My son is a fourth grader at Berkwood Hedge School, as referenced in Louis' post below, one of the Berkeley schools rated most endangered by industrial air pollution in California in the recent series in USA Today. What's interesting, from a media standpoint, is how the story is taken at face value.
A column by Chip Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle today does explore some of the possible inconsistencies in the database used for the report, and the response by Pacific Steel Castings, Inc.
Nevertheless, according to Berkwood Hedge director, Jane Friedman, action is underway to address concerns — not just at this school but citywide.
"I've had a preliminary meeting with representatives from the various Berkeley schools identified in the lower percentiles," Friedman says. "We are planning a larger community meeting in late January, 2009. We plan to invite both independent and public schools to educate, inform and provide opportunities for ways to get involved in this issue."
When this kind of data is released it is, of course, upsetting to parents and cause for action.
"I feel I am walking a delicate line between having current and prospective families respond with fear and negativity, and recognizing that this is a long standing problem that affects all of South Berkeley, not just the schools," Friedman says. "It is an air quality issue that needs to be addressed."
Annie Leonard, a Berkwood parent who works professionally on environmental health issues internationally, and is author of The Story of Stuff, is helping to mobilize support and interest.
We believe in media being a catalyst for citizen participation. The power of the press to enrage and engage is real. But it's also important to be vigilant about the data and facts which go into stories such as these.
Lisa Fasano, a spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management
District was quoted in Chip Johnson's column as saying about the USA Today story, "it erroneously reported emissions data that are actually not
quantified or verified by the EPA."
Perhaps the renewed interest in Berkeley's air quality will result in a new round of accurate on-site testing. That can only be a good thing for the community and its schools.
CHARLES KOPPELMAN
