Sample Letters-to-the-Editor

Letter#1 (from an organization that releases a school pesticide use report)

September 18, 1998

The Editor

Oregonian

1320 SW Broadway

Portland, OR 97201

To the editor:

A recent report done by our organization shows that the Portland public school district uses large volumes of pesticides on its grounds and in its buildings. Many of these pesticides (including herbicides) are classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as possible human carcinogens, as nerve poisons, or as posing other health or environmental hazards.

District staff believe that community aesthetic standards require them to use the current volume of pesticides - -a volume that is much greater than that used by the Seattle or Eugene school districts in a one-year comparison period (see Oregonian, June 11).

However, the most-frequently treated pests, weeds in shrub beds and sugar or moisture ants indoors, do not pose a threat to children's health and safety. Furthermore, many pest prevention or non-chemical control methods are available. The presence of these benign organisms does not justify the use of poisonous weed- and insect-killers in school settings where children spend hours each day playing and learning.

The Portland Public Schools need to hear from parents, teachers, civic leaders, and others concerned about pesticides, and supporting the district in steps to adopt a pesticide reduction policy, and in immediately halting use of the most hazardous products and practices. It's time to put children's health (and a safe and unpolluted environment) ahead of artificial aesthetic standards.

Concerned parents will want to consider attending a public forum this Thursday, September 24th, at 7 pm at PSU's Smith Center, Room 238. A nationally-known pediatrician, Dr. Routt Reigart, will speak on the risks that pesticides pose to children's health.

Sincerely,

Becky Riley

Program Associate, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP), PO Box 1393, Eugene, OR 97440, (541) 344-5044

September 21, 1998

The Editor

Oregonian

1320 SW Broadway

Portland, OR 97201

To the editor:

As a parent of two Portland public school children, I have recently been disturbed to learn that our school district uses large amounts of highly toxic and environmentally hazardous pesticides, including herbicides and insecticides, on our local school grounds and in our school buildings. In fact, the Portland school district also used significantly greater volumes of weed killers than either the Seattle or Eugene public school districts in a one-year comparison period, according to a report just released by the Eugene-based Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP).

Children are especially vulnerable to toxic exposures because of their small body weights, the immaturity of some of their organ systems, and their playing habits that put them in closer contact with pesticide residues on lawns or classroom floors or surfaces.

It is time for the school district to rethink not only its policy, but the philosophy behind it as well. Spraying poisons on school grounds and in classrooms where children spend hours each day playing and learning is not an acceptable pest control solution. Many non-toxic or safer pest control methods are available. I urge all concerned parents to contact the superintendent and members of the school board to voice their opposition to the district's continuing use of hazardous pesticides - for the sake of our children and the environment.

Sincerely,

Jane Concerned Parent

Letter #3 (from a concerned individual)

January 21, 1999

The Editor

Oregonian

1320 SW Broadway

Portland, OR 97201

To the editor:

Are parents aware that Portland public schools personnel are currently applying large volumes of the hazardous herbicide Casoron to nearly every school ground in the district? The active ingredient of this weed killer causes cancer in animals, and is classified as a possible human carcinogen. The chemical was found as a contaminant in 21% of Willamette-basin streams tested in a recent study.

Meantime, childhood cancer rates are at an all time high. Government scientists are telling us that we must all reduce or eliminate pesticide and fertilizer use in order to protect our drinking water supplies and to reverse the precipitous declines being seen in many of our native salmon runs.

How can the use of highly toxic chemicals to control weeds be justified? Let's treat non-toxic weeds with non-toxic methods of control such as mulching, ground covers, or mechanical removal methods.

It's time for the Portland Public School system to set a better standard for the community. Write or call the school distirct and school board members today. Ask them to implement a pesticide use minimization policy, and to adopt non-chemical weed and pest control alternatives. Our children, our environment, and our future deserve no less!

Joe Concerned Resident