MAY 2016 TIP TALKS
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IN THIS ISSUE
**LIB TALKS: A Single Word That Says Much & Causes Many Battles– Preemption; A Word for Climate Change Deniers - Pollution; Continue Clever Consumer Clout!; Coming Soon – Electrical Concerns (Wi-Fi, Cell Phones, Smart Meters, etc.), Real Zika-Related Concerns (Vaccines, Pesticides)**GOOD NEWS: Fracked Gas Pipeline Project Stopped! Toxic Chemical Bill Update in Progress, Flame Retardants & Significant Allies – (Take Action to Protect All.)**IMPORTANT NEWS & ACTIONS: Powerful “Organic Bytes” Items: Glyphosate Test Results, EPA Petition vs. Re-Up of RoundUp, Marriages (Corporate) Made in Hell, Actions (2) vs. Recklessness Run Rampant (Antibiotics in Poultry & Factory Farms)** RESOURCES: New 2016 EWG Guide to Sunscreens
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LIB TALKS
**A SINGLE WORD THAT SAYS MUCH – PREEMPTION:
One of the most challenging problems for those seeking to
reduce our exposure to toxic chemicals in everyday life and
products is the governmental systems that “regulate” them.
Unfortunately, the Federal agencies in particular have become
more and more overrun with corporate honchos (like
“Monsanto Mike” Taylor at FDA) and less trustworthy to do
their job of protecting the public. Thus, we get situations
such as the “DARK Act” trying to prevent States or localities
from doing what the Feds won’t. A current example of
this
complicated concern can be seen in these links:
Examples re the Chemical Safety Bill just passed
in the US House this past week:
http://blogs.edf.org/health/files/2016/05/Preemption-under-FRL21-5-23-16-final.pdf
http://gmoinside.org/monsanto-given-legal-shield-in-a-chemical-safety-bill-the-new-york-times/
The bottom line – support whoever is actually trying to
strengthen
protection of our health and environment, at whichever level of
government and oppose preemption that weakens standards.
** A DIFFERENT WORD FOR “CLIMATE CHANGE” DENIERS:
:“POLLUTION”:: I must admit, I get tired of the endless
“Climate Change” debate – for two reasons.
1. People like our own Senator Sheldon Whitehouse talk endlessly
in Congress & elsewhere, then either actually do nothing constructive
– or worse, support awful technologies such as fracking, while scads
of useful renewable options go unfunded.
2. Even if one firmly believes that “Climate Change” isn’t real and
serious – nobody can deny the overwhelming pollution with
which we
live daily. That’s more than enough reason to change to cleaner, more
sustainable energy generation.
**CONTINUE CLEVER CONSUMER CLOUT!: I can’t say it enough
– whatever is done or not done by government, our ability as consumers
to influence corporate decisions is huge – as long as we let the
greedmongers know what we will or will not buy. A recent example
is the bunch of big food corps announcing that they will label their
products that contain GMOs- Note one below, and send thanks.
And keep on telling retailers and producers they need to provide
what you want – or they lose your business!
**COMING SOON: INFO ON ELECTRICAL CONCERNS (Wi-FI,
Cell Phones, “Smart Meters”, etc) and Zika virus complexities.
I had hoped to include info on these in this TIP TALKS, but the issues
are pervasive and complicated. So, I want to take some time to
simplify my comments and identify some effective ways to
deal
with both these issues - not an easy task.
I welcome suggestions on this – or any other TIP-type topics!
Blessings, Liberty G
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GOOD NEWS & ACTION
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NORTHEAST ENERGY DIRECT PIPELINE
(LNG) PROJECT STOPPED!
On April 20th, Kinder Morgan released a statement: “As a result of
inadequate capacity commitments from prospective customers,
Kinder Morgan, Inc., (NYSE: KMI) and its subsidiary,
Tennessee Gas
Pipeline Company (TGP), have suspended further work and expenditures
on the Northeast Energy Direct (NED) project.” Thanks to a truly
incredible wave of grassroots resistance, New England is so much
closer to a clean energy economy and a healthier future.
For two years, local leaders from more than 50 impacted towns in
Massachusetts and New Hampshire and across the region have
poured themselves into revealing Kinder Morgan's proposal for
what it was: an irresponsible, expensive plan to take public and
private lands in order to export fracked gas for corporate profit.
Read more about the victory here: (With great comments by
groups that opposed the monster):
CONSUMER POWER CHALKS UP ANOTHER WIN! SAY THANK YOU!
General Mills just announced their decision to start labeling
genetically modified ingredients in all of their products.
This is a major victory for Americans’ right to know what’s in our
food. Please take a minute to join EWG and Just Label It in
thanking General Mills for doing the right thing!
http://action.ewg.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=2187&tag=201603GMTY
FIRE FIGHTERS ARE GREAT ALLIES IN FIGHT
TO BAN TOXIC FIRE RETARDANTS$
(And some legislators are listening)
www.firerescue1.com/fire-department-management/articles/84471018-Mass-firefighters-seek-ban-on-flame-retardants/
www.salemnews.com/news/state-senate-approves-ban-on-many-flame-retardants/article_67161176-1e8b-11e6-8642-df3649cbb67b.html
www.twincities.com/2015/05/15/st-paul-firefighters-relentless-lobbying-may-win-toxic-flame-retardant-ban/
.ACTION: Google to find a fire retardant bill in your state, then
contact your State Senator & Representative to support restrictions
&/or a ban. IN RI: Support House Bill 7977,
Phasing Out Flame
Retardants, which would phase out the use of oranohalogen flame
retardant chemicals, which are linked to cancer, learning disabilities,
and reproductive dysfunction,from upholstered furniture and
chikdren's
products. RI firefighters support the bill!
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OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS & ACTIONS
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FROM ORGANIC BYTES:
www.organicconsumers.org/bytes/organic-bytes-511-marriage-made-hell
The Organic Consumers Association newsletter
has some especially powerful info in this issue, including:
Essays
**Got Tested? You (Probably) Failed. (Glyphosate)
, Detox Project glyphosate testing press release.
Marriage Made in Hell (Monsanto & Bayer)
(And Dow & DuPont, & ChemChina & Syngenta?)
Actions
TTAKE ACTION: Tell the EPA: Don’t Re-Up Roundup!
https://action.organicconsumers.org/o/50865/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=16052
Text "Roundup" to 97779 to sign the petition
Recklessness Run Rampant
(Antibiotics in factory farms)
TAKE ACTION: Tell Sanderson Farms to end the reckless
https://action.organicconsumers.org/o/50865/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18976
Please also fill out Sanderson’s customer service form.
Call Sanderson Farms at 1-800-844-4030
www.sandersonfarms.com/contact-us/
Post on Sanderson Farms Facebook page
www.facebook.com/SandersonFarmsChicken/
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RESOURCES
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2016 EWG GUIDE TO SUNSCREENS
www.ewg.org/sunscreen/?inlist=Y&utm_source=201605SunscreenRelease&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201605SunscreenRelease
This year, EWG scientists investigated more than 750 beach and sport
sunscreens for our 10th annual guide, and while there has been
significant progress over the last decade, serious concerns remain.
Almost 75 percent of the products we examined provide inferior sun
protection or contain worrisome ingredients like the hormone-disrupting
chemical oxybenzone. So before you head out in the sun this Memorial
Day, make sure you’re prepared…
Of the 750 beach and sport sunscreens we reviewed, only 203 meet
EWG’s strictest criteria. Check out which ones made the cut at
EWG’s Best Beach & Sport Sunscreens:
www.ewg.org/sunscreen/best-sunscreens/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/?inlist=Y&utm_source=201605SunscreenRelease&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201605SunscreenRelease
There are a lot of sunscreens for kids out there that may be convenient
to apply but contain worrisome ingredients or don’t provide adequate
protection from the sun. Check out EWG’S Worst Scoring Sunscreens
for Kids to see which ones your family should avoid
www.ewg.org/sunscreen/worst-kids-sunscreens/?inlist=Y&utm_source=201605SunscreenRelease&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201605SunscreenRelease
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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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**EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK:
**SUPPORT US WITHOUT ANY EXTRA EXPENSE TO YOU:
From Anywhere:: Make “Good Search” your search engine page
and select TIP as your charity. (It searches effectively & I currently
have $40.50 accumulated just by normal use) To use it, go to:
www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=818190
In Our Local Area (RI, MA, CT): Check out nearby resources in our info
flyers at your local library, or on our Landscaping or Less Toxic Living
Pages. See our latest, 2016 Spring/Summer flyer, “The Local Buzz”, on
our Home Page Action Corner http://toxicsinfo.org/
Then, visit or call them re: products or services you would use anyway.
They are carefully selected for provision of healthier options. Tell
them TIP sent you!
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BENEFIT TIP WHILE SURFING THE WEB at:
www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=818190
(Uses the Yahoo search engine)
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** SUPPORT TIP WHILE SHOPPING AMAZON
Just go to: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/14-1862385 and the
link will take you to the site with TIP already selected as your
charity. You then shop on smile.amazon.com the same way
you would have shopped on www.amazon.com., but the
donation will go to us (at no cost to you).
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**OR MOST OF ALL, MAKE A DONATION:
Mail a check to TIP at the address above.
(We are a tax deductible organization)
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Liberty Goodwin, Director, Toxics Information Project (TIP)
P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940 Tel. 401-351-9193,
E-Mail: liberty@toxicsinfo.org Website: www.toxicsinfo.org