TIP TALKS
The e-Newsletter of the
Toxics Information Project (TIP)
April, 2014
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IN THIS ISSUE
**LIB TALKS: Comments on The Good & the Bad, the Frustrating, the
Encouraging & the Effective!
**ACTIONS: Special Interests Influence at the Federal Level is
the Greatest Threat to Our Health & Product Choices.
Three Important Ways to Object.
** “CUTTING COSTS”: Having a Basic Personal Shopping Plan
& List Yields More Than Just Dollars & Cents at the Cash Register
**RESOURCES: New Free Guides to Reading Labels -
Simplifying Decisions on Food, Personal Care &
Cleaning Product Purchases
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LIB TALKS: WHAT’S THE GOOD & BAD NEWS – & HOW
CAN WE BE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE?
It can be overwhelming, being knowledgeable about the toxic threats
that beset us at every turn in modern life. And, petition after
petition often seem to have little influence on decision makers.
However, there is also good news – and we do have power to make
things better. This past week, Vermont actually passed a GMO Labeling
Bill, straight and simple – no “triggers” needed. With Connecticut &
Maine leading the way, other states are working on similar legislation.
Some retailers and food producers are vowing to label – or even to make
more products Non-GMO.
HERE ARE THE THREE THINGS I BELIEVE ARE
MOST USEFUL FOR CONSUMERS TO DO:
1. Prevent Federal preemption of state and local rights to protect
us from toxic products.
2. Inform ourselves about which products are least and most safe,
& buy those. (See new guides in this TIP TALKS to help with that)
3. Tell retailers, food, household & personal care product
producers that you will not buy their toxic stuff and will favor those
that honestly offer less risky options.
The bottom line, in my opinion, is that today we have relatively little
power at the federal level of government – to the point of my not
personally supporting national GMO Labeling legislation. With
“Monsanto Mike” at the helm, I simply don’t trust the FDA to
honestly administer such. Corporate stooges are running other
federal “regulatory” agencies.But I believe that we have huge power
as consumers – we can’t be forced to buy a product – and even if not
labeled fully we are smart enough to figure out which are the “bad
guys”. The key, though, is to not only shop smart, but let the sellers
know what we are doing. If we refuse one product and buy another & tell
them why – they will switch to offering what will sell!
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TWO CRITICAL ACTIONS TODAY - OUR FOOD
& HEALTH ARE UNDER SERIOUS ASSAULT!
(From Food Democracy Now, Beyond Pesticides,
Food & Water Watch & Institute for Responsible Technology)
*** STOP THE GREAT USDA ORGANIC SELLOUT! Right now one of
the biggest assaults on the integrity of organic foods is taking place
at the USDA, with high-level Obama political appointees working behind
the scenes with giant corporate organic to gut 20 years of precedent in
the congressionally-mandated National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
Even worse, USDA representative Miles McEvoy has illegally taken
over the meeting by appointing himself as meeting “co-chair” in an
effort to erode the authority of, and control the decisions made by
allegedly independent, NOSB members as spelled out in the Organic Foods
Production Act (OFPA) of 1990. At stake here is the neutering
of an independent NOSB decision making process and the deliberate
destruction of organic integrity by allowing synthetic ingredients to be
permanently allowed in organic foods due to pressure from giant
corporate organic interests.
This outrageous power grab to destroy organics must be stopped!
We need your help today. Every voice (& petition) counts!
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/take_stand_for_organic_integrity/?t=6&akid=1209.94384.gDpP-s
http://action.beyondpesticides.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=16801
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*** STOP MONSANTO'S SECRET PLAN
TO KILL GMO LABELING
(THE DENY AMERICANS RIGHT TO KNOW "DARK" ACT)
Last week Vermont passed the 1st "no strings attached" GMO labeling
bill in the U.S. and now Monsanto and giant food companies are scheming
behind the scenes with members of Congress to kill mandatory state
GMO labeling efforts and replace it with a gutted version of a bill by
Koch brothers' Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas) to preempt states'
rights and give the illusion of serious regulation.
This plan is so devious that it radically speeds up the approval process
for new GMO crops, limits the FDA and USDA’s ability to extend premarket
safety reviews, declares GMO foods “safe” and redefines genetically
engineered foods as “bioengineered” in order to sanitize this deeply
flawed technology to the American public. Even worse, FDA Commissioner
Hamburg is planning to go along with it - not only promising gutted
"voluntary" labeling standards, but even going so
far as to claim that GMOs are perfectly safe! Think they’re going to
start telling the truth about GMOs now ?
This is a blatant power grab to deny Americans their basic right to
mandatory GMO labeling and protect flawed GMO products - and
we can’t allow them to get away with it. We need your help today.
There are three petitions on this - please sign all if possible, and
note the importance of not taking away states" rights to act to protect
their citizens.
http://action.ewg.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=2075&tag=201404GELeg&utm_source=201404geleg&utm_medium=email&utm_content=second-link&utm_campaign=food
https://secure3.convio.net/fww/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=0BBD3B9A0DDCB25BDFF77335A1B20CF8.app334a?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1271&autologin=true
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/stop_Monsanto_and_Big_Foods_secret_plan_to_kill_GMO_labeling/?t=1&akid=1207.94384.dT5VLz
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ON ANOTHER FRONT - TOXIC CHEMICALS
ARE IN OUR HOMES - EVEN IN THE BEDS OF BABES –
STOP THE "MORE TOXIC CHEMICALS IN COMMERCE ACT"!
(From Environmental Working Group, EWG)
A study of foam from 20 old and new crib mattresses by the University
of Texas at Austin found that they released up to 30 different types of
volatile organic compounds, some of which are linked to respiratory
irritation and allergic reactions. That's right - more than 30 volatile
organic compounds.
This study is a perfect example of why EWG is fighting so hard for the
reform of the nation's broken toxic chemical laws. Under the current law
- the Toxic Substances Control Act - it's nearly impossible to get these
toxic chemicals labeled dangerous and out of our children's mattresses.
It's time for Congress to reform the chemicals law. The bill currently
being shopped around the House of Representatives - we call it the
"More Toxic Chemicals in Commerce Act" - will further weaken our
laws. Take action right now to oppose this bill and support real
chemical reform. Tell your representative to oppose the fake bill today!
http://action.ewg.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=2074&tag=201403CICACribEmail
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CUTTING COSTS: BETTER COMPUTING OF COST
AND THE BEST, EASIEST TOOL TO HELP YOU AT THE STORE
1. Remember that "cost" is not just a measure of what it says
on your store receipt. Medical expenses are huge, as are
the environmental and societal costs of toxic products.
2. Don't forget the basic rule - it is not merely the price of
an item, but how much you get from it - portion size especially
3. Learn which stores in your area have the cheapest prices
for the healthy items you like to buy. Note that you may be
surprised - in general, we have found that Whole Foods Market,
Trader Joe's and a local place, East Side Market, have the most
affordable options. Chains such as Stop & Shop & Shaw's tend
to be more expensive for healthier offerings - probably because
they sell less of them.
4. The magic words to simplify your life & enable you to
shop sensibly without your PhD in hand: SHOPPING LIST!
My husband and I have compiled a basic list of the products
we like and buy on a regular basis. Each one has been
previously researched and chosen - no need to spend
time on that again. Each one has been identified not only
by brand, etc., but by STORE. So, if you shop in several
places, make a standard list for each market. Print out
several copies, and take one with you when shopping,
after marking the items you need that day on the list.
IT'S QUICK & EFFICIENT!
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RESOURCES: NEW, FREE GUIDES TO SIMPLIFY SHOPPING
(From Healthy Child, Healthy World - Not just for parents)
LABELS 101: KEEP YOUR CABINETS SAFE
BY SPOTTING SCARY INGREDIENTS
Label reading is a necessary evil. It can also be an art. Knowing how to
read one can keep you from unwittingly coming home from a store with
something unsafe for your family. Careful label reading, for example, is
sometimes the only way to peer inside bottles of cleaning products,
which have no ingredient lists; their formulas are protected as trade
secrets. How's your label reading IQ? Brush up on best practices
with the HCHW Labels 101 series.
READING AND UNDERSTANDING FOOD LABELS
Going to the grocery store requires more reading than ever.
The first must-read is our primer on which product label and
packaging marketing claims are legit, and which are not.
And don't forget your glasses!
http://healthychild.org/labels-101-reading-and-understanding-food-labels
HOW TO READ PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT LABELS:
More than 20 percent of personal care products contain chemicals
that may contribute to cancer, and four out of five of their ingredients
are typically contaminated with toxic byproducts. Read this guide
to find out what you need to know about words like "fragrance"
& "natural.":
http://healthychild.org/labels-101-how-to-read-personal-care-product-labels
HOW TO READ A CLEANING PRODUCT LABEL
In the absence of ingredient lists, seek out words like “Poison,”
“Warning,” or “Danger.” For more telling words you'll see on
cleaners' labels, click here.
http://healthychild.org/labels-101-how-to-read-a-cleaning-product-label
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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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