money in power. We have to move to Meritocraty where only people with proven etics are allowed to run for offices. Or else we we will continue on a very dangerous and possible fatal path for the entire earth.We need more Nelson Mandela's

Annie S. (9) 		Thursday November 15, 2007, 4:57 pm
I just got back from five days at my sister's house well away from the spray. It got in my car when I drove through the spray zone from the previous night. I was wearing a mask, when I thought I was clear took it off but I could smell the spray and my eyes started burning. My breathing got constricted so I put the mask back on (a fairly good mask, not a doctors or dust mask) and rolled down the window to air out the car. I could not be in the car without the mask for two and a half hours of driving! It got on my stuff and my sleeping bag smelled of it all day and had to be covered in order to sleep in it.

When I returned today after nearly a week I stopped at the Capitola post office on the way home. Going in to get the mail my eyes got really dry and my throat hurt. My breathing got tight. I have chemical sensitivities but I think that makes me a good barometer for those who don't feel the effects that it's real and if we don't stop them from coming back and spraying us again and again thousands and thousands of people could end up like me. It's not an easy way to live your life.

For now, since I live near the ocean and it's breezes I think I can stay if I'm mostly inside for the next three weeks when the time release is supposed to be over. I still can't believe this actually happened and can continue.

Maria W. (48) 		Thursday November 15, 2007, 6:31 pm
Please check out this website on the LBAM aerial spraying - and keep spreading the word!

http://www.hopefortruth.com/

Sorry- I don't know how to make a link "hot" in a comment.... copy and paste away! It's well worth checking out!

Donna K. (0) 		Monday November 19, 2007, 12:29 pm
annie, i went out of town for the spraying. came back 6 days later to find that if i even opened windows i would feel worse. the beach brought little relief. i am back in the mountains, not knowing if i'm far away enough, spending $ so i can breathe. i felt i was suffocating inside my house. what will you do if they spray monthly, yearly? i am going home to pack in case this continues in march. my life is turned upside down.

Donna K. (0) 		Monday November 19, 2007, 12:35 pm
bruce, are people feeling okay outside the spray zone, such as corralitis and watsonville? i was thinking of staying there but was nervous to be in between 2 spray zones. my daughter goes to school in aptos and i'm trying to see where i could live if things proceed in march. i went back to the santa cruz mountains where i was during the spraying because i returned home and i couldnt tolerate it. i'm not sure if this far enough away either.

Annie S. (9) 		Tuesday November 20, 2007, 4:01 pm
Donna, isn't this insane? I really shouldn't be here either but I can't just leave. We kept the house sealed except for one door and I have plants to help with the air so I stay in except for things that have to be done. I carry a mask in the car for areas that seem worse than others. My breathing isn't so good, my chest hurts ,dry eyes too. If they go ahead with the spraying I'll have to leave the area after living here for 25 yrs! My life is here, it would be horrible to have to relocate.

What I'm doing now is trying everything I can to help get this idiotic plan of CDFA stopped. If it doesn't look possible closer to the next spray time we'll face it then I guess. For now I just want to stay healthy enough to get through the 30 day time release period so we can breathe fresh air again.

Janie Villarreal (7) 		Friday November 23, 2007, 5:56 pm
Thank You for alerting us on this. I am animal advocate and will get info out, if they don't already know and are actively trying to stop this too. I will do my share too. I have some relatives there too and don't wish anything to happen to them either; nor should it happen to anyone at all. I will contact the proper authorities too. THE ANIMALS CANNOT PROTECT THEMSELVES!

Donna K. (0) 		Saturday November 24, 2007, 2:02 pm
annie,

i can't just leave either but i did. normallly i couldn't afford to. is it feeling any better down there now? i'm planning to wait the full 30 days because as you said relocating is horrendous, esp. if your health is fragile and that's what i'll need to do. it is only 3 months away and then there will be no waiting 30 days for fresh air. if the spraying is stopped somehow i will have gotten rid of a lot of junk! i have cfids and don't want to develop full blown mcs. i asked a naturopath if people were reacting here (sc mtns) and he said not as much. that makes me nervous but im not surprised, its not that far. nobody seems to know where it would be safe. the entire monterey and san francisco bay areas are in deep trouble and its so sad, its so beautiful here. i hope u are feeling better and not going too stir crazy.

Annie S. (9) 		Monday November 26, 2007, 10:24 am
Donna, I think it's a little better but I still can't stay out too much without my chest hurting and my breathing feeling more restricted. There's also something called the "spray cough" which I've experienced. Being so housebound does make me aimless and irritable but I'm better indoors than out. I just can't imagine the spraying continuing! So I just keep on working against
it, until we know what's really going to happen. It's too overwhelming to think about trying to move out of this area. I feel crazy sometimes. I hope you're doing reasonably OK and that this nightmare will pass so you don't have to move either.

Donna K. (0) 		Tuesday November 27, 2007, 11:24 am
annie,

i had to go into scots valley yesterday and the symptoms snuck up on me and then engulfed me, nausea, burning chest, eyes, nose and spaciness that's debilitating. i should've just gone to the bank and raced back to the mountains but i went to a cafe and sat there feeling like a martian or a freak because the world seems to be operating as normal. you're not crazy but being housebound and having your world turned toxic could make u feel that way, esp. with the backdrop of the holidays etc. i know the thought of moving is overwhelming, my family is in aptos feeling fine and i will not be able to stay there unless this is stopped. i feel like quarantined produce! are u able to walk at the beach or does that still tighten your chest? i noticed that my symptoms went away pretty quickly when i came back here, whereas when i stayed in aptos for 6 days it took about 3 to start to feel like i wasnt allergic to the universe. feel free to backchannel me: cfollabwoo42003@yahoo.com

Ruth R. (0) 		Saturday November 15, 2008, 6:24 pm
So, this the petition to say stop using these chemicals, Or is there another one?
I'll sign a legal petition if you have one and it will make a difference. This one could be for RR. Colorado

Ruth R. (0) 		Saturday November 15, 2008, 6:30 pm
I willl sign a legal petition or if this counts as one great. Seems like we need signatures on a legal petition to send to senators, the president to be, the house of representatives, and the Environmental Defence Fund, and/or other organizations. Does anyone want to get started.
OR does this count as a legal petition. Then it is signed. R. Rogers

Ruth R. (0) 		Saturday November 15, 2008, 6:40 pm
If we get a legal document and get the quota of signatures, and then submit it to the next president and the next congress, and the next house of representatives, and etc. will it make a diffence. Is there someone who is doing this/ willing to do this. From, R. Rogers

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Maria W.
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female , married, 3 children
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MARIA'S SHARES
Nov
21
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Would you be willing to include the people of Darfur in your Thanksgiving? All you have to do is make a short announcement about the crisis and hand out a simple petition for your guests to sign when you are gathered with your family and friends on...
Oct
23
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Please take action and note the story so we can get maximum exposure and put maximum pressure on Iceland's government. Please send an email to Iceland's Prime Minister! The government of Iceland has launched a commercial whale hunt for the first...


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SHARES FROM MARIA'S NETWORK
Nov
26
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There is a new dog park in the northland and pet parents are happy!  The park is located at 9205 N. Brooklyn, near Maplewoods Pkwy and Missouri HWY 152.  The 10,000 square feet park is an off-leash park with no breed restrictions.  ... ...
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If you want to write a petition here at Care2 please specify your Target. For example: Target Keith Peters North Carolina Zoo Then name your Sponsor: Barb Knight Of course "why" you're petitoning needs to be strong as well: I am petitioning becau...
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Africa's Witch Children (1 of 5) Aired November 23, 2009 on C4 - Play all videos: http://bit.ly/7oRQHQ - A year ago, Dispatches told the story of how children in Africa's Niger Delta were being denounced by Christian pastors as ...http://www.care2....
Nov
24
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I read his first book, Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America.  It was well written and filled with his experiences and inside information about how America's animal shelter system fails our anima... ...
Nov
23
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Fletch, a pit bull, was brought to the Humane Society of Kansas City as a stray with very serious injuries sustained from being a bait dog in a dog fighting ring.  According to the Humane Society, he was covered with numerous wounds and his h... ...


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