🚀 go-pugleaf

> My proposition is to organize a boycott of all produce grown
> w/ methol bromide.  If the companies using this highly
> dangerous substance which injures farm workers and local
> residents alike . . .

=o= . . . and which destroys the ozone . . .

> . . . fear the costs associated w/ banning its use, let them
> feel the costs associated w/ a boycott of what they're using.

=o= I am conducting a personal boycott of such product, and I
would encourage you to undertake an organized boycott, which
would be more effective.

=o= Also useful would be promoting alternatives:  organic foods
and such.  In any event you may want to get in touch with the
Methyl Bromide Alternatives Network (MBAN):

  Methyl Bromide Alternatives Network
  116 New Montgomery, No. 810
  San Francisco, CA  94105

MBAN has published this list of 5 things you can do now:

  (1) Ask your grocer to stop buying produce grown with methyl
  bromide.  Make sure they pass your concerns on to distributors
  and farmers.

  (2) Buy organic fruits and vegetables and ask your grocer to
  sell more organic produce.

  (3) You have a right to know.  Insist that the EPA require
  a label on all products grown or manufactured with methyl
  bromide.

  (4) Ask your Member of Congress to support imposing the tax
  on methyl bromide, already required under the Clean Air Act.
  A tax could raise money for safe alternatives.

  (5) Join MBAN's nationwide activist network and receive news
  updates and an MBAN information kit.  To do that, send $25
  or more to the address above.

=o= Regarding #4 up there, it should be noted that a tax was
one of the things that encouraged the phaseout of CFCs.  As
far as the safe alternatives are concerned, they're already
there!

=o= I've written an article in the April issue of _Terrain_
magazine (published by the Ecology Center in Berkeley and at
newsstands and bookstores now) about the ready availability
of methyl bromide alternatives.  The premise of the article
is that, while the local media can't seem to find out about
these alternatives, anyone with access to the World Wide Web
could!

=o= Give it a whirl:  go to http://altavista.digital.com (a
Web search engine), type in "methyl bromide", and check out
all the links it finds.  I particularly recommend the EPA's
sites and the California Methyl Bromide Research Task Force's
online report:

  http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbf/csstart.html
  http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dprdocs/methbrom/mb4chg.html

> Partial list includes:  walnuts, almonds, strawberries, sweet
> potatoes.  Will any one who's interested or who can raise
> public awareness of said boycott or who can list more produce
> grown w/ mb please respond?

=o= Strawberries, walnuts, almonds, and soil fumigation for
nursery stock are the top uses in this state (this state being
the top consumer of methyl bromide in the country, and this
country being the top consumer of methyl bromide in the world).
Organic alternatives are available for the produce, and steam
treatment is available for nursery soil.  (The gardening column
in the previous issue of _Terrain_ mentions alternatives to
using nursery stock.)  Hit those, and you've got most of it.

=o= There's a labor dispute going on a Diamond Walnuts, with
an attendant boycott.  You could join forces with them.

=o= If you do get an organized boycott off the ground, send
mail to boycottguy@aol.com.  This is the editor of _Boycott_
_Quarterly_, an essential listing of boycotts.
    <_Jym_>