Photos: Western conifer seed bug, left (credit NY State IPM Program at Cornell University), commonly mistaken for the brown marmorated stink bug, right (credit Oregon State University). (By Laura Ray, Communications Coordinator) A couple years ago, my family went away for a few days during winter break for a lovely getaway in the Oregon woods. We returned home to Eugene, well rested and relaxed, and found an unexpected house guest: a rat had taken up residence! We figured that during the start of the heavy winter rains, it was seeking refuge and had somehow snuck into our home. Continue reading

Photo: Native American Girls Gather At Plymouth For Day Of Mourning, November 26, 1992. Credit: Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images (By Olivia Thomas, Grants Manager) As the NCAP staff give thanks for family and friends this week and acknowledge with gratitude the labor of farmers and farm workers who make our feasts possible, we also reflect on the history of the land where our food is grown. At NCAP, our work includes expanding organic and sustainable agriculture and advocating for policies and practices that increase the health of our soils and ecosystems. Just like advocating for healthier land management practices, we believe it is important to understand the complex interactions that take place on the land where we reside and have an accurate understanding of the intricate relationships that make up history. Continue reading

For over 125 days, anti-racist Black Lives Matter protests have taken place in the streets of Portland to demand racial justice. Protesters have regularly been subject to massive, indiscriminate deployments of teargas, pepper spray and other chemical munitions. NCAP believes that the federal government blatantly violated federal law when it flooded Portland and the surrounding communities with an unprecedented amount of chemical weapons. Continue reading

And What We Can Do (By Laura Keir, Communications Coordinator) With much of the West coast still burning, everyone at NCAP extends our heartfelt sympathy to the families, farms, businesses and communities that have been affected by the recent wildfires. These wildfires have caused monumental pain and devastation, and we wish a speedy recovery for those impacted. Our greatest appreciation goes out to the firefighters, first responders and volunteers who have been working courageously to battle the fires, save people and property and support those in need. Continue reading

People Are Not Pests (By Dominica Navarro, Healthy People & Communities Program Coordinator) The city of Portland has exceeded its 90th night of protests after the brutal and unjust killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in late May. On August 23rd, Jacob Blake was shot seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin while his three children watched in the car nearby. In response to continued police violence, protestors have turned out in support of #BlackLivesMatter, calling for racial justice and to defund the police. Yet, as the demands for equity and accountability wage on, we continue to see the excessive use of chemical control agents on peaceful protesters in mass amounts.  Continue reading