Keeping methyl iodide out of water, air, soil, food, and more is no small accomplishment. With the local, independent Monterey County Weekly being the county's largest circulation newspaper, and with the county's Salinas Valley serving as the Salad Bowl of America, it was very appropriate for the Weekly to investigate and report on methyl iodide. Not doing so would have been irresponsible. A debt of gratitude is owed to the Weekly for responsible journalism and community, state, and national leadership that contributed to the end of methyl iodide in the U.S. Thank you!
I have purchased delicious organically grown strawberries from the Monterey Bay's Swanton Berry Farms for nearly 30 years. It's wonderful that increasing numbers of larger-scale farms are interested in growing strawberries organically.
I look forward to the Weekly keeping tabs on the CA Strawberry Commission's alternatives research.
Thanks, Kera, for letting us know where Assemblyman Alejo's allegiance lies. The LRG commenting above seems to have overlooked that you did contact Alejo, and that he commented by email. And what a cop-out! "We must keep the displaced workers in mind"--as if expressing concern about unemployment is a valid excuse for every poor action! And, Assemblyman Alejo, who is ignorant enough to accept that excuse--as if workers aren't needed to manufacture biodegradable packaging just as much as workers are needed to manufacture styro packaging.
And "the discussion was not thorough enough"? The Assembly could get a lot more accomplished if they wouldn't hash and re-hash topics like this that have been well researched and on which cities have taken smart, decisive action--like Salinas, Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Seaside, and Del Rey Oaks, as well as the unincorporated areas of Monterey County, all of which enacted a styro ban.
Alejo's accepting a contribution from a styrofoam producer, then abstaining from voting on the styro ban, reminds me of the first time I learned that legislators often don't represent the will of the people at all.
The first time I learned that was when then State Senator Henry Mello voted against the bottle bill back in 1980. I was amazed! I called his office and asked his aide how many of Mello's constituents were in favor of the bottle bill that he had voted against. The answer? Senator Mello's constituents were overwhelmingly in favor of the bottle bill. "Then why didn't he cast his vote in favor of it?" I asked. Dead silence from the aide.
I was shocked. Of course, more than 30 years later, I am no longer shocked by legislators voting (or abstaining) in favor of the interests of campaign contributors and lobbyists. Sad, but not shocked.
Posted by StrawberryLover on September 6, 2012 at 11:18 p.m.
The truly great honor is to be fulfilling the Weekly's mission to inspire independent thinking and conscious action--including that the research of Mary Duan and Sara Rubin helped inspire the Monterey County Board of Education and others to challenge the State of California regarding methyl iodide. By so doing, you have helped keep water cleaner, babies safer in the womb, and more.
Safe alternatives are already available--I've been buying delicious organically grown Central Coast strawberries for over 30 years. It's time to apply those safe alternatives large-scale.
Having Arysta announce they'll drop methyl iodide sales in the U.S. is fabulous news. Watch out for the circle of poison though: As indicated above, and as their press release stated, Arysta "will continue to support the use of iodomethane outside of the U.S. where it remains economically viable."
It's always great when a U.S. company stops using something harmful here. And it's always seemed outrageous to me that even in those cases where something is made illegal in the U.S., those same harmful products can nonetheless be taken by U.S. manufacturers to other countries. See anything wrong with that? I do! Even if you don't care about the populations of those countries, it's a small planet, people, and it's getting smaller all the time. What goes around comes around.
Professor, Sara isn't the only one who makes an occasional human error. I think you meant "less biased," unless you're having new thoughts about PANNA and are also recognizing that many activists do excellent research before serving as an info resource for educators and others. And make that c-o-m-m-u-n-i-t-y.
We're thankful to have a strong community here, as demonstrated by the Monterey County Board of Education. We're unafraid to think for ourselves, especially when it comes to things like taking chances with the brain development of our students, along with other risks to the health of our children, field workers, and entire population. We all drink the water here.
Posted by StrawberryLover on December 15, 2011 at 12:24 p.m.
UPDATED: The Quiet, Official End of Methyl Iodide in the U.S.
Keeping methyl iodide out of water, air, soil, food, and more is no small accomplishment. With the local, independent Monterey County Weekly being the county's largest circulation newspaper, and with the county's Salinas Valley serving as the Salad Bowl of America, it was very appropriate for the Weekly to investigate and report on methyl iodide. Not doing so would have been irresponsible. A debt of gratitude is owed to the Weekly for responsible journalism and community, state, and national leadership that contributed to the end of methyl iodide in the U.S. Thank you!
I have purchased delicious organically grown strawberries from the Monterey Bay's Swanton Berry Farms for nearly 30 years. It's wonderful that increasing numbers of larger-scale farms are interested in growing strawberries organically.
I look forward to the Weekly keeping tabs on the CA Strawberry Commission's alternatives research.
State Styrofoam Ban Fails; Alejo Ducks Vote
Thanks, Kera, for letting us know where Assemblyman Alejo's allegiance lies. The LRG commenting above seems to have overlooked that you did contact Alejo, and that he commented by email. And what a cop-out! "We must keep the displaced workers in mind"--as if expressing concern about unemployment is a valid excuse for every poor action! And, Assemblyman Alejo, who is ignorant enough to accept that excuse--as if workers aren't needed to manufacture biodegradable packaging just as much as workers are needed to manufacture styro packaging.
And "the discussion was not thorough enough"? The Assembly could get a lot more accomplished if they wouldn't hash and re-hash topics like this that have been well researched and on which cities have taken smart, decisive action--like Salinas, Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Seaside, and Del Rey Oaks, as well as the unincorporated areas of Monterey County, all of which enacted a styro ban.
Alejo's accepting a contribution from a styrofoam producer, then abstaining from voting on the styro ban, reminds me of the first time I learned that legislators often don't represent the will of the people at all.
The first time I learned that was when then State Senator Henry Mello voted against the bottle bill back in 1980. I was amazed! I called his office and asked his aide how many of Mello's constituents were in favor of the bottle bill that he had voted against. The answer? Senator Mello's constituents were overwhelmingly in favor of the bottle bill. "Then why didn't he cast his vote in favor of it?" I asked. Dead silence from the aide.
I was shocked. Of course, more than 30 years later, I am no longer shocked by legislators voting (or abstaining) in favor of the interests of campaign contributors and lobbyists. Sad, but not shocked.
Local Papers Honored by California Newspaper Publishers Association
The truly great honor is to be fulfilling the Weekly's mission to inspire independent thinking and conscious action--including that the research of Mary Duan and Sara Rubin helped inspire the Monterey County Board of Education and others to challenge the State of California regarding methyl iodide. By so doing, you have helped keep water cleaner, babies safer in the womb, and more.
That's a real cause for celebration!
BREAKING: Arysta to Pull Methyl Iodide from U.S. [UPDATED]
Safe alternatives are already available--I've been buying delicious organically grown Central Coast strawberries for over 30 years. It's time to apply those safe alternatives large-scale.
Having Arysta announce they'll drop methyl iodide sales in the U.S. is fabulous news. Watch out for the circle of poison though: As indicated above, and as their press release stated, Arysta "will continue to support the use of iodomethane outside of the U.S. where it remains economically viable."
It's always great when a U.S. company stops using something harmful here. And it's always seemed outrageous to me that even in those cases where something is made illegal in the U.S., those same harmful products can nonetheless be taken by U.S. manufacturers to other countries. See anything wrong with that? I do! Even if you don't care about the populations of those countries, it's a small planet, people, and it's getting smaller all the time. What goes around comes around.
County Board of Education Passes Resolution Opposing Methyl Iodide
Professor, Sara isn't the only one who makes an occasional human error. I think you meant "less biased," unless you're having new thoughts about PANNA and are also recognizing that many activists do excellent research before serving as an info resource for educators and others. And make that c-o-m-m-u-n-i-t-y.
We're thankful to have a strong community here, as demonstrated by the Monterey County Board of Education. We're unafraid to think for ourselves, especially when it comes to things like taking chances with the brain development of our students, along with other risks to the health of our children, field workers, and entire population. We all drink the water here.