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First Words

Five-year old Tatiana represents the hope that launched Pesticide Action Network almost 25 years ago—she’s part of the new generation of children being raised with organic foods and fair trade values. Her mother, PAN Senior Scientist Dr. Margaret Reeves, works on these issues so that Tati and all children will have a healthier and more just world. PAN North America staff at the international Goldman Environmental Awards in April 2006 (l–r): Monica Moore, Medha Chandra, Kathyrn Gilje, Megan Ender, Tina Cosentino, and Steve Scholl-Buckwald.

Twenty-Four Years and Counting,

This May marked the twenty-fourth birthday of Pesticide Action Network, and PAN activists everywhere have much to celebrate. PAN's track record ranges from literally hundreds of local and national bans on specific pesticides to critical roles in establishing international agreements such as the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions that limit trade in and phase out entire categories of harmful chemicals.

Perhaps most important is that since the early 1980s PAN has worked as an effective and collaborative force, encouraging groups and individuals campaigning to protect their health and their communities around the world to find and support each other's work, and to accomplish together what none of us can accomplish alone. This is a proud history, and we thank every single person for every action along the way that helped shape PAN International and PAN North America into the positive movement we are today.

As we approach our twenty-fifth anniversary, there are changes afoot within PAN North America. We have a new structure designed to build our strength as a campaigning organization with deep scientific expertise, and to foster new leadership within PAN's network and allied movements. And after more than fifteen years, at the end of 2006 we will conclude our partnership as Co-Directors of PAN North America.

Were not leaving! Monica is going to focus more attention on international issues, and Steve will concentrate on finance, development and operations. Our Board of Directors is now leading the search for a new Executive Director (see www.panna.org for more information), and all of us are excited at the new energy and opportunities these changes are making possible.

With your support and participation, we will keep moving forward to stop pesticide damage, promote genuine alternatives, and collaborate with partner networks and movements to create more just and sustainable food systems, wherever we live. Thank you for joining us!


Monica Moore

Steve-Scholl-Buckwald

In this Issue

Government Watch: Delivering on the FQPA EPA scientists have a story to tell. Through their unions, they have written a letter stating that in the rush to meet FQPA's deadlines, many steps in the risk assessment and risk management process have been abbreviated or eliminated.

Government Watch: Scientists Revolt Against Pesticide Industry Pressure Three unions representing over 9,000 EPA and other federal agency scientists wrote a letter to EPA chief Stephen Johnson asking him to prevent the re-registration of over twenty carbamate and organophosphate pesticides—chemicals that most scientists feel are especially dangerous for fetuses, infants and children.

News
- Congressman Gillmor Threatens POPs Treaty and States Rights
- Governments Urged to Speed Work on Toxics Treaty
- United, We Blocked Methyl Iodide
- International Agricultural Assessment Approaches Critical Juncture

Science & Information
- PANNA’s Online Tool Helps Doctors Diagnose and Report Pesticide Poisonings
- PANNA Launches AirPIC

In Depth: Your House Has Termintes, Part 2: Now What? In this follow-up article, Dr. Susan Kegley examines what can go wrong when homes are fumigated, and discusses available alternatives to Vikane fumigation.

In Depth: Quebec's Pesticide Code This landmark legislation was designed to avoid and reduce the impacts of pesticides on public health and the environment, and to minimize cosmetic pesticide use. It specifically bans twenty pesticide ingredients for sale and use on lawns across Quebec.

In Depth: DDT & Malaria: Setting the Record Straight DDT is in the news again, promoted by a handful of aggressive advocates as a silver bullet solution to malaria in Africa.

In Depth: Yaqui Fields of Poison The recent history of the Yaquis, an ancient people native to northwest Mexico, is colored by their struggles with the health effects of high pesticide exposure.

In Depth: Pesticides Found in Washingtonians In 2005, the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition and the Washington Toxics Coalition invited ten Washingtonians to submit their hair, blood, and urine for toxic chemicals testing. This artcile is an excerpt from the report Pollution in People: Toxic Chemicals in Washingtonians.

Honoring Courage The Martinez “Organic Ten”—Practical Visionaries: Nestled in the rolling valley of Freedom, California — midway between Santa Cruz and Monterey — Martinez Farms is a living lesson in farming and living sustainably.

Affiliates & Allies This month we highlight the valuable work of three PAN North America Affiliates in Canada, Mexico and the United States towards eliminating the worst pesticides, advancing human rights and promoting just and healthy alternatives.

The Last Word... Renewal in a Natural Woods Herbicide spraying is common in conventional North American forestry, despite the mounting evidence of severe environmental harm and human health impacts associated with this practice. This is the story of an old-growth forest in Canada that is protected from herbicide spraying by its owners.