People Against Chemical Trespass
P.A.C.T.
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Where is democracy when we are forced by the state to breathe poisonous pesticides?
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The California Constitution grants us the right to “pursue and obtain safety”.
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THE REAL PROBLEM here is about who has the power – the right – to decide if hazardous pesticides can be forced on our bodies and lungs — a most local and basic issue. In a democracy decisions must be made by the people affected, not by unelected CDFA bureaucrats with discredited science and a dubious agenda.
An unjust state preemption law says we “locals” can’t interfere with what the state wants to do to our bodies! When such a law is harming people, it’s time to change it!
Every people’s movement for social justice, from the Abolitionists to the Suffragists to the Civil Rights movement, has had to challenge illegitimate laws to codify their basic rights into law.
If our current diverse efforts (see Update) don’t result in tangible protection then we will have to do an Initiative to change the undemocratic industry-backed State preemption law. Fortunately in California, wehave the Initiative process – which enables people “make law” to protect themselves when local governments cannot or will not.
Update from People Against Chemical Trespass -September 2010
PACT.ordinance@gmail.com Phone 831-425-3365
THE SANTA CRUZ PESTICIDE ORDINANCE
What happened? Money. No surprise! We have worked hard and long with the City Council members, but with their money shortage, there is no way they will even put an ordinance on their agenda for discussion - if it might leave them open to a costly lawsuit.
THE SANTA CRUZ PESTICIDE RESOLUTION
However the City Council has passed a Resolution which asks the State Legislature to establish safety provisions for bulk application of pesticides. One interesting point says that all citizens, under the ‘equal protection’ principle must be entitled to the same safety provisions that are mandated for workers who apply the pesticides (such as protective clothing, respirators, and staying out of the treated area for a certain time period). You can view the Resolution below.
AT THE COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL
In the current economy it seems that the real changes we need canonly be done by the State or the courts. Our Assemblyperson, Bill Monningis eager to help and we met with his Aide, Rachel. He has a copy of the Santa Cruz Resolution and we are asking him to turn it into a Pesticide Safety Provisions Bill to introduce in the State Assembly. We will be asking the County of Santa Cruz to pass the same Resolution, and we’ll be asking the same of other cities, starting with Capitola. Please contact us if you live in Capitola. The more Resolutions passed the better, because Monning can point to these to show public support for his (to be created) Pesticide Safety Provisions Bill.
WHAT NEXT?
If after all this, we still don't get tangible enforceable protection, we will have "done our due diligence" and the next step will be to put an Initiative on the ballot– City, County or State, depending on how many of you are willing to gather signatures, how successful our current fund raising efforts are, and what other environmental groups we can bring onboard. Let the Voters decide!
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL
The Toxic Chemicals Safety Act HR 5820 has just been introduced in the House by Representatives Waxman and Rush. They need co-signers, so please call or write your House Representative asking them to co-sign and support this Bill. Contact our local House Representative, Sam Farr at www.farr.house.gov
It will for the first time, require the chemical industry to ensure that chemicals are safe before they end up in our homes, schools, and places of work. It is the strongest bill ever introduced to protect our families from toxic chemicals. You can view this Bill at www.saferchemicals.org/2010/07