A Dow alum nominated to USDA. Again.
Earlier this week, a new appointment for chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was announced, and it’s a 30-year veteran of Dow Agrosciences. Really?
Jul 19, 2018
Kristin Schafer
On Pruitt, pesticides & progress
It was clear from the minute he was appointed that Scott Pruitt was a wildly inappropriate choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) Last Thursday, after months of public pressure and outrage, he finally submitted his resignation.
Jul 12, 2018
Kristin Schafer
We have work to do.
Last week, after an early morning call with international colleagues, I had a moment to chat with my friend Susan from PAN Germany. She asked what in the world is going on in the U.S. these days.
It was hard to know where to begin. The constant firehose of chaos and crisis that is now our national politics is so exhausting — and the root causes so complex and deep — that describing “what’s going on” is no simple thing.
But one thing is very clear: we have work to do.
Jun 28, 2018
Kristin Schafer
EU bans neonics; U.S. bees not so lucky
After years of strong scientific evidence and even stronger advocacy, this week European officials decided to make a temporary ban on three bee-harming pesticides permanent. This is very, very good news for bees in Europe.
May 3, 2018
Kristin Schafer
Future of food? Ask farmers, not DowDuPont
What were they thinking over at The Atlantic? Last week, the normally fact-focused magazine and media company hosted an event entitled "Harvest: Transforming the Food We Eat" in New York City — and the evening was wholely underwritten by the Agricultural Division of DowDuPont.
Feb 19, 2018
Kristin Schafer
A year like no other
What an incredible — and challenging — year this has been.
On the national stage, we've seen several key issues we work on here at PAN move into the spotlight like never before. Thanks to ill-advised federal policy decisions, it is now common knowledge that pesticides harm children’s health, and that farmland can be devastated by pesticide drift. The corporate capture of our public agencies has been on display for all to see.
Dec 21, 2017
Kristin Schafer
Powerful networks, powerful change
Along with PAN International colleagues, we'll be honoring International Day of No Pesticide Use on December 3. This anniversary — which marks the tragic disaster in Bhopal, India 33 years ago — serves as an annual reminder of how pesticides are harming communities around the world, every day.
Nov 30, 2017
Kristin Schafer
Monsanto's playbook, revealed
Monsanto executives will not be happy about Carey Gillam's new book. Released last week, Whitewash documents the corporation's aggressive efforts to establish, promote and protect their RoundUp Ready seed and pesticide empire.
Oct 16, 2017
Kristin Schafer
The clear case against Clovis
Sam Clovis is not a scientist. Trump's absurd nomination for the top scientist post at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a former radio talk show host with a history of racist and homophobic commentary — and zero scientific or agricultural background or credentials. Zero.
Aug 23, 2017
Kristin Schafer
Congress steps up where EPA failed
Earlier this week I had a chance to be on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC when legislation was introduced to ban chlorpyrifos. If these bills become law, millions of children and workers in the U.S. and around the world will no longer be exposed to this brain-harming pesticide.
Jul 27, 2017
Kristin Schafer