Founder of California Safe Schools Nominated for National Jewish Community Heroes Award
Los Angeles, CA. - The Jewish Community Hero of the Year will be provided with $25,000 to be used as an investment in their community project or non-profit effort via his or her local Jewish Federation, or another recognized 501(c)3 charitable entity or Canadian equivalent, and he or she will be invited to and recognized at the 2009 UJC/Federation General Assembly in Washington. The remaining four finalists will receive a smaller amount to be used as an investment in their community project or non-profit effort via their local Jewish Federations, or recognized 501(c)3 charitable entities or Canadian equivalent.
ROBINA SUWOL PROFILE
Robina Suwol is a tireless advocate for health and the environment, especially children. In addition to the effective work provided above, Robina Suwol has taken every opportunity to protect the most vulnerable populations. For example, Robina has been one of the most vocal concerning current EPA regulations, which state that threshold standards for chemical exposure are based on 160lb. adult male and opposed Intentional Dosing of Pesticides for Human Experimentation Studies. As more and more discussions begin on Global Warming, Robina has testified and commented that children's health must be addressed.
Since founding CSS, Suwol has achieved national and international prominence as an environmental and children's health activist. An articulate and compelling speaker, Suwol gives frequent presentations on school safety to parents, students, school officials and legislators. She has become increasingly sought after for her testimony before legislative bodies and conferences. Suwol serves on several national boards of directors of environmental and health organizations.
In addition, Suwol can be found most weekends volunteering at Health and Safety Fairs, Conferences and community events. Robina is a two time Volvo Award Finalist and the recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 - 2007 Environmental Award and the Red Cross Women of Spirit Award, 2007 US Pollution Prevention Champion , Los Angeles County Children's Leading Boldly Children's Award & South Coast Air Quality Management District's Award, and Prevention Magazine Hero. Recently UTNE Magazine named Robina one of the "50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World"
Vote Online: http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org/nominees/profile/robina-suwol/
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Join the Fun- Seeking LA Unified Parent
Join the Fun- Seeking LA Unified Parent
Seeking Parent Representative - Volunteer Position for the Los Angeles Unified Integrated Pest Management Team Background: In 1999 California Safe Schools spearheaded an effort at Los Angeles Unified School District called Integrated Pest Management ( IPM) that has become a national model. IPM is founded on the practice of controlling pests by using the least-toxic methods available. The policy was the first in the United States to embrace the Precautionary Principle, the concept that no chemical is free from harm, unless proven so, and Parents Right to Know. To ensure the policy's implementation a fifteen member Oversight Committee meets monthly.
We are currently seeking a PARENT REPRESENTATIVE to serve on this Committee. QUALIFICATIONS:
1) Must be Parent of a student currently enrolled in Los Angeles Unified School District
2) Commit to attend one meeting per month in downtown Los Angeles for 4 -5 hours.( Meetings begin at 9:30am - Friday. Parking is free)
3) Interested in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) If you would like to be considered, please call 818-785-5515 or email your resume along with a short statement about why you would like to participate to:
calisafe@earthlink.net
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to visit www.calisafe.org (click on POLICY) or contact me anytime. Regards, Robina SuwolExecutive Director & Founder California Safe Schools Parent Representative, LA Unified IPM Committee
818-785-5515 website: http://www.calisafe.org
Seeking Parent Representative - Volunteer Position for the Los Angeles Unified Integrated Pest Management Team Background: In 1999 California Safe Schools spearheaded an effort at Los Angeles Unified School District called Integrated Pest Management ( IPM) that has become a national model. IPM is founded on the practice of controlling pests by using the least-toxic methods available. The policy was the first in the United States to embrace the Precautionary Principle, the concept that no chemical is free from harm, unless proven so, and Parents Right to Know. To ensure the policy's implementation a fifteen member Oversight Committee meets monthly.
We are currently seeking a PARENT REPRESENTATIVE to serve on this Committee. QUALIFICATIONS:
1) Must be Parent of a student currently enrolled in Los Angeles Unified School District
2) Commit to attend one meeting per month in downtown Los Angeles for 4 -5 hours.( Meetings begin at 9:30am - Friday. Parking is free)
3) Interested in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) If you would like to be considered, please call 818-785-5515 or email your resume along with a short statement about why you would like to participate to:
calisafe@earthlink.net
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to visit www.calisafe.org (click on POLICY) or contact me anytime. Regards, Robina SuwolExecutive Director & Founder California Safe Schools Parent Representative, LA Unified IPM Committee
818-785-5515 website: http://www.calisafe.org
Monday, July 27, 2009
Embracing the Precautionary Principle
Comments from Robina Suwol
Founder & Executive Director of California Safe Schools
One might think that when it comes to toxins and children, our government would take a precautionary approach, responding to early signs of harm. The European Union operates using a precautionary framework. But, we, in the United States do not.
We operate under a "prove harm" approach, in which science must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt a cause-and-effect relationship between a chemical and harm to necessitate regulatory action. Meanwhile, the health of our children rests in the balance.
Crazy, right?
Children absorb more toxins relative to body weight than adults, and their developing brains, organs, nervous systems and immune systems may be more vulnerable to toxins. Studies increasingly show how toxic chemicals harm the body even at low doses, as in parts per trillion, and the more often a child is exposed to chemicals, the greater the chance of harm. Government regulations and manufacturers of synthetic chemicals, however, determine exposure-threshold levels based on a healthy adult male who weighs 160 pounds.
As rates of childhood cancer, asthma, neurological disorders, endocrine and hormonal disorders and birth defects increase, environmental-justice advocates recognize there is no better time than now to protect our children's health.
Adults have an obligation to protect children from toxins. The U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act lists about 75,000 chemicals currently in use. Our country produces or imports 42 billion pounds of chemicals daily and global production is expected to double every 25 years. Not all toxic chemicals are obvious, though, as many are odorless and colorless, making our ability to protect children even more challenging.
Children spend nearly one-third of their lives at school—what should be a safe space for learning and growing. However, with the best intentions, many school districts use large amounts of chemicals with serious health concerns, instead of opting for lower-risk alternative methods. Pesticides regularly applied on school grounds and in classrooms off-gas into the air kids breathe and seep into the grass where they play. Ingredients in some pesticides have been linked to cancer, respiratory illness and attention-deficit disorder.
While exposure to toxic chemicals threatens all children, those living in less-affluent neighborhoods face a greater threat because of more air pollution from nearby industry and manufacturing plants, lead exposure from lead-based paint in older housing, and other factors associated with unjust social-economic factors. Worse, many of these children lack health insurance or adequate medical care.
We must eliminate the widespread use of toxic chemicals. Science supports us and policies increasingly support us—of course, more work is needed here—and we must ensure that adopted practices meet the spirit and intent of eliminating our reliance on toxic chemicals.We must refuse to become partners in "greenwashing" and creating standards or practices that mislead, and fall short of addressing public concern, expectation and protection, especially, when the outcome impacts the health of future generations.
California Safe Schools believes children and adults have a right to learn, work and live in a healthy environment. Current limitations of our regulatory system—dependent on risk-assessment approaches that fail to address key issues of chemical mixtures, cumulative impacts and synergistic effects—cry out for the need for programs, policies and legislation built on the concept of precaution.
copyright 2009
**********************************************************************
Robina Suwol is the Founder and Executive Director of California Safe Schools (CSS), a nationally celebrated children's environmental health non-profit coalition of over fifty organizations located in Southern California. CSS is recognized for spearheading the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation at Los Angeles Unified School District (the second largest in the nation). The policy was the first in the United States to embrace the Precautionary Principle and Parents Right to Know about pesticides used on school campuses. Today it has become the model for school districts & communities internationally.
On October 6, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 405 (Montanez) sponsored by California Safe Schools. This law closes a loophole protecting more than 6 million California K-12 public school students, and hundreds of thousands of teachers and school employees from exposure to experimental pesticides whose health effects are unknown.
For further information:
Robina Suwol & California Safe Schools
818-785-5515 - email: calisafe@earthlink.net
Founder & Executive Director of California Safe Schools
One might think that when it comes to toxins and children, our government would take a precautionary approach, responding to early signs of harm. The European Union operates using a precautionary framework. But, we, in the United States do not.
We operate under a "prove harm" approach, in which science must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt a cause-and-effect relationship between a chemical and harm to necessitate regulatory action. Meanwhile, the health of our children rests in the balance.
Crazy, right?
Children absorb more toxins relative to body weight than adults, and their developing brains, organs, nervous systems and immune systems may be more vulnerable to toxins. Studies increasingly show how toxic chemicals harm the body even at low doses, as in parts per trillion, and the more often a child is exposed to chemicals, the greater the chance of harm. Government regulations and manufacturers of synthetic chemicals, however, determine exposure-threshold levels based on a healthy adult male who weighs 160 pounds.
As rates of childhood cancer, asthma, neurological disorders, endocrine and hormonal disorders and birth defects increase, environmental-justice advocates recognize there is no better time than now to protect our children's health.
Adults have an obligation to protect children from toxins. The U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act lists about 75,000 chemicals currently in use. Our country produces or imports 42 billion pounds of chemicals daily and global production is expected to double every 25 years. Not all toxic chemicals are obvious, though, as many are odorless and colorless, making our ability to protect children even more challenging.
Children spend nearly one-third of their lives at school—what should be a safe space for learning and growing. However, with the best intentions, many school districts use large amounts of chemicals with serious health concerns, instead of opting for lower-risk alternative methods. Pesticides regularly applied on school grounds and in classrooms off-gas into the air kids breathe and seep into the grass where they play. Ingredients in some pesticides have been linked to cancer, respiratory illness and attention-deficit disorder.
While exposure to toxic chemicals threatens all children, those living in less-affluent neighborhoods face a greater threat because of more air pollution from nearby industry and manufacturing plants, lead exposure from lead-based paint in older housing, and other factors associated with unjust social-economic factors. Worse, many of these children lack health insurance or adequate medical care.
We must eliminate the widespread use of toxic chemicals. Science supports us and policies increasingly support us—of course, more work is needed here—and we must ensure that adopted practices meet the spirit and intent of eliminating our reliance on toxic chemicals.We must refuse to become partners in "greenwashing" and creating standards or practices that mislead, and fall short of addressing public concern, expectation and protection, especially, when the outcome impacts the health of future generations.
California Safe Schools believes children and adults have a right to learn, work and live in a healthy environment. Current limitations of our regulatory system—dependent on risk-assessment approaches that fail to address key issues of chemical mixtures, cumulative impacts and synergistic effects—cry out for the need for programs, policies and legislation built on the concept of precaution.
copyright 2009
**********************************************************************
Robina Suwol is the Founder and Executive Director of California Safe Schools (CSS), a nationally celebrated children's environmental health non-profit coalition of over fifty organizations located in Southern California. CSS is recognized for spearheading the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation at Los Angeles Unified School District (the second largest in the nation). The policy was the first in the United States to embrace the Precautionary Principle and Parents Right to Know about pesticides used on school campuses. Today it has become the model for school districts & communities internationally.
On October 6, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 405 (Montanez) sponsored by California Safe Schools. This law closes a loophole protecting more than 6 million California K-12 public school students, and hundreds of thousands of teachers and school employees from exposure to experimental pesticides whose health effects are unknown.
For further information:
Robina Suwol & California Safe Schools
818-785-5515 - email: calisafe@earthlink.net
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