CARCINOGENS ON CAMPUS

BILL COLLINS OP-ED

Bill asks Jefferson Union High School District (JUHSD) about toxic chemicals it applies to school grounds.

JUHSD REPLY

Comments

[Bill Collins]

Tonight I spoke to the JUHSD trustees, asking them to consider whether the continued use of toxins to suppress plants and rodents is cost-effective, considering the risks.
Can't tell if that'll change procedures or not, but it seemed to me some trustees were sympathetic, so I'm hopeful.

[Jay Bird]

Great points by Mr. Collins.

AVOID PESTICIDES, GO NATIVE!
Instead of using pesticides & herbicides ("cide" means "kill") -- manage your property with native plants. Native plants have a couple of really great attributes: They support native bugs so birds have something to eat. They are easy to grow once planted, and no watering is needed once established. MORE ABOUT NATIVES: http://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/lists.php

POISON & KIDS DON'T MIX.
It is shocking to learn that glyphosate is being applied to school grounds. "Everybody does it" is not acceptable.
http://m.france24.com/en/20171024-eu-parliament-votes-ban-controversial-weedkiller-glyphosate-monsanto-roundup

GLYPHOSATE IS A CARCINOGEN
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/widely-used-herbicide-linked-to-cancer/

In addition to subtle cognitive damage and cancer-causing properties to people, glyphosate and other pesticides kill so many of our native insects, pollinators that we need to survive.

WHERE ARE THE BUTTERFLIES?
Remember all those butterflies & bugs on the windshield and the car radiator grille when you were driving around in the 1950s? Missing the Luna moth? Once so plentiful that they were for a brief week a primary food item? Wondering where all the Painted Ladies & Monarchs are?
https://www.nyrb.com/products/the-moth-snowstorm?variant=17705164359