2006.04.14: April 14, 2006: Headlines: COS - Ghana: Agriculture: Pest Control: ENN.com Environmental News: Ghana RPCV Karey Windbiel-Rojas to spread Message About Urban Integrated Pest Management
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2006.04.14: April 14, 2006: Headlines: COS - Ghana: Agriculture: Pest Control: ENN.com Environmental News: Ghana RPCV Karey Windbiel-Rojas to spread Message About Urban Integrated Pest Management
Ghana RPCV Karey Windbiel-Rojas to spread Message About Urban Integrated Pest Management
Windbiel-Rojas has a bachelor's degree in biology from CalPoly in San Luis Obispo and a master's degree in integrated pest management from UC Davis. She brings several years experience in teaching and working with community groups, including a two-year stint in Ghana with the Peace Corps.Windbiel-Rojas says she'd like to see change occur in "our behavior regarding pests and pest management, both urban and agricultural, to reduce pesticide use in California for a healthier environment, healthier food, and healthier living."
Ghana RPCV Karey Windbiel-Rojas to spread Message About Urban Integrated Pest Management
Educator to Spread Message About Urban Integrated Pest Management
April 14, 2006 — By UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program
DAVIS, Calif. — Although public attention is often focused on agricultural pests and chemicals used to control them, nearly half of all pesticide use in California is in urban environments. That's why the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program has selected Karey Windbiel-Rojas as the new Urban IPM Educator.
Windbiel-Rojas has a bachelor's degree in biology from CalPoly in San Luis Obispo and a master's degree in integrated pest management from UC Davis. She brings several years experience in teaching and working with community groups, including a two-year stint in Ghana with the Peace Corps. In addition, she monitored water quality in the Morro Bay Estuary and has been involved in a research project to study the impacts of insecticides on nontarget species in rice fields.
"We are delighted to have Karey on board. She will bring new insights, skills, and enthusiasm to our great team at the UC IPM Program and give a needed punch to our urban IPM outreach effort," says supervisor and UC IPM Education and Publications Director Mary Louise Flint.
In this new position, Windbiel-Rojas will coordinate urban outreach activities with UCCE master gardener programs, public agencies, non-government organizations, and others involved in urban pest management throughout California. A big part of the job is to organize and implement train-the-trainer programs, work with experts to develop outreach and educational materials, and find innovative ways to inform people about integrated pest management.
Windbiel-Rojas says her first priority is to familiarize herself with existing materials and to establish personal contacts in urban pest management, specifically with UCCE master gardeners and advisors, public agencies, and water quality experts.
"I'm a very motivated person with a passion for the environment and individual health," she says. "I enjoy teaching and collaborating with others toward a common goal. I hope to get 'up to speed' with my knowledge of available resources, including training modules, manuals, and other UC IPM publications."
As a native Californian, Windbiel-Rojas says she'd like to see change occur in "our behavior regarding pests and pest management, both urban and agricultural, to reduce pesticide use in California for a healthier environment, healthier food, and healthier living."
The UC Statewide IPM Program serves urban audiences through the creation of educational materials, training workshops and programs, cooperative educational and outreach programs with UC county offices across the state, and research. Its extensive web site at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu, which includes Pest Notes on more than 125 home, garden and landscape pests, an interactive module on healthy lawn care, and a special section on urban water quality issues, is accessed by more than 28,000 visitors a day.
Contact Info: Stephanie Klunk
Tel : (530) 754-6724
Website : UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program
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Initiatives and Accomplishments: Vasquez's major initiatives and accomplishments since becoming Peace Corps Director include: an agreement with Mexico in 2003 to host volunteers, sending RPCVs to work domestically in Hurricane relief after Katrina, emphasis on recruitment of minorities and of community college graduates, upgrading Peace Corps' infrastructure especially IT upgrades in the online application tracking process and the Volunteer Delivery System, an emphasis on safety and security of volunteers including the creation of a Situation Room at Peace Corps Headquarters, modifying Peace Corps' "Five Year Rule" for employment, and the expansion of the Peace Corps to its highest level in 30 years. He is the third longest serving Peace Corps Director after Ruppe Miller and Shriver.
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| Invitee re-assigned after inflammatory remarks The Peace Corps has pulled the invitation to Derek Volkart to join the Morocco Training Program and offered him a position in the Pacific instead after officials read an article in which he stated that his decision to join the Peace Corps was in "response to our current fascist government." RPCV Lew Nash says that "If Derek Volkart spoke his mind as freely in Morocco about the Moroccan monarchy it could cause major problems for himself and other Peace Corps volunteers." Latest: Volkart reverses stance, takes new assignment in Paraguay. |
| RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case. |
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Story Source: ENN.com Environmental News
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ghana; Agriculture; Pest Control
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