20 Ways To Fight Pesticides

Eat organic foods

Eating foods grown without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth stimulators or genetically engineered ingredients is the best way to support ecologically-sound agriculture and ensure your food is safer. You can opt out of the chemical agriculture system and the problems it creates for soil, water, air and all living things.

Protect your pet

Use a metal flea comb, then drown captured fleas in soapy water; also vacuum frequently to remove flea eggs. See www.panna.org/resources/advisor for more ideas.

Reject anti-bacterial products

Some soaps, toothpaste, beauty and laundry products needlessly include the antibacterial pesticide triclosan, a chemical that breaks down in the body to a polychlorinated phenol (a class of chemicals ranked as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer). To fight germs, use soap and warm water instead.

Buy organic fiber

Cotton uses more insecticides than any other crop in the world. Clothing, linens, and bedding made with organically certified fiber are becoming more plentiful and affordable. For sources see PAN's guide at www.organic cottondirectory.net.

Keep a pesticide free home

Avoid roach and ant killers, and chemical termite treatments. Caulk cracks where ants are entering and keep the kitchen free of crumbs. Store sugar in the fridge or freezer or in a ziplock bag.

Avoid high residue foods

If you can't get organics, avoid conventionally grown foods most likely to retain significant pesticide residues such as winter squash, peaches, apples, pears, grapes, green beans, spinach, strawberries and cantaloupe (according to Consumer's Union). PAN's Nowhere to Hide study adds butter, cucumbers/pickles, meatloaf, peanuts, popcorn, radishes, spinach, and summer squash to the list due to high levels of long-lasting pesticides (like DDT) that build up in our bodies.

Free your neighborhood of pesticides

Protect yourself, your children and your pets from dangerous pesticides by sharing least-toxic pest management tips with your neighbors. Agree to notify each other before using pesticides so everyone can take precautions.

Promote alternatives in your community

Contact PAN for information about local organizations working to rid your community of pesticides.

Make your building safer

Talk with the owner or management of your workplace or apartment about pesticides they use, and work with them to implement less toxic alternatives.

Have your group affiliate with PAN

Over 170 member groups (environmental, agricultural, school, consumer, labor, health, human rights) are PAN North America Affliates. The broader our network, the more effective we can be -- please join us!

Ask your local grocer for more organics

A few requests can really make a big difference. You'll be able to find organic produce more easily and give others in your neighborhood an opportunity to buy organic as well.

Free your schools and community of pesticides

Organize parents and teachers and contact elected officials to make your school, city and county pesticide free. Ask us for a schools kit.

Support local organic farms

Sign up to recieve weekly or monthly boxes of fresh, local, organic produce delivered right to your door. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) services are a popular and inexpensive way to get organic foods while supporting the small local farmers who are commited to organics. Check out www.localharvest.org to find a CSA near you.

Act on the facts

You can subscribe to PAN Alerts on our website -- www.panna.org/subscribe -- for actions you can take. For more in-depth weekly news and campaign updates, sign up for PANUPS as well. For detailed information about pesticides, products containing pesticides, and symptoms of pesticide poisoning, check out our comprehensive, award-winning database at www.pesticideinfo.org.

Contact your representatives

Ask your local, state, provincial and national policy makers to reduce or eliminate pesticide use in public buildings, parks, schools and agriculture.

Tell food companies to stop using GE ingredients

Send a letter or make a phone call to demand that Kraft and other companies stop using genetically engineered ingredients. Visit www.gefreepolicy.com for information about which companies have a GE-Free policy.

Tell your Senators to support international treaties to ban pesticides

PAN is currently working to get the U.S. to ratify the Persistent Organic Pollutant treaty that would ban an entire class of hazardous pesticides. Tell your Senator to approve the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions: www.senate.gov

Keep donating to PAN

Regular support helps us produce world class resources to improve pesticide regulations, promote effective alternatives and build a global movement for food security. Join our "pledge" program with monthly or quarterly donations. Consider making a donation to PAN now.

Host a party

Invite your friends to hear about PAN, share organic food and join us. It's fun, easy and we'll help. We can send a video and we might be able to give a presentation in your home. Contact PAN to discuss ideas.

Introduce Earth Share at your workplace

Earth Share is a pre-tax workplace giving program supporting environmental groups across the United States, including PAN. Contact PAN to find out how you can get your employer to offer Earth Share as a green option.