methyl iodide on strawberries, take action today

[Guest guest]

---------------- Begin Forwarded Message ----------------

Subject: Spam[9] 2 minutes to set the record straight on methyl iodide.

Date Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 10:05 AM

From: Pesticide Action Network North America <getactive@...>

sue@...

Because PR can't trump science, if you speak up.

Dear ,

As you've likely heard by now, California's Department of Pesticide

Regulation (DPR) approved the carcinogenic new pesticide, methyl iodide,

for use in the state's strawberry fields. The decision flies in the face

of unprecedented public and scientific opposition, and is a clear

instance of corporate influence overriding science and the public interest.

*We need you to speak up»* [ http://action.panna.org/letter/?

letter_KEY=1354 ] PAN is working hard with partners to compel the state

to reverse this decision, and we need your help. Friends of the

pesticide industry are out in force on the editorial pages of newspapers

throughout the state and across the country because they know that a

reversal of the methyl iodide decision would have national implications.

" We need a grassroots response this week and next to counter and correct

them " .

Pesticide industry allies are in the media attempting to characterize

public opposition to methyl iodide as hysterical, and a matter of

" anxiety, " when in point of fact the science on this chemical is

unequivocal. The facts:

* Methyl iodide is a known carcinogen, thyroid toxicant, causes

spontaneous, late-term miscarriages and presents risks for developing brains.

* After conducting a thorough review, DPR's own panel of independent

scientists declared, " methyl iodide is a highly toxic chemical and we

expect that any anticipated ... use of this agent would result in

exposures to a large number of the public. " They further concluded that

methyl iodide would be " difficult if not impossible to control. " DPR

registered it anyway.

* Over 50 esteemed scientists, 6 of them Nobel Laureates, went on

record opposing the chemical's registration, saying they were

" astonished " that officials would " legalize broadcast releases of one of

the more toxic chemicals used in manufacturing into the environment. "

In short, the case against methyl iodide is anything but a matter of

" anxiety " ; rather, it is based in some of the clearest science PAN has

seen stacked up against a pesticide.

Set the record straight on methyl iodide» [ http://action.panna.org/

letter/?letter_KEY=1354 ] The facts speak for themselves, but they need

your voice to find an audience. A letter from you to the editor of your

local paper will make a difference! We've drafted talking points to make

it easy.

Thanks very much for what you're able to do at this critical hour. We'll

keep you posted.

DONATE NOW: https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1750/t/11058/shop/

custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=6438

Unsubscribe me! http://action.panna.org/p/salsa/supporter/unsubscribe/

public/index.sjs?unsubscribe_page_KEY=328

----------------- End Forwarded Message -----------------