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 (http://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:
http://www.cassonline.org/docs/EHRA_LBAM_April2008.pdf
http://cassonline.org/press_releases.html

"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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