The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

Toxic Sludge Stance by Alice Waters Sparks Protests

WASHINGTON

RONNIE CUMMINGS
JOHN STAUBER
Cummings is director of the Organic Consumers Association; Stauber is an advisory board member of the group and co-author of the book Toxic Sludge Is Good for You!

OCA said in a statement: "Thursday, April 1 is the 30th birthday of the famous Chez Panisse Cafe in Berkeley, California, owned by iconic chef and safe food advocate Alice Waters. At noon it will be picketed by the Organic Consumers Association in a protest against the dumping of toxic sewage sludge on gardens in the Bay Area."

Cummings said today: "On behalf of our hundreds of thousands of members we are protesting the failure of Alice Waters to oppose growing food on toxic sewage sludge, often deceptively labeled as 'organic compost.'" See news release.

HUGH KAUFMAN
A noted expert at the Environmental Protection Agency, Kaufman said today: "It's very disappointing that Alice Waters -- unlike other prominent individuals in the organic movement -- does not oppose growing food on toxic sludge. I hope she'll reconsider. ... Only 1 percent of the hazardous and toxic materials in sewage sludge is regulated."

A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.