Starting August 17th, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will begin spraying the San Francisco Bay Area by airplanes with toxic chemicals in an ineffective attempt to eradicate an insect called the light brown apple moth (LBAM), which has caused no damage. That is, unless we stop them.

SPREAD THE WORD

ABOUT THE SPRAY

It's unsafe.
When Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were sprayed last year, there were hundreds of health complaints immediately afterwards, including vomiting and severe breathing problems. The long-term health effects have not been studied.

It's unnecessary.
The light brown apple moth has likely been in California for over 30 years without causing any damage to crops, and there are proven alternatives to aerial spraying for keeping the population in check.

It's ineffective.
Synthetic pheromones, the "active" ingredient in the spray, have never been successful in eradicating any widespread insect population. Every scientist who has studied the plan has said it will fail.

Plus...
The aerial spray is only part of the program; the CDFA also plans to spray from the ground and use toxic twist ties on trees and telephone poles.

LEARN MORE

StoptheSpray.org

California Alliance to Stop the Spray

What's behind the Apple Moth Spray Plan? - CBS5 Investigates

LBAM 101 prepared by Jeff Rosendale, co-author of the New Zealand LBAM Report (PDF)

CDFA LBAM Action Plan and 2008 Treatment Map (PDF)

10 Reasons to Oppose the Spray

Wikipedia article on LBAM controversy

U.C. Davis Scientists Ask USDA To Halt Eradication Program (PDF)

Dr. Haiden's Report on Health Hazards of LBAM spray (PDF)

It's just a pheromone, right? Misinformation from the CDFA

Weapons of Moth Destruction
A Documentary by Laura Vitale (Video)

TAKE ACTION

Sign the petition.

Send letters to government officials, news media, family and friends using this simple form provided by Shirley Golub for Congress.

Contact Federal Representatives. Urge them to make the USDA reclassification of the light brown apple moth their top priority, as the health and lives of millions of Californians hang in the balance.
Nancy Pelosi: (415) 556-4862
Barbara Boxer: (202) 224-3553
Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3891

Call Governor Schwarzenegger. Demand that he stop the LBAM spray plan and pursue more appropriate and effective population control methods. (916) 445-2841

Contact the CDFA and urge them to clarify their intentions. Several cities and counties are preparing litigation against the CDFA, but they can't act until the details of the plan and its legal justification are made public. The CDFA has claimed that they are not legally required to do that until just 72 hours before they start spraying. (916) 654-0462 or email