Dear Neighbors,

As most of you know, the city has been spraying a chemical on the entire city
with the purpose of reducing West Nile mosquitoes.

Concerns have been raised about the lack of proper notice, public debate, and the dual message of how “safe” the chemical (Anvil) is, while simultaneously warning to limit exposure. This chemical is known to be toxic to fish and bees, a lung irritant (especially to asthma sufferers), and is a likely cause
of breast cancer (more study is needed, but has not been done).

If you are concerned, please come to a special meeting this Tuesday evening where you can ask questions and discuss the possibility of neighborhoods choosing to use less toxic methods to eliminate the West Nile threat and thus, avoid the Anvil exposure to their children.

Please join Alderman Schulter and the Chicago Department of Public Health at a community meeting to discuss and answer questions regarding mosquito control efforts, the spraying of Anvil and prevention of the West Nile Virus.

* WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 2005

* TIME: 7:00 p.m.

* WHERE: Kindred Hospital located at 2544 West
Montrose (2 blocks west of Western Ave)
on the 6th Floor
Conference Room 2-3

For more information:
www.BeyondToday.com
-------------------------------
Monday, August 1, 2005


The city blankets the people with pesticides without debate, without notice.

Below is a letter to the editor written by Julie Peterson.

I just received an automated call to let me know that my neighborhood will
be sprayed with pesticide Monday night. I should bring in any pets,
children's toys, close my windows, and stay inside, but that the pesticide
is approved by the EPA. I am concerned. We remember DDT. We know that many
pesticides are approved by the EPA and later found to cancer-causing. Many
chemicals approved in the U.S. are considered to be carcinogens by other
countries with more strict testing standards. We wonder why we have so much
cancer, autism and other health issues occur, but continue to expose
ourselves, our children, and pregnant women to chemicals such as this.

Do you want them to spray this chemical on your vegetable garden? Do you want
this chemical tracked into your home or on the hands of you or your children
as they play in the grass the next day?

We all appreciate the good work of the Department of Health and the real
concern that West Nile may become a larger threat, however, let us not blanket
our city with chemicals without public debate. Shouldn't we worry about the
effects of the pesticide on all the
people, already struggling with the poor air quality of these 90 degree days
and nights, those who don't get the message, and that, still, 50 years after
DDT, our city officials still haven't learned the lesson that our high school
students know. "

Hopefully, we can change the process so in the future, our fears of West Nile
don't make us lose our senses and douse our city with unidentified chemicals
without debate or notice.