This passionate organizer for Physicians for Social Responsibility in Southern California recounts how an environmental justice coalition came together in some of Los Angeles’ poorest neighborhoods to force California’s EPA to use precaution as an organizing principle. She shows how communities resist being forced to make the false choice between health and jobs, and are demanding healthier models of development. She describes the inspiring battle spearheaded by one remarkable activist mom in the L.A. Unified School District to stop using toxic pesticides. It led to one of the best nontoxic integrated pest management school policies in the country.

This speech was given at the 2004 Bioneers National Conference and is featured on the Ecological Medicine Vol. 1 and Environmental Justice Vol. 1 Collections.