Dow and Vikane fumigation

[meuser@cats.ucsc.edu]

HI - I hope that you don't mind this plea for help.  We (190+
families at UCSC's Family Student Housing have been fighting
a toxic termite fumigation of our home for over a year and a
half.  We have succeeded in stalling the fumigation, but it
seems that they will finally go ahead, evicting us if need be.

Over a year and a half ago it was announced that our homes would
be fumigated with Vikane.  We were shocked and amazed that this
decision had been reached with NO community input.  Under pressure,
the UCSC adminsitration orchestrated a meeting with Dr. Vernard
Lewis of UCB.  Dr. Lewis's presentation was very guarded and
tentative - he talked generally about alternatives, but said
results were inconclusive.  He refused to talk about the health
effects of various treatments.  Susequently, we have found that
his research was funded by the California State Pesticide
Board and there was some question, at that time, whether his 
report would ever be released.

The administration decided to wait for his report which was
due out last summer.  It was not released at that time.  Once
again we were notified of a new schedule for fumigating our
homes.  This was to take place last month.  After being notified
we found all sorts of information about alternatives, especially
heat treatment, and how effective and safe it was in comparison
to Vikane.  We gave this information to the administration.  We
also compiled stories and documents indicating that DOW, parent
of Dow-Elanco (mfg. of Vikane) was not to be trusted, citing the
many products (agent orange, silicon breast implants, 2,4,5-T,
and most recently Dioxin) that Dow said were safe, in some cases
hid and denied or falsified test results, and it was finally
found after years or decades that the products (or byproducts)
were unsafe and had done harm to untold numbers of people.
We noted that the testing, what little has been done, has been
done by DOW.  We said that even when things, such as methyl
Bromide, are PROVEN unsafe it takes years and decades to
stop poisoning workers and communities.  Much of this information
was gathered, with the help of Shiela Darr and Bill Quarrels of
Bio Integral Research Center in Berkeley.  Also, the Pesticide
Education Network of SF has been helpful in sending us information.
Most recently Isothermics has helped put us in touch with
contrators that use heat rather than toxic fumigants to erradicate
termites.  Much information was found in Rachel's Environment
and health Weekly.

We have appreciated all of this help, but, sadly, it has not
made a difference.  We even have a signed petition by 87% of
the families in this complex, saying NO VIKANE, but it is as
though none of our research, information, pleas has made
any difference at all.  Most recently the maintenance manager,
reflecting on our efforts to coordinate the visits of two
heat treatment contractors dismissed us as JUST tenants
interferring in the process.  We have spent hundreds of dollars
sending flyer to our neighbors, sending packets of information
to various folks in the administration, but it, so far, seems
wasted.  Even the campus Environmental Health and Safety
Officer has refused to comment on our research or respond to
the many questions we have.

Well, this is getting very long and I don't want to bore you
with too much detail.  Hopefully you get the picture.  The
bottom line is that we really need help and just don't know
where to turn next.  Thanks for your time.

Mike Meuser
Marie Clary

Please respond to clary@cruzio.com
or 408-458-4245

Please send this on to any interested or potentially helpful
parties.  Thanks.