April 24 2008

We stopped the Aerial Spraying Today.

Waaaaaaahooooooooooo !!!!!!!

We won the Santa Cruz CEQA case. This forces CDFA to prepare an Environmental Impact Report before they do any part of their program.

They can't do spraying or even non-toxic ground control.

That case was identical to HOPE's case that is scheduled to be heard in Monterey on May 8th. The judge said there was not merely no substantial evidence of harm to California agriculture or ecosystems - there wasn't ANY evidence of harm. So there is no emergency.

He ordered CDFA to rescind their Emergency decision to avoid following the Environmental protection law (CEQA). Then an hour later (second victory) the Governor (trying to falsely pretend he was the side of health all the time) announced that he was suspending the aerial spraying until August 17th after the state has tested the pesticide for harm to breathing and skin. (Don't hold your breath that they will find any problem.)

Now you can judge anything Secretary Kawamura says about this aerial spray program as highly suspect. Because Kawamura has now been convicted by a California Superior Court of violating our most common environmental law called California's Environmental Quality Act.

The court ruling does NOT necessarily apply to Monterey, but the Governor's halt does. That means our Monterey area will not be sprayed until at least August 17th. However if HOPE wins its (identical) lawsuit on May 8th, that will stop the spraying in Monterey until an Environmental Impact Report is certified.

There are at least 43 articles on the web so far. A good one is by the SF Chronicle -- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/24/BA6210BB2O.DTL

For more info - www.1hope.org/checkmate For more info on CEQA - www.1hope.org/ceqa.htm

To DONATE to help our suit in Monterey please see -- www.1hope.org/donate.htm
We still need to raise another $4,300 to break even.
Thank you.

Waaaaaaahooooooooooo !!!!!!!