Agricultural Resources Center (NC)

Defenders of Wildlife

Beyond Pesticides

Environment & Human Health, Inc.

Facts about Alternatives to Chemical Trespassing, Inc. (FACT)

Grassroots Environmental Education

Greater Madison Healthy Lawn Team

Marin Beyond Pesticides Coalition

Michigan Environmental Council

New Jersey Environmental Federation

Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey

Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides

Pesticide Action Network North America

Project Ladybug

Safer Pest Control Project

Salem Pesticide Association

Texans for Alternatives to Pesticides

Toxics Action Center

Toxics Information Project

Washington Toxics Coalition

The Watershed Partnership

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The Coalition advocates safe, healthy, LIVING lawns and landscapes with the use of organic and least toxic practices and products that nurture lawns and landscapes and protect the health of children, families, pets, wildlife and the environment from unnecessary exposure to toxic pesticides. .

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NATIONAL DECLARATION ON THE USE OF TOXIC LAWN PESTICIDES

1. WHEREAS, millions of pounds of pesticides are applied on lawns and landscapes each year by homeowners and landscape companies and this use is continuing to rise; [1] and

2. WHEREAS, scientific studies associate exposure to lawn pesticides with asthma, cancer, developmental and learning disabilities, nerve and immune system damage, liver or kidney damage, reproductive impairment, birth defects, and disruption of the endocrine system; [2] and

3. WHEREAS, infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with compromised immune systems and chemical sensitivities are especially vulnerable to pesticide effects and exposure; [3] and

4. WHEREAS, lawn pesticides are harmful to pets, wildlife including threatened and endangered species, soil microbiology, plants, and natural ecosystems; [4] and

5. WHEREAS, toxic runoff from chemical fertilizers and pesticides pollute streams and lakes and drinking water sources; [5] and

6. WHEREAS, the use of hazardous pesticides is not necessary to create and maintain green lawns and landscapes given the availability of viable alternatives practices and products; [6] and

7. WHEREAS, people have a right not to be involuntarily exposed to pesticides in the air, water or soil that inevitably result from chemical drift and contaminated runoff; [7] and

8. WHEREAS, numerous communities and municipalities are embracing a precautionary approach to the use of toxic pesticides and are recognizing the limitations of regulatory agencies to adequately protect people and the environment from pesticides' harmful effects. [8]

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE UNNECESSARY, AESTHETIC USE OF TOXIC LAWN AND LANDSCAPE PESTICIDES BE REPLACED WITH BETTER ALTERNATIVES. THE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS SIGNED BELOW SUPPORT THE BROAD MOVEMENT FOR:

• People to replace their use of hazardous lawn pesticides with non-toxic and least-toxic alternatives and practices.
• Retailers to offer varieties of non-toxic and least-toxic lawn care products.
• Commercial service providers to offer organic lawn and landscape services.
• Localities to adopt ordinances that prohibit or restrict the use of hazardous pesticides for aesthetic purposes to protect the broader public.
• States to uphold the rights of local authorities to provide stricter protections from the aesthetic use of pesticides, and if necessary repeal laws that prohibit such authority.
• Congress to support the democratic right of localities to adopt ordinances that respond to the demands of their constituents to provide stricter protection of public health and the environment from local pesticide use and exposure.

SIGNATORIES:

Download: 916 SIGNATORIES as of June 8, 2007
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This Declaration was released by the following groups on April 13, 2005:

Agricultural Resources Center (NC); Beyond Pesticides; Defenders of Wildlife; Environment & Human Health, Inc. (CT); Facts about Alternatives to Chemical Trespassing, Inc. (FL); Grassroots Environmental Education (NY); Greater Madison Healthy Lawn Team (WI); Pesticide Free Zone Campaign (CA); Michigan Environmental Council (MI); New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJ); Northeast Organic Farming Association (NJ, CT); Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (OR); Project Ladybug (MD); Safer Pest Control Project (IL); Salem Citizens for Alternatives to Pesticides (OR); Texans for Alternatives to Pesticides (TX); The Watershed Partnership (CT);Toxics Action Center (MA); Toxics Information Project (RI); Washington Toxics Coalition (WA).