27
Oct
Take Action: Tell University of California to Stop Hazardous Pesticide Use and Adopt Organic Land Management
(Beyond Pesticides, October 27, 2019) The spraying of toxic herbicides for weed control on campuses exposes students, workers and the general public to chemicals linked to health problems such as cancer and reproductive issues.
Any day now, the University of California system will decide whether or not to continue using glyphosate and other toxic herbicides — including Roundup — on their campuses.
The University of California temporarily banned the use of cancer-causing glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, but the ban doesn’t stop the UC system from using other dangerous herbicides. Student activists are asking UC to commit to transitioning to all organic land care maintenance on all University of California campuses by 2025. This could be an opportunity for the University of California, which prides itself on its commitment to sustainability, to join other universities such as Harvard, the University of Colorado at Boulder, Yale, University of Pennsylvania, and others as a national leader in the field.
Message to University of California President
First of all, I would like to thank you for temporarily suspending the use of glyphosate-based herbicides on the University of California campuses and for establishing an Herbicide task force in order to consider long-term approaches to land management.
In anticipation of your Nov. 1 decision I am writing to ask you – for the sake of future generations – to permanently ban toxic herbicides and commit to transitioning to all organic land care maintenance on all University of California campuses by 2025. Organic alternatives exist. This could be an opportunity for the University of California, which prides itself on its commitment to sustainability, to join other universities such as Harvard, the University of Colorado at Boulder, Yale, University of Pennsylvania, and others as a national leader in the field.
I understand that you will be stepping down after August 2020. This is an opportunity to leave a legacy in the field of sustainability and stand up for public health and the environment. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.
Thank you,
It’s insane to use cancer causing poisons on school campuses in all of California. Stop this policy now.
October 28th, 2019 at 10:42 amOrganic Land Management please
October 28th, 2019 at 1:24 pmCalifornia is a national leader in so many good environmental practices. Another important decision would be to permanently ban the use of Roundup and other toxic herbicides on all university owned lands. Other highly regarded universities have already banned toxic herbicides and are using or transitioning to 100% organic methods of land management. Your university should do the same. That would add to your legacy as President of such a fine higher education institution.
October 28th, 2019 at 1:46 pmStand up for public health and protect/repair the environment. That is always the right choice. Thank you.
October 28th, 2019 at 5:32 pm