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Easy Ways to Help TIP: ACTION CORNER DON’T BE FOOLED ABOUT FRAGRANCE! TOPICS (In The Interest of Greater Disclosure And
Honesty In Advertising of Fragranced Products) ***************************************** TWO DISCUSSIONS LED BY LIBERTY GOODWIN, TIP DIRECTOR First given at the Riverside & Seekonk Libraries, now available to your group. Consumers are bombarded with information about what and how to eat. Much of this advice is conflicting or commercially motivated, some just confusing or difficult to follow. Liberty will offer simple tips on how to choose the healthiest food options and avoid those that are harmful. Clear up the confusion of commercial advertising claims about cleaning products. “Green” living is about more than energy efficiency, recycling and solar panels. Human health and the environment go hand in hand. Liberty will discuss ways that household products can impact both, and will offer simple steps to a really “green” household. (DO YOU KNOW OF ANOTHER GROUP THAT MIGHT LIKE TO HOST EITHER?) ******************************************* BILLS OF INTEREST BEFORE THE U.S. CONGRESS 1. Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010: Legislation to revamp the 34-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 2. The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 would eliminate harmful chemicals from the products women, men and children put on their bodies every day. - 3. Tell Congress To Label Genetically Modified Foods! www.toxicsinfo.org/legislation.htm ******************************* HELP US MAKE SAFER LEARNING SPACES PASS IT ALONG, TO PARENTS & TO SCHOOL
& DAY CARE PERSONNEL! Resources & information to assist school facilities managers to transition to green cleaning and reduced pesticide use. Also, an info flyer to pass along to friends, family, teachers & health professionals. Find this & more at: www.toxicsinfo.org/healthyschools.htm 2. INVITE US TO SPEAK AT A PARENT OR SCHOOL GROUP! The inaugural meeting of the Good Green Schools Gang, focused toward school facilities directors was July 15. Press Release. We hope to have another in November, and continue outreach to RI school maintenance professionals. ********************************************* IT’S USEFUL YEAR-ROUND! THE LESS TOXIC LANDSCAPING RESOURCE DIRECTORY IS NEWLY FORMATTED & REVISED FOR 2009. BEST OF ALL, FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT'S FREE! This Helpful Guide lists Organic-Friendly Sources For Supplies, Services & Information, so you can find all you need for healthful landscaping & gardening. LEARN ABOUT HEALTHIER LAND CARE! Get started by reading this little info flyer, then get an LTL Directory copy from TIP’s booth at an event this Spring. You’ll also find it at many local libraries.. Listen to the Lawn Flag Song! This song is written by Paul Klinkman, the TIP Webmaster. ******************************************* YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO HELP EDUCATE PARENTS & OTHERS ON HOW TO PROTECT KIDS IN RHODE ISLAND FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS IN THEIR TOYS & OTHER PRODUCTS! The RI Children’s Product Safety Act: did not succeed this year. Federal legislation was passed to strengthen regulations and oversight of a variety of products by the consumer product safety commission. However, it only mentions phthalates by name, not bisphenol-A. Also, federal agencies have a track record of sometimes taking many years to even begin work on mandated actions. And the research on which they rely is often tainted by industry involvement. THE BEST PROTECTION FOR OUR KIDS IS EDUCATED CONSUMERS! 1. VISIT OUR KIDS & TOXICS PAGES, AT: WWW.TOXICSINFO.ORG/TIPS_KIDS.HTM TO LEARN ABOUT HEALTHIER, SAFER TOYS AND CHILD CARE ITEMS. WATCH FOR UPDATES IN 2008 ON LEGISLATION, MANUFACTURER, AND CONSUMER ACTIONS RELATING TO TOY SAFETY. 2. GET ON THE TIP E-MAIL LIST AND RECEIVE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON SAFER PRODUCTS AND WHICH TO AVOID. 3. PASS ON THIS INFORMATION AND THAT ON THE TIP WEBSITE TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY. 4. WATCH FOR THE UPCOMING “LESS TOXIC LIVING GUIDE” SERIES OF HELPFUL BROCHURES. THE FIRST, ON HEALTHY HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING AND GIFT-GIVING, SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN EARLY TO MID-NOVEMBER. 5. BECOME A MEMBER OF TIP, SUPPORT OUR WORK AND RECEIVE OUR INFORMATIVE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER! www.toxicsinfo.org/subscribe.htm ********************************************** CAMPAIGNS AGAINST & INFO ABOUT CANCER-CAUSING COSMETICS Connections between some chemicals found in personal care products are now so clear that the European Union has taken strong action to remove them. But U.S. regulators are dragging their feet, and companies still use risky ingredients here. Two fine websites tell you what you need to know to protect yourself and demand equal protection. GO TO “CAMPAIGN FOR SAFE COSMETICS” AND “NOT TOO PRETTY” TO SEE WHAT TO AVOID AND HOW TO HELP! FRAGRANCE-FREE PRODUCT & HEALTH INFORMATION TIP has been gathering information and fragrance-free product samples for making a large national 2007 Quaker summer conference fragrance-free, thus accessible to all, including those with asthma and chemical sensitivities. Everyone should learn about this! INFORM YOURSELF HERE. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NETWORK Do you care about the environment? Do you care about justice? Do you care about your health and the health of your children? Rhode Islanders of all incomes, races and ethnicities deserve to live in safe and healthy communities. Learn what you can do to make your homes and neighborhoods healthier. For more information, contact Steven Fischbach, Community Lawyer at Rhode Island Legal Services - 1-800-662-5034 extension 182 or by email at steve.fischbach@gmail.com HISPANIC HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVE SEE OUR TIP WEBSITE SPANISH PAGES! We are providing informational materials in Spanish on our TIP concerns for use by health care professionals and health educators. Help get these advice givers educated - pass the word! INHALANT ABUSE - THE FREE - AND DANGEROUS - HIGH AT HOME OR SCHOOL. A short video on protecting kids from the dangers of “huffing” common household products was provided to us by Paulette Hamilton, RI Inhalant Abuse Prevention Coordinator. This was shown during the May 2006 TIP School Toxics Forum followed by comments and discussion by panel and audience. We are making this video available for additional showings in RI. SCHEDULE THE INHALANT VIDEO AND DISCUSSION AT A PTA MEETING OR SCHOOL. CONTACT TIP AT 401-351-9193. SCHOOLWORK OPTIONS TIP wants to encourage all students to explore some of the concerns and information that we do. Therefore, we are offering help to those who wish to pursue health and environment projects at school. **GET IDEAS FOR CLASS SCIENCE PROJECTS! Also, it’s official - TIP will again be giving our Special Awards at the RI State Science Fair in March, 2008! We look for projects that provide some kind of information related to Less Toxic Living. **EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES FOR SCIENCE FAIR ENTRIES AT YOUR SCHOOL! For samples of past winners & topics covered, visit our website at: www.toxicsinfo.org/basicInfo/ScienceFair.htm **************************************************** FREE ONLINE COURSE FOR NURSES ON FRAGRANCE & HEALTH toxicsinfo.org/indoorair/News for Nurses.htm (Good for continuing education credit) Health care professionals should know how to protect their most vulnerable patients - those with asthma, allergies, respiratory disorders, impaired immune systems and environmental illnesses. They can do so while fulfilling CE requirements! PASS THE WORD ABOUT THIS TO YOUR OWN DOCTOR OR NURSES YOU KNOW! LEGISLATION & REGULATION IN THE U.S. CONGRESS Legislation to revamp the 34-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) sponsored S. 3209, the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010, and Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) have unveiled H.R. 5820, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010. This is not the first time Congress has attempted to fix our nation’s flawed system for regulating toxic chemicals, but it is the first time that both chemical industry lobbyists and public health advocates agree that we can’t delay change any longer — the scientific evidence is too overwhelming; the public outcry too loud. House Panel Tackles Chemical Legislation (July 29) The need for reform is urgent. As Representative Rush said, "While the federal government’s ability to effectively monitor, test or otherwise oversee assorted industries will be strengthened through our legislation, right now our nation is bearing the brunt of decades of lax to non-existent federal oversight and the harm to consumers is immeasurable." Read the House Bill (H.R.5820) on THOMAS The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition supports the goals of both bills. However, we plan to work closely with Congress to fine-tune the legislation to make sure it reflects the concerns of the health care providers, scientists, advocates for the learning and developmentally disabled, and all the millions of individuals we represent. "There has never been more momentum to reform our federal chemical policy," said Andy Igrejas, Director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition. Read our July 22nd press release on the House Bill http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5500/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3621 CONTACTS: For Activists: Mia Davis, National Grassroots Coordinator , Clean Water Action, 617-338-8131, x201 For Legislative Offices: Janet Nudelman, Director of Program and Policy, Breast Cancer Fund, 415-346-8223 x24 (Info from Democracy in Action) What are all those chemicals in your lipstick? your aftershave? your child's shampoo? Some of them are linked to cancer, birth defects, infertility and other health problems. But right now we have an unprecedented opportunity to clean up our cosmetics - and we need your help! The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky with Rep. Edward Markey and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, is a huge moment for consumers, parents and environmental health advocates: for the first time in 70 years, we have a real chance to pass national legislation that would eliminate harmful chemicals from the products women, men and children put on their bodies every day. Now Congress needs to hear from us. Please tell your elected officials this common-sense legislation is important to you! SAVE "GEN-M," GENERATION MONSANTO! Tell Congress To Label Genetically Modified Foods! Gen-M, "Generation Monsanto," the first generation of humans force-fed genetically modified foods, hasn't reached reproductive age yet (they were born in the late 1990s). But, if a critical mass of animal feeding studies are any indication, the millennial generation, reared on Food Inc.'s unlabeled "Frankenfoods" can look forward to a long-term epidemic of cancer, food allergies, sterility, learning disabilities, and birth defects. Corn (85% of U.S. production is GM), soy (91% GM), cotton (88% GM), canola (85% GM) and sugar beets (95% GM) are all genetically engineered by Monsanto to withstand massive doses of the company's glyphosate herbicide RoundUp, or else to exude their own pesticide, Bacillus Thuriengensis (Bt). RoundUp, the favorite weedkiller poison of non-organic farmers and gardeners, causes brain, intestinal and heart defects in fetuses. And scientists warn that RoundUp, the most extensively used herbicide in the history of agriculture, "may have dire consequences for agriculture such as rendering soils infertile, crops non-productive, and plants less nutritious." In addition, hundreds of thousands of US dairy cows are injected with genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone (developed by Monsanto) in spite of studies linking rBGH with cancer, and longstanding bans on the drug in the EU, Japan, Canada, and most industrialized nations. With Monsanto's genetically modified crops and chemicals threatening public health and the environment, not to mention the next generation's reproductive capacity, why isn't there a massive consumer outcry to restrain Monsanto's biotech bullying and ban genetically engineered foods and agriculture? The answer is disturbingly simple. Collusion between Monsanto and elected public officials (including the current Obama Administration) has obscured the fact that almost all non-organic foods in the US contain genetically modified ingredients. Despite poll after poll indicating that 87-95% of US consumers want mandatory labels on foods containing genetically modified ingredients, Congress has heretofore listened to Monsanto and corporate agribusiness, rather than their own constituents. In the European Union, Japan, or South Korea, where genetically modified foods must be labeled, there are no genetically modified foods on grocery story shelves (and little or none served in restaurants), since most consumers would not buy them and a significant number would complain if they saw GMO labels on products. Consequently there are very few genetically modified crops being cultivated in the EU (mainly a small amount of corn in Spain for animal feed). Most Americans simply do not understand that 80% of non-organic supermarket processed foods (basically every product containing soy, corn, canola, cottonseed oil, sugar beet derivatives or ingredients from animals fed soy or corn) are contaminated with genetically modified organisms. While nearly everyone in North America has eaten genetically modified foods, only 26% believe that they have. People don't think they're eating genetically modified foods because they have no way of knowing whether they are or not. Genetically modified foods aren't labeled. If we're going to save this generation from reproductive dysfunction and save our farmland from the ravages of RoundUp, we need to stop Monsanto. The first step is to protect consumers' right to know whether their food is genetically modified. We need genetically modified food labeled now! ****************************************************** 2010 RI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE H7949 GREEN CLEANING FOR SCHOOLS UNFORTUNATELY H7949 DID NOT MAKE IT THIS YEAR. IT WAS A GOOD BILL TO REQUIRE ALL SCHOOLS IN RHODE ISLAND TO USE CLEANING PRODUCTS THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY AND HEALTH-FRIENDLY - AND CERTIFIED AS SUCH BY INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTIES. THE BILL WAS SUBMITTED BY REP. PETER PALUMBO, AND CO-SPONSORED BY REPS. MC NAMARA, MALIK, JACKSON, & SLATER. A HEARING WAS HELD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, BEFORE THE HOUSE HEW (HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE) COMMITTEE. CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR RI SCHOOL & DAY CARE LAWN PESTICIDE BAN -IN A NEW WAY The RI Dept. of Environmental Management is trying to educate schools to adopt safer practices by preparing and following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans for mostly organic land care. Ask your local school about their pesticide policies and practices. Encourage them to learn and utilize safer ways to maintain playing fields. For useful articles you can share, see the Pesticide-Free Playing Fields section of our website : www.toxicsinfo.org/playingfields.htm . And, here’s another resource you can use: PESTICIDE-FREE PLAYING FIELDS DVD ( An excellent resource for educating those responsible for care of school and athletic fields). Your children and others run, play and roll around on fields provided by their schools and sports associations. Make sure they are not exposed to toxins there that can trigger asthma attacks or contribute to learning disabilities, endocrine disruption and/or childhood cancer. A fine, 7 1/2 minute DVD from the Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection shows how schools can transition to healthier practices. ** SHOW THE CT ORGANIC LAND CARE VIDEO TO GROUPS OR DECISIONMAKERS! Contact TIP to borrow a DVD or VHS copy, and ask us for more information on how you can help. *************************************************** ASK HOME DEPOT, LOWE’S AND OTHER RETAILERS TO SELL LESS-TOXIC PRODUCTS What other homeowners & gardeners buy and use affects us all. The more environmentally and health-friendly products found locally, the more they will turn up next door to you. Urge retailers to offer healthier options for land care, and remove the toxic options from their shelves. ******************************************* 2009 HEALTHY HOLIDAYS HANDBOOK 2008 HEALTHY HOLIDAYS HANDBOOK ******************************************* Membership/Donations Help Our Work For Your Environment & Health! TIP is an official 501C3 Non-Profit organization, so all contributions are tax-deductible. TIP SURVEY OF INTERESTS & CONCERNS How can we help you? What health conditions worry you? What kind of information is most useful to you? To help us be more effective in directing our efforts to your needs, please check or circle topics here on which you would like to keep informed STILL AVAILABLE: FREE COPY OF “SAFER FOR YOUR BABY”, A DETAILED GUIDE TO LESS TOXIC LIVING FOR EVERYONE (NOT JUST BABIES) NEW MEMBERSHIP OPTION: “PESTICIDES & YOU” Now, with a donation of $40 or more, you can receive a free year’s subscription to this informative publication from Beyond Pesticides, the fine Washington, DC-based national organization. For samples of the excellent articles they offer, go to: www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices Membership option: E/The Environmental Magazine TIP's Less Toxic Landscaping Campaign Materials Bumper Stickers, Tote Bags, Signs, Organic T-Shirts. . . Books on Less Toxic Living and Landscaping “Safer for Your Baby”, How to Grow Fresh Air”, “Building A Healthy Lawn”, “Herbal Cat Care”. NEW: Books & card games for kids. ********************************* |
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Toxics Information Project (TIP)
P.O. Box 40441, Providence, RI 02940 Tel. 401-351-9193 E-Mail: TIP@toxicsinfo.org Website: www.toxicsinfo.org |
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