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Hi, The NoSpray Coalition will meet on Tuesday, July 5, at 7 pm at our office in Brooklyn NY: 388 Atlantic Ave. (between Hoyt and Bond St.) 3rd floor walkup Transportation: A, C or G train to Hoyt-Schermerhorn St.; 2,4 or 5 train to Nevins St.; or (long walk) N,Q,B,D,R train to Atlantic Ave./Pacific Street. Also, the #63 bus stops right near the office. Please try to attend. ----------------------------- Either Tuesday or Wednesday, the NY Daily News will run an article questioning the NYC Parks Department's spraying of Monsanto's "Roundup" around every playground and park in the City. I had called the Daily News reporter about this, and he interviewed me, Carl Lawrence and Connie Lesold last week. The News also sent a photographer to our forum last week. So keep yer fingers crossed, a new pathway is opening up for our work. ---------------------------- The forum itself went quite well. I gave a summary of the history of pesticide spraying in NYC mosquitoes said to be carrying West Nile Virus since 1999, tying it in to the fight against genetic engineering and the expropriation (and murder) of indigenous farmers in South America from their lands. Argentine biologist Javiera Rulli began where I'd left off, and gave a thorough presentation about the plunder of land in South America for the pharming of genetically engineered soy -- AND the sad role of such enviro groups as the World Wildlife Fund in selling out the local resistance movements. Joanne Steele from Ulster County (upstate) videotaped the event for her T.V. show. We can ask for a copy so that those who were not able to attend could see the video. ********************************** Last week, after receiving a generally favorable memorandum of law from the judge that upheld most of our contentions about environmental law, we were in Court setting up the schedule for Trial. The Judge urged the City to meet with us and try to settle the matter before trial. One of the key topics at this Tuesday night's NoSpray meeting will be discussion of what points we want to raise in the negotiations. In addition, one of the PACE law students working on our case will give an overview of the new regulations regarding pesticide spraying, and things we can and must do NOW. We will also discuss how best to target key communities, so roll up yer sleeves and prepare to do some work on these issues! In addition, we will hold elections for the No Spray Board, which we are required to do under NY State non-profit law. I hope you will be able to attend and participate ..... ********************************** We also mourn the loss of another stalwart activist involved with fighting against pesticides, as well as many other issues -- Frieda Zames, founder of Disabled in Action. Frieda had recently been having breathing problems, and reportedly passed away in her sleep. Frieda and her sister Doris Fleischer, co-wrote the only book available, surveying the whole history of the disabled civil rights movement. "FROM CHARITY TO CONFRONTATION, A HISTORY OF THE DISABLED RIGHTS MOVEMENT" from Temple University Press. Frieda had to sue the New Jersey Institute of Technology, NJIT in Newark, for gender discrimination in the 60's, to win her full professorship and tenure in mathematics. A polio survivor, she had been President and Vice Presdent of Disabled in Action of Metropolitan New York, many times over the past three decades. Frieda (and Bryna Eil) also brought Disabled in Action as a co-plaintiff with the No Spray Coalition into the lawsuit against NYC to stop pesticide spraying, which she argued was especially detrimental to immune compromised people and those in wheelchairs. She told me (Mitchel) how the wheels of the chairs kick up the pesticides into the faces and lungs. I saw Frieda at every protest and political activity I attended. She was a valiant beacon here in NYC ... To say that "she will be missed" is an understatement without parallel. Mitchel Cohen, for the No Spray Coalition *** We're now going to have to go into major fundraising mode to pay for the actual court case on the Facts, organizing and office expenses, literature, and so forth. *** We desperately need your help. *** Please contribute whatever funds you can spare to enable us to pursue the lawsuit and continue this very important work. You can either make out a check to “No Spray Coalition” and mail it to 388 Atlantic Avenue, 3rd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11217, or you can pay by credit card via the website: www.nospray.org. We need to raise tens of thousands of dollars literally! in the next few weeks. Contributions are NOT tax deductible, but greatly appreciated. No Spray Coalition 388 Atlantic Avenue, 3rd floor (between Bond St. & Hoyt St.) Brooklyn, NY 11217 website: www.nospray.org hotline: (718) 670-7110 listserve: [log in to unmask] email: [log in to unmask]