Release of Report: POISONED SCHOOLS: Invisible Threats, Visible Actions

[Guest guest]

Dear Listmates:

For all of you working on SAFE SCHOOL issues, you might be

interested in the official release of a landmark report by

CHEJ (Center for Health, Environment and Justice) on the

first day of spring (March 21). Below you will find a copy

of my letter to my local newspaper editor.

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the report you

can call CHEJ at 703-237-2249 and ask for either Deb Benyik

or Cotter.

To safer schools,

Irene Wilkenfeld

Irene Ruth Wilkenfeld

SAFE SCHOOLS

8818 Sherman Mountain Road

Cheyenne, WY 82009-8844

[307] 772-0655

FAX: [307] 772-0656

e-mail: irw@...

FOR RELEASE ON MARCH 21st

March 14, 2001

Letters-to-the-Editor

Wyoming Tribune Eagle

702 W. Lincolnway

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Dear Editor:

Throughout Wyoming and all across the nation, unsuspecting

children are routinely exposed to environmental health

hazards, which are capable of causing debilitating childhood

diseases, learning disabilities, and neurodevelopmental

injury. This exposure occurs in the very place that many of

us think of as a safe haven, our neighborhood school.

Increasing numbers of children are being stricken with

asthma, childhood cancers, learning disabilities, and

behavioral disorders. And in many cases, the culprit is an

“invisible” environmental exposure in a contaminated

classroom.

On March 21st, the first day of spring, the Center for

Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) will release their

groundbreaking new report, Poisoned Schools: Invisible

Threats, Visible Actions. It features two front-burner

issues: the use of pesticides in schools and the building of

schools on contaminated sites. In this report, physicians,

parents, school employees, scientists and grassroots

activists from across the country, come together to offer

insights about existing problems and suggestions for

remediation. The goal of this report is to connect local

efforts across the country, raise awareness of the toxic

threats to children’s health and promote precautionary

approaches, cognizant of our children’s unique vulnerability

to environmental health hazards.

As an environmental health consultant, specializing in

school environments, I wholeheartedly endorse CHEJ’s efforts

and urge my fellow Cheyenne residents to get involved,

become informed, protect our children and spring into action

today!

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in obtaining a

copy of this landmark report.

To safer schools and kinder classrooms,

Irene Wilkenfeld