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CASS Press Release
April 3, 2008
(Download
pdf file)
California
Alliance To Stop the Spray (CASS)
For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Media Contact:
Dr. Thomas Kerns, EHRA
541.547.3700
tkerns@u.washington.edu
Bonnie Keet, CASS
831. 431.0773
Lori Cioffi, CASS
media@CASSonline.org
Aerial Spray Program
Imposed by CDFA May Violate Human
Rights and Incur Liabilities
A detailed outline of 23 international
human rights violations
Santa Cruz, CA - A groundbreaking
independent report prepared by the
Environment and Human Rights Advisory
outlines 23 international human
rights that may be violated by the
aerial spraying program conducted
by the California Department of
Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for
the Light Brown Apple Moth. These
are in addition to other potential
violations of US and California
constitutions and state statutes.
The potential liabilities to the
CDFA are vast, including:
-Potential litigation through the
Inter-American Court of Human Rights,
a court of the Organization of American
States;
-Potentially costly legal actions
brought against CDFA for aerial
application of pheromones or pesticides
as a violation of human rights;
-Possible legal action under the
Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990.
-Possible multiple small claims
court actions for economic redress:
and greater involvement of human
rights organizations such as Human
Rights Watch in pesticide activism.
Suggested pathways to reduce the
liabilities to the CDFA and to respect
the rights of individuals are outlined
in this informative report.
Dr. Tom Kerns, of the Environment
and Human Rights Advisory (www.environmentandhumanrights.org),
has offered this new report for
the California Alliance to Stop
the Spray (CASS) and the CDFA.
To view the complete document, click
here: cassonline.org/docs/EHRA_LBAM_April2008.pdf
"Everything and anything that influences
the environment directly influences
our human condition, and a violation
of the environment is a violation
of our human rights." - Daniel Taillant,
Director of the Center for Human
Rights and the Environment
“This report validates concerns
being voiced by residents of all
nine targeted counties about the
violation of our safety, our rights
and the environment." - Lori Cioffi,
CASS spokesperson
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