Residents for Environmental Action and
Community Health
U.S. Declaration of Independence from Hazardous Chemicals
Americans Speak Out for Chemical Policy Reform
European Union is considering draft legislation (known as REACH) that could dramatically improve the management of chemicals internationally:
REACH and West Nile Virus
Prevention Recommendations
Residents for Environmental Action and Community Health (REACH) is a group of concerned citizens, and was founded to organize more effective and less toxic methods of controlling West Nile Virus (WNV) in our community. The group meets once or twice a month to discuss ways to utilize community involvement to reduce the mosquito breeding grounds that harbor WNV. The Allen County Department of Health (ACDH) agrees that spraying our communities to kill adult mosquitoes in the air (adulticiding) does nothing to address the mosquito larvae that subsequently hatch into adult mosquitoes. Focusing on reducing mosquito larvae decreases the threat of WNV infection and other more dangerous mosquito-borne diseases. It also reduces the combined health problem of exposing our families to pesticides. This prevention is accepted by the ACDH as the most effective means of controlling the WNV. Unfortunately, without removing mosquito breeding grounds, the spraying of infected neighborhoods every 7 to12 days still allows the daily hatching of infected mosquitoes.
REACH is urging all neighborhood associations to assist in our public education campaign to reduce the breeding grounds of mosquitoes. The ACDH has concluded over 60% of breeding grounds in our neighborhoods are discarded tires, while more than 20% are empty containers. On the tire issue, we urge you to strongly publicize tire pickup days and we ask neighborhood associations and watch programs to report tires to Code Enforcement regularly. The empty containers on individual properties are an issue of personal education. Containers can be anything from milk jugs and bottles to birdbaths, child wading pools, pool covers, uncovered boats and even fountains that do not use a running pump. Anything that will hold a half-inch of water is a concern. The ACDH does not have the resources or the legal right to enter peoples' properties to remove these containers or tires. We believe that newsletter notifications, updates at neighborhood association meetings, neighborhood code enforcement and media attention are the most effective tools in this endeavor. Members of REACH are available to give informational talks at any neighborhood function.
We at REACH would like to thank you in advance for assisting our organization's efforts to control the spread of WNV. We will continue to work with the Allen County Department of Health, Mayor's office, Neighborhood Code Enforcement, Neighborhood Associations, and various community groups. We encourage anyone seeking more information regarding WNV and REACH's community outreach efforts to contact one of our listed members.
Diane Dickson 260-456-9724 dianemike@fwi.com
REACH
David Shearer 260-458-9554 Dshearer@csinet.net
REACH
Katie Schoelkopf 260-432-8232 earthdream@msn.com
REACH
Chris Ilderton 260-450-0511 C_ilderton@yahoo.com
President, Francis Slocum Neighborhood Association
| Make That POPs Treaty
Happen! The POPs Treaty will come into effect only after 50 countries ratify it. So far, 24 countries have done so, including Canada and Mexico, but the U.S. is still among the missing. The Bush Administration is now blocking Senate efforts to move toward ratification. You can help push the process along by visiting www.panna.org/campaigns/pops.html to send a message to the White House. |
