How can we prevent aerial pesticide use this coming summer in California?

Question

I'm not suggesting sabotage. I'm suggesting political action.

Answer 1

You need to start by making multiple phone calls--to your state legislator in the California Assembly, then to your California State Senator, to your U.S. Congress person, to your local city department of the environment, to your city supervisor, to your mayor, etc.  You should also call the California Department of Fruit and Agriculture and express your very real concerns.  Tell them you DO NOT want to be sprayed with an untested pesticide. You need to tell them why you insist they not spray over your city and what impacts you feel you will have if they do.  Then, you need to email everyone you know within the Bay Area and encourage them to do the same.  From what I understand the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) is going to be sprayed with  "Checkmate" a pheremone scrambler, which has been untested in humans. Recently, the Santa Cruz and Monterey areas were sprayed and there were more than 600 health complaints.  They are spraying the public in an attempt to save Californias lucrative agricultural exports from being banned due to the pest. However, it's inappropriate to spray millions of people in the effort.

Answer 2

Basically it can’t be done between now and then.  Even if you tried to sabotage plans and destroyed supplies of pesticide, some of each would still be remaining.  If you have a very strong commitment to the issue, you’ll follow the litigation and political routes to change the laws regarding aerial crop spraying.  But it can’t be done in a few months.