Dear Dr. Xue:
Thank you for your years of working to protect public health. As the son of a malaria survivor (my late father), I sincerely appreciate the hard work that AMCD does to protect public health.
We understand that more than twenty inches of rain created a massive mosquito infestation. We understand there was a crisis. Every crisis provides an opportunity to do our best -- the Chinese character for "crisis" also means "opportunity."
Unfortunately, AMCD did not tell the public that AMCD was spraying Dibrom. This could be construed as one or more torts, including assault, battery, nuisance, trespass, negligence, fraud and misrepresentation.
Unfortunately, AMCD never tested our AMCD employees' blood for cholinesterase during six decades of organophosphate OP) spraying. This is now being remedied, I understand. I first raised the issue of cholinesterase testing with AMCD's then-Chair Board Chair Barbara Bosanko in 2006- 2007. She was flummoxed, apparently did not know what cholinesterase was, and hung up the telephone. Thank you for your providing cholinesterase testing for AMCD and contractor employees now.
AMCD must work smarter with the community to solve the pesticide conundrum, eliminating use of OPs as soon as possible.
We urgently need to schedule public hearings and independent scientific peer review on OP use by AMCD. That is what is required by AMCD's Mission Statement.
Were OPs sprayed over a wide area, without checking for sensitive areas? Questions have gone unanswered. Please see prior E-mails.
This is not about just AMCD. This is a generic concern that afflicts mosquito control throughout our State and Nation.
There has never been a programmatic environmental impact study of mosquito control in the State of Florida.
Why not?
The Florida Mosquito Control Association and the American Mosquito Control Association and their members are in bed with the petrochemical industry. The petrochemical industry funds its conferences and research. FMCA and AMCA "leaders" have made bone-headed remarks to AMCD about environmental issues.
The petrochemical industry spends vast sums to continue selling its carcinogenic, teratogenic and neurotoxic products, dosing our natural environment with poisons for profit. Meanwhile, cancer remains a national scourge despite billions spent onc cancer research since President Nixon announced our government would find a cure.
EPA and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) are like little 'ole rowboats in the wake of the Armada of the chemical merchants.
EPA and DACS rely on petrochemical neurotoxin merchants' data, advice, lobbying, lawyers and influence. To say that EPA and DACS "regulate" pesticides is like saying that King Canute "regulated" the sea by telling it to recede. As Rachel Carson documented in "Silent Spring," pesticides kill people, bald eagles and other "non-target organisms."
We elected AMCD Commissioners to be leaders, not to be followers of the petrochemical cartel. This is the same cartel whose leader, I.G. Farben, manufactured Zyklon B, an organophosphate that was used to exterminate millions of people in Nazi concentration camps.
Standing up to the chemical merchants takes courage. That's why we elect Mosquito Control Commissioners.
Starting today, we should all expect AMCD's Director and Commissioners to begin the dialogue that will end OP spraying. Every natural and less toxic alternative must be explored by our Commissioners, in open public hearings, with scientific peer review by independent scientists not funded by the petrochemical industry.
No one should ever again be sprayed with OPs from aircraft, without warning, without public hearings, and without adequate protection of employees of AMCD, who were never tested for cholinesterase for 60 years (tests are being arranged now).
Mosquito control must not be a "toxic tort."
AMCD must more vigorously implement all-natural means of controlling disease-breeding mosquitoes. A regulatory program to eliminate standing water is required. Natural mosquito predators (including Gambusia fish, bats and Bti) must be implemented vigorously, pursuant to AMCD's five-year plan.
AMCD and other Florida mosquito control districts must do a better job of protecting people, eagles and other endangered species. I know that you and everyone else at AMCD agrees. I look forward to working with y'all to make AMCD the best in Florida at protecting both public health and our environment. A citizens' advisory committee is urgently required.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
ED SLAVIN
Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
P.O. Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
904-829-3877 (o)
904-471-9918 (fax)
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