Call for artists to connect hazardous materials, health and the environment

4Culture seeks artists to create comic book, short film for English and Spanish speaking residents in King County

New partner in art, 4Culture

Artists interested in using their skills  to engage communities and take a new look at the toxic materials in everyday life are invited to answer 4Culture’s call for two new public art projects.

A collaborative effort between the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program and 4Culture,  the project will commission artists to combine hazardous materials information and art in a comic book and a short film. These materials will be used by the program to elevate community awareness on an ongoing basis.

“Many of the products we bring in our homes can contain hazardous materials, but it is challenging to know how to talk about the risks. By working with artists we hope to find innovative and engaging ways to inform the public,” said Dave Waddell, manager of the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program’s Hidden Hazards in the Arts.

“This is an exciting opportunity for artists to show the power of visual storytelling, and further the role of art in fostering social change,” said Tamar Benzikry-Stern, project manager for 4Culture.

Artists selected for this project will be compensated by 4Culture. Project materials will be produced by the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program and distributed throughout King County. Materials will also be translated into Spanish.

Project details are at www.4culture.org/apply/index.aspx. Deadline for entry is Monday, June 24 at 5 p.m. For submittal questions, contact Tamar Benzikry-Stern at 206-296-8692, or Willow Fox at 206-205-8024.

4Culture (www.4culture.org) is a unique integration of arts, heritage, preservation and public art; committed to advancing community through culture. Public exhibitions and performances, public art, preservation of significant sites and interpretation of local history deepen our connections to the places in which we live and work. 4Culture stimulates cultural activity and enhances the assets that distinguish a community as vibrant, unique and authentic.

Cleaning up the Duwamish – weigh in soon

Duwamish photo by Alex Stonehill, KUOW.org

Comment period ending June 13

Residents living along the Duwamish want a river with fish that are safe to eat and to play in, and voiced their concerns at last month’s public hearing:
http://earthfix.kuow.org/communities/article/final-public-hearing-for-seattles-superfund-site/
.

If you want to take a look and comment on the cleanup plan, put it on your to do list now – the comment period ends Wednesday, June 13^th. Find information at:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/CLEANUP.NSF/sites/lduwamish/
.

Although the public meetings are over, this link has a lot of information on the cleanup, public comments, maps and more at:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/webpage/Lower+Duwamish+Waterway+Superfund+Site+Community+Resources?OPENDOCUMENT#comment

To submit your comments by Wednesday, June 13:

Comment on the Proposed Plan for the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site (PDF) (121 pp, 3.6MB), Appendix B: Environmental Justice Analysis (PDF) (78 pp, 1.6MB), and Appendix A: Source Control Strategy (PDF) (74 pp, 1.1MB) by June 13. Hard copies of these files can be found at these locations. You may also contact Renee Dagseth (dagseth.renee@epa.gov) for a CD of the documents. View the Proposed Plan Footprint Map (PDF) (1 pp, 41MB).

Submit comments:

• online at www.resolv.org/site-ldpc
• Email: ldpc@resolv.org
• Fax:  206-420-5999
• Mail letters to: Allison Hiltner
  Environmental Protection Agency
  1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900 ECL-111
  Seattle, WA 98101

Choosing a weed killer?

Roundup, a popular herbicide, could be linked to Parkinson’s, infertility and cancers

This is the time of year we start seeing brown strips of grass around gardens, driveways, fence lines and ditches. Often those dead areas of grass and weeds have been treated with Roundup, a popular weed killer.

Roundup is in the news this spring, and not for its weed killing uses. A new study suggests that heavy use of glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup, is linked to serious health problems and that evidence of glyphosate residues have been found on food. And a farmer was surprised to find wheat that has been genetically modified to withstand Roundup on his farm in Eastern Oregon.

But for the home gardener, there are ways to garden safely and with fewer pesticides.

First, the crop news

According to the East Oregonian news, Japan has put a hold on purchasing wheat until the mystery of how the GMO “Roundup Ready” wheat ended up in an Eastern Oregon wheat field and what that may mean for Western wheat growers. Read the update at www.eastoregonian.com/free/japan-cuts-imports-after-genetically-modified-wheat-found/article_bc01b15e-c957-11e2-ade1-001a4bcf887a.html.

An update on the growing alarm of Oregon wheat growers:  www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/05/genetically_modified_wheat_jap.html

The last time a crop was suspected of being contaminated with GMO strains was 2006. Genetically engineered rice was found in that year’s harvest and exporters lost millions as international markets refused imports. According to NPR, the wheat harvest is much larger.

For more on the mystery of the GMO wheat – whose experimental trials ended in 2001 in Oregon and all engineered crops were supposed to be completely removed, read on at www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/30/187103955/gmo-wheat-found-in-oregon-field-howd-it-get-there. How much of the GMO wheat may be in food supplies is uncertain.

And the health news

Residues of “glyphosate,” the chief ingredient in Roundup weed killer, have been found in food. A recent study suggests glyphosate may play a role in Parkinson’s, infertility and cancers. These health concerns are common to some pesticide exposures. From the National Institutes of Health news: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136278.html

Those residues enhance the damaging effects of other food-borne chemical residues and toxins in the environment to disrupt normal body functions and induce disease, according to the report, authored by Stephanie Seneff, a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Anthony Samsel, a retired science consultant from Arthur D. Little, Inc. Samsel is a former private environmental government contractor as well as a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“Negative impact on the body is insidious and manifests slowly over time as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body,” the study says.

And the garden news: weed techniques don’t have to use Roundup

Find out more about glyphosate use and risks at Grow Smart Grow Safe – an online resource on pesticides at www.growsmartgrowsafe.org/.  You can also find techniques to tackle weeds without Roundup at www.growsmartgrowsafe.org/Weeds.aspx, and save yourself the worry, exposure and the wait for a final verdict on Roundup’s health impacts. Or call the experienced folks at the Garden Hotline at 206-633-0224 and find out how to garden with fewer chemicals.

Find safe garden products at http://www.growsmartgrowsafe.org

Public Hearing on Secure Medicine Return

King County WA – On May 16th, 1:30 pm the King County Board of Health will hold a public hearing on a proposed rule and regulation that would create a product stewardship model for unused medicines in King County.
Learn more…

Hearing location:
Metropolitan King County Council Chambers
10th floor, Courthouse
516 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA

The 1:30 pm hearing will be broadcast LIVE on King County TV (Cable Channel 22 on Comcast and Broadstripe in King area) and will also be streamed LIVE online at:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/KCTV/schedule.aspx?day=05/16/2013

Pew Internet: A Demographic Portrait of Mexican-Origin Hispanics in the United States

A summary of trends among residents that identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino
Pew Research Hispanic Center uses Census and American Community Survey to show trends in language use and English proficiency, age, birthplace, marital status, fertility, regional dispersion, education, income, poverty status, health insurance, home ownership, and income.

From the report:

Mexicans are by far the largest Hispanic-origin population in the U.S., accounting for nearly two-thirds (64%) of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2012.1 Hispanics of Mexican origin are also a significant portion of the U.S. population, accounting for 11% overall.

Read more at: http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/05/01/a-demographic-portrait-of-mexican-origin-hispanics-in-the-united-states

To find King County specific data: http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/PSB/Demographics/DataReports.aspx

And to view maps of King County census data, including Hispanic/Latino, go to: http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/equity/toolsandresources/maps.aspx

Jobs for youth; refugee candidates encouraged to apply by May 15

Summer VISTA jobs to work with refugee youth programs

Five local organizations are recruiting for summer AmeriCorps VISTA members who will be working in with refugee youth programs. Refugee candidates, ages 18-24, are strongly encouraged to apply. These full-time positions run between June 17, 2013 and August 23, 2013. Applications accepted through May 15, 2013.

Summer VISTA members will receive:
• A living allowance for the time served of approximately $980.00/month
• A prorated AmeriCorps Education Award (approximately $1,174) or a $125/month cash stipend awarded at the completion of service term

PLEASE GO TO THE LINKS FOR INFORMATION ON CONTACTS FOR EACH OPPORTUNITY:

Coalition for Refugees from Burma – Summer VISTA Associate

https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=49759&fromSearch=true

East African Community Services – Summer VISTA Associate

https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=49812&fromSearch=true

International Rescue Committee – Summer VISTA Associate

https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=49754&fromSearch=true

School’s Out Washington – Summer VISTA Associate

https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=49757&fromSearch=true

Somali Community Services Coalition – Summer VISTA Associate

https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=49761&fromSearch=true

Show off your Pesticide Free yard with our free sign

This lovely ladybug could be in your garden!

Take a pledge and join over 800 parks and trails in King County that use few to no pesticides.
King County and Washington Toxics Coalition are offering the Pesticide Free Zone ladybug signs free to families gardening without pesticides. Kids are most at risk from contact with toxic chemicals like pesticides as they crawl, roll and play on lawns – and chemical exposures can have life-long impacts.

“We are pleased to partner with King County to offer families an attractive way to share their pesticide-free yards with neighbors and friends,” said Anna Dyer of Washington Toxics Coalition. “Pesticide Free Zone signs spread the word that our yards and parks can be beautiful and healthy for kids, adults and wildlife.”

Families in King County that take care of their yard with no pesticides can take a pledge and get the sign to recognize their efforts. Order your sign at the Washington Toxics Pesticide Free Zone page http://watoxics.org/healthy-living/healthy-homes-gardens-1/pesticide-free-zone/pesticide-free-zone-main/.

Play worry free at over 800 Pesticide-Free Places: http://www.HazWasteHelp.org/Pesticide-FreePlaces. The map shows public places in King County where park staff are using few to no pesticides in their lawn care. They are working to keep employees and visitors safe, and protecting streams, Puget Sound and the animals that call these places home.

King County Parks manages more than 26,000 acres of parks and natural lands; of the 189 total sites, 102 are pesticide free and 87 are pesticide reduced.

Seattle Parks and Recreation has been reducing pesticides since 2001 at 390 parks, and is maintaining over 4,550 acres with few to no pesticides.

Other cities that manage their parks pesticide-free are: Black Diamond, Duvall, Shoreline and Hunts Point. Cities that manage their parks pesticide-free or with limited pesticide use are Auburn, Bellevue, Burien, Kenmore, Kirkland, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, SeaTac, Snoqualmie and Skykomish.

In our area, the Port of Seattle, Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Service also take care of their properties in a pesticide-free or reduced manner.
For help with pesticide alternatives, call the Garden Hotline at 206-633-0224, or visit http://www.GrowSmartGrowSafe.org.

Find EnviroStars businesses that commit to practices that minimize pesticide use, keep the environment clean and your landscape healthy at http://envirostars.org/

Support for this project is provided through a partnership between the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program and Washington Toxics Coalition.