Talk on Toxic Sprays

Lisa Arkin

The next speaker in the “Speaking Truth to Power” series sponsored by North Coast Citizens for Watershed Protection is Lisa Arkin, long-time executive director of Beyond Toxics.  She speaks on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m. in the North Coast Recreation District headquarters (36155 9^th St.) in Nehalem.  Doors open at 5:30; the talk will be preceded by light refreshments and music by singer-songwriter Brandon Tigner.  This event is free and open to all.

Arkin's topic is "Sustain or Sacrifice:  Corporatizing Oregon's State Forests."  She will present the results of Beyond Toxics' recent research into the management of Oregon's public forests by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), exposing its pervasive aerial use of toxic sprays.  ODF regularly authorizes spraying in watersheds that supply drinking water to residences and municipal water systems.  "Timber taxes" from logging in state forests is distributed to city, county and other taxing districts, inducing them to turn a blind eye to this threat to public health.  Arkin advocates for legislative action to remedy Oregon's weak forest practice regulations.

For more information, contact Mary McGinnis at mary.mcginnis@hotmail.com.