For those of you who don't live in California, there is an alarming assault brewing . The Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) , a New Zealand "import", was deemed in 2007 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger an immediate threat to California's agriculture ...even though eight of the most prominent entomolgists tenured within the University of California system claim otherwise.
So why are Sacramento Republicans teaming up with the USDA , to start spraying the pesticide Checkmate over the entire San Francisco Bay Area, including the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose and all of Marin county , beginning in August of 2008, spraying at an altitude of 500 ft.,from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., once a month , for 9 months, for a proposed 5 years ?
The LBAM is a tiny moth that survives not just on apples, but other fruit tree crops as well. It is a native of New Zealand,and was most likely brought in undetected on produce or plant materials. To date, the moth has caused NO documented or reported damage to commercial agricultural crops in California. It is unknown how long it has been in the state, and the trapping data and spread models used to determine status are currently in dispute. According to James Carey, the resident entomologist at UC Davis, the very widespread range, yet sparse populations of the moth, indicate a presence of many years, most likely decades. Decades . As in, NO EMERGENCY. NO IMMEDIATE THREAT. NO "THERE" THERE.
Prominent scientists agree that it is highly unlikely that total eradication could be achieved by any method, a view confirmed by the on the ground experience of agricultural experts in New Zealand. A reasonable level of tolerance has been found with population control using pheromones attached to the affected and vunerable trees, with twist ties, AFTER unsuccessful aerial sraying efforts were abandoned.
One reason state officials, and now the Feds, give for the dramatic need for the spraying, is the fact that Mexico has banned certain CA imports, citing the "Type A" status given the LBAM. This is clearly a political move, as we had previously labeled the moth "Type A", conveniently providing an excuse to ban certain exports of Mexico (and to much more limited degree, Canada) while still being able to export our goods within the legal framework of NAFTA. Mexico has now called our bluff on the hyped up threat level, and only accepts imports from Los Angeles and Napa counties (that somehow claim to have eradicated the pest , but without aerial spraying ). Interesting. It's enough to make me want to get out a political county by county map of the state,(anyone?) but one thing is for sure : I doubt that the Governor's Santa Monica mansion is in imminent danger here.
The main point is, if we took it off the "Type A" list, so would they.
The pesticide compound known commercially as "Checkmate" includes urea, phosphates, a moth hormone (pheromone), and a host of unpronounceables in a plastic microsphere ,time release formula (to 70 days).In a California Dept.of Food and Agriculture presentation in Marin County in February of 2008, OEHHA toxicologist Dr. Anna Fan said some particles may circulate for up to a year. Checkmate formula LBAM F , when pooled up after it rains, becomes so concentrated in pheromones that it can cause 100% mortality of tested aquatic life. 100% dead fish, frogs, micros...you get the picture.
This is a poison that is not legally approved for use in aerial applications over populated areas such as cities.
On January 24, 2008, USDA Ag Secretary Chuck Conner announced the availability of $74.5 million in emergency funding to combat the LBAM.
At the same time , the CDFA in California announced an expanded aerial spray zone, which includes the entire cities of SF, Oakland, Berkeley and many others.( No agricultural zones within city limits in ANY of them ).$15 million in leftover funds from 2007 now means this has a $90 million fund guarantee.
And now, drum roll , please...........
Beneficiaries of the aerial spraying program include :
The provider of the small aircraft for spraying at low altitudes, Dynamic Aviation Group, Inc., out of Bridgewater, Virginia, which contributed solely to Republican candidates, the Republican Party and Republican PACs in 2007.
Stewart A. Resnick, Chairman and President of Roll Int'l Corp. ( a major Cal.agribusiness) and Suterra LLC, of Bend, Oregon, maker of Checkmate pesticide, contributed $144,600 to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's election campaign. (It's payback time ; every spray application means roughly $3 million directly to Suterra.)
Porter Novelli , for a no-bid PR contract, after an illegal trial run, limited spray in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties resulted in over 600 related health complaints, including the near death of a twelve year old boy , who now has chronic asthma, as well as numerous complaints of dead and missing (where did the bees and butterflies go?) wildlife and a horrendous "red tide" situation lasting for two months in Monterey Bay.
The region's newspapers still report the adverse health effects as possibly coincidental, and not officially proven to be a direct result of the spray.
Porter Novelli is associated with Donna Lucas, former chief of staff to the governor's wife, Maria Shriver,and member of the Governator's inner circle in his first years in office.
Numerous letters to local papers and complaints to radio and televised protests by groups in all affected and proposed areas led Sacramento to announce a temporary moratorium, widely seen as a "forget about it" tactic. As in, wait a few weeks until another news cycle and amnesia sets in . Well, we don't think so. Do we really believe the state Corporacrats have our best interests at heart ? Any of us ? Anywhere ? Being in some of the "deepest blue" part of the state , with no agriculture to speak of for miles, except for,oh, pesky ORGANIC farms and lots of DAIRY COWS in the outlying areas, that provide healthy food for local children...hmmmmm. Think green, vote blue.
Ya gotta wonder about "The Ex-Terminator"'s real intentions (sorry, I couldn't resist that one !)
For more info, updates and action items, please go to :
http://www.stopthespray.org/
Even if you're not in California, letters and puttin' the pressure on can help us all !