Let It Not Be Forgotten - LBAM Aerial Spray
Friday 20 Jun 2008 | LBAM Spray Bay Area
Let it not be forgotten that though the deadly specter of aerial spraying has now passed by the urban communities of California, thousands of innocent people were sprayed by the CDFA with toxic pesticides in the fall of 2007.
Let it not be forgotten that Monterey and Santa Cruz families were grievously sickened by this sudden assault, that an infant and a little girl nearly lost their lives, and that some of the victims are still sick nearly a year after the enforced aerial spraying.
Let it not be forgotten that the long term effects of their exposure to this pesticide remain unknown to all of us.
Let it not be forgotten that these innocent people suffered not only a chemical assault, but utter disruption of their normal daily lives and a constant and severe level of psychological distress. This time of distress will be remembered by all who experienced it, especially the little children who will grow up with the understanding that, sometimes, corrupt governments attack their own people.
Let it not be forgotten that countless wild animals, companion animals, and wild and endangered birds were damaged by this assault. It is likely that thousands of birds were killed by the aerial spraying of pesticides over their habitat. Residents continue to report that no hummingbirds have been seen in their neighborhood since the spraying began some 10 months ago. A count of fatalities in mammalian and aquatic animal families is unknown. It is unknown how many bees, butterflies and other insects were decimated by the spraying of pesticides on the Central Coast.
Let it not be forgotten that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, A.G. Kawamura, Steve Lyle and their allies conspired with the chemical manufacturer, Stewart Resnick, to aerially spray some 7 million United States citizens with untested biochemicals.
Let it not be forgotten that the people of California were lied to repeatedly by these men and the agencies they represent regarding the safety of spraying pesticides on human beings.
Let it not be forgotten that 2 superior courts found the CDFA to be in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act and ruled that they had declared a false emergency. They are guilty men.
Let it not be forgotten that Joan Denton and the staff of OEHHA utterly failed in their duty to protect the health of the people of California and their environment. The hundreds of reports of severe illness submitted to OEHHA were utterly disregarded, dehumanizing the families of the Central Coast and placing all of California in unforgettable danger. OEHHA is guilty of egregious negligence.
Let it not be forgotten that these same unqualified and uneducated agencies, having proven their untrustworthiness and incompetence, are now continuing to make policy in California, the goal of which is to continue to use toxic chemicals, poison and pesticides in their ludicrous pursuit of a harmless insect.
Let it not be forgotten that we have all learned that we cannot trust the USDA, CDFA, OEHHA and related agencies, nor can we trust Governor Schwarzenegger. Any statement they make, promise they give, assurance they promulgate needs to be viewed with the utmost critical suspicion. We have learned the hard way that we cannot trust these people or their agencies. We will never forget this.
Let it not be forgotten that, one by one, courageous US citizens stepped forward in defense of the people of California. In both professional and private capacities, thousands of individuals gave of their skills and time to fight off an aerial application of pesticides over human beings.
Let it not be forgotten that on June 19th, 2008, our powerful protest succeeded in halting CDFA’s plans to spray our families with pesticides. We have discovered our own power. We have only just begun to use it.
We, at Vegan Reader, will never forget the physical sufferings of the people of the Central Coast, nor the mental anguish suffered by all Californians under the threat of an aerial assault planned by our own government agencies. We hold the guilty parties morally responsible and accountable for the damage they have done to us all. We know that we can expect further lies, further threats of exposure to poisons both in the case of the light brown apple moth and other future species. And we know now that we must never let what happened to the families of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties happen again. Never again.
Let it never be forgotten that the LBAM Aerial Spraying of California was and will always be a human rights issue. We have the right to safety for ourselves, our families and our environment. No agency will ever be free to poison us for profits or any other motive. Let us continue to champion the just and enlightened cause of the rights of free people and their essential habitat.
We invite you to add your own statements of remembrance in the comments field below.
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Photo credit to Uckhet’s Flickr Photo Set
Friday 20 Jun 2008 | admin | LBAM Spray Bay Area |
The real story of the LBAM Program will continue to unfold over time.
The continued lack of science with the LBAM Program smacks of corruption and financial greed.
The LBAM Program chemicals continue to have numerous health and environmental problems.
What we are truly left with is a sickening mistrust for our government whose sole responsibility is to protect us.
No one - absolutely no one - has the right to place the health of our environment and all living things in harm’s way. Yet, that is what is going to continue with the LBAM Program unless all of us continue to say no.
The people of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties will continue to inform us about their health as time progresses.
We all need to wake up to the song birds telling us to listen to them before it is too late.
CDFA has filed a Court Appeal to waive EIR requirements for aerial spray in Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties:
http://forum.stopthespray.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1496
AND
CDFA has revised their LBAM eradication maps:
http://forum.stopthespray.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1497
Didn’t CDFA state yesterday that they had plans to complete the EIR requirements before aerial spraying began?
What great news that the spraying has stopped and power of the people has prevailed. Thanks for your tireless work during the months leading up to this. I certainly will never forget Santa Cruz 2007, and only hope that I and others suffer no more negative impacts as a result of being in the vicinity at that time. I truly thought the spray alone would keep me away from California for good. I now only have to deal with escaping traffic and smog. I’m in Canada now, quite a different place despite a thin boundary setting America apart.
Best wishes, Donna
Hi Donna!
I thought of you today. Thank you so much for checking in. I am glad to know you are safe in Canada. Thank you so much for the efforts you have given to this fight. I hope you will keep working with us!
BPM - Yes, Kawamura DID say they would be completing the EIR, I am almost certain…it was in that audio clip of the press conference.
So, now we have a new map and no explanation of what they are going to do in the green areas.
Every time I think of them spraying Marin I feel sick to my stomach. West Marin is one of the state’s greatest havens for wildlife…a peerless spot on the state. To think of them filling that county with their aerial spray, their twist ties, their sludge.
Ughhh!
Thank you for the update.
Mim
thank you for this post, mim. it made me cry.
bpm, i read in an article today that kawamura said they expect the eir to be done by late summer. other articles says next year. more limbo. victory with vague ickiness as many of us would still not be able to remain here under these new conditions.
Let it not be forgotten that AG Kawamura & Gov. S. are moving forward with the LBAM pesticide PROGRAM that includes extensive applications - toxic aerial spray of NON-URBAN AREAS, “undeveloped lands, forests..”, agriculture fields and toxic ground treatments, all for a moth that science tells us is not a problem!
Please everyone, come to the East Bay Community Town Hall Meeting on the Light Brown Apple Moth Eradication Program that is moving forward:
DATE: Monday, June 23, 7 - 9 p.m.
LOCATION: Lakeside Park Garden Center, Lake Merritt, 666 Bellevue Ave. (off Grand Ave.) Oakland
Directions: http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/rental_facilities/gardencenter
More info at: http://www.stopthespray.org or http://www.eastbay.stopthespray.org/
Hi Donna K.
I’m so glad this article was meaningful to you. This has been such an emotionally crazy couple of days, hasn’t it?
I was really glad to hear the Joanie Greggains at KGO is still going to hit hard against the whole toxic program. She and Frank Egger had a really good discussion today on the air about CDFAs new plans.
No one I have spoken to has said that our battle is over. I’m so glad everyone seems to get it that we have just gotten through step one and are now going to take our next steps.
This whole pesticide mentality is what needs to be stopped. Permanently. And I know every one of our readers would like nothing better than to see California become the pesticide-free state.
Can we make it happen? I hope so!
Mim
Hi Daria,
Thank you so much for posting the date of the meeting. It was announced on KGO today, as well. It’s so important for us all to keep talking, planning and working in this matter.
I am feeling so worried about the wild lands - the ‘undeveloped areas’ where they are now planning to aerial spray. We know these chemicals killed cats, dogs, rabbits, birds. We can be certain they will harm wildlife. CDFA has got to be stopped.
Thank you for taking the time to comment here and express your commitment to continuing to halt the CDFA assault.
Mim
Thank you. I can now more fully identify with those ancestors and all of those presently around the world who are being harmed at the hands of the U.S. government. We will not forget. We won’t falsely invade Iraq as our govt. did in the wake of 9/11, taking opportunity of suffering to gain trust to inflict more suffering. We will fight to stop this abuse in all of its forms.
Hi Mim
Wanted to let you know we had a great turnout at our East Bay Town Hall last night 6/23, with around 120 members of the audience. I was so glad people didn’t stay away thinking it was all over. That message - that the fight continues - needs to get out in every way possible.
Hi Dorothy,
That is good news!
Any highlights of the meeting you’d like to share with us? I’d really like to know what was said.
Thanks!
Mim
Hi Mim, can you post the link to a site for the EON videos of our town hall meeting on 6/23/08? They nicely created six videos of the panelists and they are very well done, so people can get all the meeting highlights.
http://tinyurl.com/4dnsrt
Thank you Dorothy