Reform women join state environmental coalition

"Children are God's most precious gift. They are the hope for the future, yet pollution is threatening the health of our children," said Marlene Belstock, a WRJ steering committee member who lives in Los Altos.

"We've joined together as Jewish and Catholic women, united in our concern for our children and the future."

The coalition is currently working with a small environmental lobby group, Californians for Pesticide Reform, to enact legislation that will force school districts to reduce the level of pesticides used in both public and private schools and to find safer alternatives.

Groups are also calling for the phasing out of toxic chemicals, specifically those that pose a danger to children's health.

Many frequently used chemicals are not fully tested to know their effects on children's health.

"Working in coalition is very natural for us," said Nick Guroff, the California representative for the Berkeley-based National Environmental Trust. "The faith community has been at the core of every citizen's movement in this country."

-- Alexandra J. Wall