Michele contacted her school district’s grounds supervisor, who informed her that herbicides were applied to school lawn and athletic fields. She then called the ground-maintenance company and requested Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), which described chemicals contained in products and their possible health risks. “I was shocked to read that some chemicals that they had applied were suspected of actually causing cancer,” Michele says.
She gathered information on the effects of pesticides on children from her county health department and the New York Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NYCAP), and then hand-delivered her findings, along with the MSDS for the herbicides used on school grounds, to each member of the district school board. “School boards are usually made up of parents, and they’ll listen as long as you don't treat them like adversaries,” Michele says. At the next school board meeting, in March 1999, she read aloud a letter signed by over 100 parents, requesting that the district refrain from further spraying, and providing safe, natural lawn-care tips from an expert in Integrated Pest Management. The board enacted a six-month moratorium on pesticide applications that night.
Michele says she’ll continue to push for a permanent ban on spraying but feels positive about the changes so far. A year later, no herbicides have been applied. “It takes a bit more labor to keep the weeds out and the fields seeded, but it’s going along okay,” reported George Foster, the district supervisor of buildings and grounds.
We as parents and citizens have a responsibility to educate and bring forth positive change for our generation and those that follow. Many people are so “stuck” in the way things have always been done their logical ability to think “rusts away” (maybe it’s the chemicals?). I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my brain or body to “rust-out” – I’d rather “wear-out,” Naturally.
[The preceding information was partially taken from The Green Guide, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to a livable planet.]
This and subsequent articles are for the purpose of education and to provide support to the millions afflicted with allergies and multiple chemical sensitivity syndromes. To share your stories of challenges, solutions and experiences involving living with multiple chemical sensitivities, as well as any negative experiences with drug side effects or negative experiences in receiving health care, please mail or fax your story to:
Gloria Gilbére, N.D., D.A.Hom., Ph.D.
Gilbére Research Associates • P.O. Box 1565 • Sandpoint,
ID 83864 • USA
Office phone 1-360-352-3646 (7:30am-3pm Pacific Time, Mon-Fri)
Fax: 1-208-265-1777
info@gloriagilbere.com
