MW: I think what's next in the battle is pushing, and pushing, and pushing on the state regulators to make as strong a policy as we can get them to make regarding pesticide use around schools. We really have this important historic moment. There's never been anything like this. The Department of Pesticide Regulation has never done a statewide policy that can be so far reaching as one to address all the schools in the state to make them more protected. And that would be a big step forward. They are drafting their policy right now. It's delayed. You know, of course, our concern is they may be listening to other forces, that we discussed earlier, like Dow. So we have to keep the pressure on now, with news conferences, with meetings with community leaders, and elected leaders.
DB: Any teachers speaking out?
MW: Yes, they are absolutely speaking out. They are at the forefront of this because they're concerned about their students.
DB: As well as their own health, I should imagine.
MW: Yeah. At our news conference we had two teachers and representatives from teachers union. And they gave powerful speeches, and shared powerful concerns. I even have some quotes from them. This is from Sarah Henny. "We're tired of the children that we teach and care for being the guinea pigs of the pesticide industry. We're tired of the inaction of the state and local pesticide regulators to protect us from these health threats. If we're not going to ban these hazardous pesticides, then the least we can do is push them away from most harm."
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