TIP TALKS
The e-Newsletter of the
Toxics Information Project (TIP)
May, 2015
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IN THIS ISSUE
**LIB TALKS: The Preemption Problem – How to
Respond? U-Turns Needed, Sanity Abroad; Heroes
at Home; Our Power for Change, Here Comes the Sun..
**A BUNCH OF “OOPS” EXAMPLES – Concerns about
being “Wrong-Way Corrigans”: Medications in Wastewater,
Flame Retardant Falsities & Flaws.
**GOOD NEWS: Netherlands Ban on Guess What,
Fire Fighters Fight – Fire Retardants!
**ACTIONS & ALERTS FOR YOU: Speak Out vs. Media
Bias, Compliment Chipotle for Caring for Consumers,
Protect Organics, Stop Bad TSCA Bill.
** RESOURCES: EWG & Healthy Family Sunscreen
Guides for Kids & Adults, Sunscreen House of Shame
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LIB TALKS
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** FRESH FROM THIS WEEK’S NEWS: TWO HORRIFIC
REPORTS OF A GROWING PROBLEM - PREEMPTION
Yesterday, Nancy Alderman of Environment & Human Health,
<nancy.alderman@ehhi.org>, wrote: “Industry has learned
to take control by using preemption laws.” At the Federal
Level a preemption law will take states’ rights away – and
preemption at the state level will take towns’ rights away.
Below is a good example of this.” Nancy.
New Texas Law Enables Driller To Frack Gas Wells
In Denton For First Time Since City Ban
Associated Press, May 22, 2015
www.usnews.com/news/science/news/articles/2015/05/22/local-ban-nullified-by-texas-fracking-resumes-in-denton
Denton, Texas (AP) A North Texas city whose
fracking ban prompted state lawmakers to limit such
local power says a driller has revealed plans to resume
fracking gas wells in the city.
WHAT TO DO IN DENTON TX – AND OTHER PLACES
THREATENED BY CORPORATE DESTRUCTIVENESS?
This is disgusting - and scary. And, after reading the story above,
I actually heard on NPR about a similar action in Oklahoma – again
protecting corporate profits, not local people. The "preemption" tactic,
state-wide, federal and even (with TPP, for example) globally, is
becoming one of the most serious threats to people and planet.
However, even without the authority of the fracking ban, we do
have options. I would think that neighbors of the projects could
sue on the basis of other concerns - public nuisance, destruction
of the value of their property, poisoning their water, health effects,
maybe even constitutional grounds. A smart lawyer could figure
something out. At least that's my hope. Lawsuits have been one
of the most effective ways to counter really bad stuff.
I fully agree with the danger from preemption as stated by Nancy
Alderman - at state or federal level. In fact, for many issues, I prefer
not to have the Feds act, since the "regulatory" agencies have
become such adjuncts of the corporate interests they claim to
"regulate".
“”U-TURNS REQUIRED? Also in this TT issue: Examples of bad
chickens coming home to roost (Drugs, Chems, Flame Retardants)
indicating the need to reverse course.
**BETTER DIRECTIONS? On the brighter side, sanity appears again
in Europe, via a Dutch ban on Glyphosate. And, here at home,
firefighters emerge as heroes on an odd front – fighting toxic fire
retardants. (Actually makes sense – they are the ones breathing
the worst fumes, and have the greatest authority to speak out!)
**YOUR TURN TO ACT: Actions include some vs. media bias (about
time, isn’t it?) and vs. the latest federal kowtow to chem. corps.
(TSCA Gutting). Also, one of my favorites – applauding a company
that is doing the right thing – Chipotle (no GMO). As I’ve said before,
our consumer power is the most effective force for change – especially,
telling retailers what we will and will not buy – and why.
**BEAT THE HEAT? Finally, as the heat of summer sun emerges,
we are thankful for the great research of Environmental Working
Group (EWG), which allows us to figure out which sun protection
products work and are less toxic as well. Time for Sunscreen
guidance! And they’ve got it all!
Blessings, Liberty G
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A BUNCH OF “OOPS” EXAMPLES
(Sometimes The First Step Forward Is A U-Turn! )
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BACTERIA MAKING MEDS IN WASTEWATER OUTFLOWS.
MAY 13, 2015, Environmental Health News Microbes that clean
our water may also be piecing some pharmaceuticals back together
Wastewater treatment plants not only struggle removing pharmaceuticals,
it seems some drugs actually increase after treatment.
www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2015/may/bacteria-making-meds-in-wastewater-outflows
'I LIED ABOUT TOXIC CHEMICALS FOR EXXON, DUPONT,
AND THEIR LOBBYISTS' By David Heath, Center for Public Integrity
A trade group, backed by oil and chemical giants, denied it was behind
a campaign to block regulations of potentially toxic flame retardants.
But an insider has finally come clean.
www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/13/i-lied-about-toxic-chemicals-for-exxon-dupont-and-their-lobbyists.html
A FLAME RETARDANT THAT CAME WITH ITS OWN THREAT
TO HEALTH, New York Times May 4, 2015
www.nytimes.com/2015/05/04/us/a-flame-retardant-that-came-with-its-own-threat-to-health.html
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GOOD NEWS
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NETHERLANDS BANS MONSANTO'S ROUNDUP TO PROTECT
CITIZENS FROM CARCINOGENIC GLYPHOSATE , 5-24-15
Natural News. In the Netherlands, people who have been spraying
their lawns & gardens with Roundup will have to find another way
to protect their land from pests. Late last year, the Dutch parliament
voted to ban the sale of glyphosate-based herbicides to private parties.
The ban, under which agricultural use is excluded, was initially
proposed several years ago. However, it is thought that Monsanto
influence prevented it from taking place at the time.
.www.naturalnews.com/049830_Netherlands_glyphosate_Monsanto.html
FIREFIGHTERS PUSH TO BAN FLAME RETARDANTS IN MINNESOTA:
Legislators Target Toxic Flame Retardants. John Croman, KARE 4-30-15,
St. Paul, Minn. -- Firefighters put on a dramatic demonstration Thursday
as part of a push to ban flame retardants in Minnesota. They set a sofa
on fire at St. Paul's fire training center, and invited the media to
watch how quickly acrid smoke fills the spaces firefighters often
inhabit. It was part of an effort to add momentum to legislation that
has stalled out in the legislature. "These flame retardants are
dangerous for the general public, but they're especially dangerous
for firefighters, because when they burn they give off highly
carcinogenic furans and dioxins," Capt. Chris Parsons of
St. Paul told reporters.
www.kare11.com/story/news/health/2015/04/30/firefighters-push-to-ban-flame-retardants-in-minnesota/26683411/
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ACTIONS & ALERTS
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A DOUBLE HEADER! TELL OFF THE MEDIA – BUT,
JUST AS IMPORTANT, TELL CHIPOTLE YOU HAVE
THEIR BACK! SEE BOTH ACTIONS AT LINKS BELOW
DID THE MEDIA JUST BUCKLE FROM BIOTECH INDUSTRY
PRESSURE? By ANH-USA on May 5, 2015 GMO News
www.anh-usa.org/did-the-media-just-buckle-from-biotech-industry-pressure/
How else to explain the extraordinary, coordinated attack on
Chipotle for going GMO-free? After announcing that Chipotle
would make the switch to using exclusively non-GMO ingredients
in their food, the restaurant chain was slammed hard by major
news media outlets. Here’s a sampling of some of the headlines:
“Why Chipotle Mexican Grill Going GMO-Free is Terrible News”
(Time); “Chipotle’s GMO Gimmick Is Hard to Swallow” (Washington
Post); “Why We Can’t Take Chipotle’s GMO Announcement All
That Seriously” (NPR).
THANK CHIPOTLE FOR LISTENING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS!
Send a message to Chipotle, thanking them for going GMO-free
and for responding to the overwhelming desire of consumers to
have a choice about the food they eat. Go to:
www.anh-usa.org/thank-chipotle-for-listening-to-their-customers/
(Also, do the most effective thing of all – go eat at Chipotle and tell
them why!)
TELL OFF THE MEDIA FOR THEIR SHAMEFUL BIAS!
Send a message to the Washington Post, Time Magazine, and
NPR expressing your frustration about their one-sided reporting
on this issue, and ask them why they are demonizing a company
for positively responding to its consumers. Go to:
www.anh-usa.org/tell-the-media-to-stop-their-smear-campaign/
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TELL YOUR SENATORS TO VOTE NO ON THE TOXIC TSCA BILL:
*An amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) bill is heading to
a vote in the Senate. But the bill still gives too much to the chemical
industry, who wrote the bill in the first place. Tell your Senators to
vote "No" on this bill to protect public health and safety. Go to:
http://environmentalaction.webaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=10320&%3Btrack=email_7559
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DON'T LET MONSANTO'S GMOS CONTAMINATE ORGANICS!
Right now the U.S. Department of Agriculture is working with biotech
lobbyists to finalize a plan so Monsanto’s GMO crops can contaminate
organic and non-GMO farmers crops at will. Even worse, the USDA’s
new plan could force these farmers to pay for crop “contamination”
insurance to protect themselves against unwanted contamination by
Monsanto’s patented genetically engineered genes. And, if the USDA's
new AC21 guidelines are adopted, organic farmers may lose the right
to sue Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta and the biotech bullies for
economic loses resulting from GMO contamination of their organic crops!
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/tell_the_USDA_2_end_Monsantos_GMO_contamination_today/?t=5&akid=1548.80499.0qH3A3
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RESOURCES
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SUNNY SUMMERTIME SIMMERS FORTH – BE PREPARED!
“HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD’S 2015 SUN SAFETY
GUIDE FOR CHILDREN is a must-have for any parent looking
to keep their kids safe in the sun this summer!
Go to: http://healthychild.org/sun-safety-guide/?inlist=Y
EWG’S ANNUAL GUIDE TO SUNSCREENS 1700 were
analyzed & 80 percent of the products contained potentially
harmful ingredients or offer inadequate protection from the sun.
What should you buy & what to avoid? See:
www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/ and
www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/report/executive-summary/
EWG’S SUNSCREEN HALL OF SHAME highlights the
worst offenders and includes rankings on the worst spray
sunscreens, sunscreen lotions and the worst sunscreens for kids.
www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/hall-of-shame /
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CONTACT US WITH YOUR THOUGHTS,
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS!
AND BY THE WAY – WE’RE SMALL, WE’RE ACTIVE,
WE DON’T BOTHER YOU WITH LOTS OF PITCHES
FOR MOOLA – BUT WE REALLY DO NEED SOME HELP!
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Liberty Goodwin, Director
Toxics Information Project
P.O. Box 40572,
Providence, RI 02940
Tel. 401-351-9193
Website: www.toxicsinfo.org
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