Beyond Toxics Archives

May 2015

Overspray

Tom Titus

Dr. Tom Titus was a guest speaker at the Legislative Briefing Day for SB 613. SB 613 was introduced as the Public Health and Water Resources Protection Act in the 2015 Legislature. His presentation on amphibians and herbicide exposure was so informative that we asked him to submit his thoughts for the Beyond Toxics blog.

Dr. Titus wrote the following piece before it was announced that SB 613 was not going to get a hearing in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Senator Chris Edwards.

On the path to a toxics-free Oregon (photo by Carla Hervert)

Mar 2013

Walking The Path to Environmental Victory in Oregon

Lisa Arkin

I’m writing this from the inner sanctum of the State Capitol building, where in only three days, Beyond Toxics supporters will join me talk with elected leaders to discuss better pest management policy, more tracking and accountability and, as a result, pesticide reduction.

What’s our goal? A healthier world. How are we going to do it? Show up, speak up and work for change.

Beyond Toxics and No Coal Eugene talk to Mayor Piercy at Coal Protest 7-12-2012

Jul 2012

Victory for small (and honest) non-profits in the battle against the giant (and manipulative) coal industry!

Lisa Arkin

In spring of this year, Beyond Toxics submitted a Public Records Request to the Port of Coos Bay to learn the details of plans to haul coal through Eugene for export to nations in the Far East? Remember that they demanded $22,000 to get what should be public information? If that wasn’t enough, the Port of Coos Bay tacked on a long list of intrusive questions, demanding the disclosure of our members’ names and addresses.

May 2012

Taking Responsibility for Justice

Lisa Arkin

Eugene, nationally recognized as a bike city, a community near nature and a place where we value sustainability, would not normally attract attention around environmental human rights and justice issues. Which is why for one day, Beyond Toxics and Centro LatinoAmericano invited city and agency officials, students and community leaders on an environmental justice bus tour to West Eugene where we got the opportunity to see how families live through the lens of “environmental justice”.

Feb 2012

Tribal Elders and Rally Speakers To Our Dr. Governor – Protect Us from Pesticide Drift!

Lisa Arkin

A nearby neighbor who has a house on the shores of Triangle Lake heard the loudspeaker from the Chemical Witness Rally, and wandered over to see what was going on. What she found was an open microphone at the lakeshore park, a place and time for people to speak to their personal experience about being harmed by pesticides.

Jan 2012

Exposures to Air Pollution in Medford, Oregon

Lisa Arkin

Executive Director Lisa Arkin and I made the three hour drive to Medford, Oregon to give an Asthma Care Workshop. A long trip for us, but well worth it. Last summer, UNETE, a farmworkers’ advocacy organization, invited us to collaborate with them in doing a workshop (see our pictures from the workshop) for the people they serve.

Nov 2011

OTA is now...Beyond Toxics!

Lisa Arkin

An organization that decides to change its name undertakes an exploration of their intentions, desires and aspirations. That is why I am thrilled by the name chosen by our Board of Directors, staff and members : Beyond Toxics!