TIP TALKS
The e-Newsletter of the
Toxics Information Project (TIP)
MAY
2010
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MAY 2010 ACTIONS
As part of our "TIP TALKS CATCH-UP", below are five actions
you can take towards a healthier world, provided by five
fine organizations. Please consider clicking on all. Take
a few days to get to them if necessary - or scroll down and
choose which you feel are most important. Each represents
only a minute or two of your time.
The earth and its people will benefit!
Blessings,
Liberty G
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HEALTHY STUFF.ORG
Ask Congress to Strengthen the Safe Chemicals Act
Legislation to overhaul the nation’s failed chemical law has been
introduced in Congress by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and
Congressmen Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA). The Safe
Chemicals Act is landmark legislation that will overhaul the way
the government protects people from toxic chemicals. The Safe
Chemicals Act goes a long way toward bringing chemical policy
into the 21st century. It would put public health first, provide
better information to businesses, and help consumers like you to
avoid toxic chemicals in every day products.
This important bill has room for improvement, and with your help
we’re confident it can be fixed. We want to work with Congress to
strengthen the bill to make it harder for new harmful chemicals
to enter the marketplace and to phase out the “most wanted”
chemicals such as Persistent, Bioaccumulative Toxic Chemicals.
TAKE ACTION HERE:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1421/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3000
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ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (EWG)
Thank Senator Lautenberg and Congressmen Waxman and Rush today!
If it weren't for the continued, committed leadership of Senator
Frank Lautenberg (NJ) and Congressmen Henry Waxman (CA) and Bobby
Rush (IL), toxics reform would not be moving forward. Which is why
we’re thanking them -- and hope you'll take a moment to thank them,
too. We need champions like Senator Lautenberg and Congressmen Waxman
and Rush -- let's tell them together how much we appreciate their
strong leadership to protect us from harmful toxic chemicals.
Sign this letter:
“As a strong supporter of the Environmental Working Group Action Fund,
I want to thank you for your continued leadership on reforming the
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Without your sustained commitment
to shifting the burden of proof to chemical companies to prove their
products are safe we would have never gotten to this point. Your efforts
to protect all Americans from dangerous, toxic chemicals are greatly
appreciated. I know there is still a long way to go to ensure that
all our chemicals are safe, but you can count on my support. Thank you.
“
http://action.ewg.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1891&utm_source=tyactionresend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=first-link&utm_campaign=sca
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MOMS RISING
From: "Ariana, MomsRising.org" <info@momsrising.org> Tue, 27 Apr 2010
Subject: A Food Safety Emergency that Needs Attention NOW!
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is leaching from food and beverage can linings.
This is a critical food safety issue! Urge your U.S. Senators to
co-sponsor the Ban Poisonous Additives Act that will ban BPA from
food and beverage containers - and then ask them to support amending
it to the Food Safety Modernization Act so everyone, especially our
kids, will be protected.
http://action.momsrising.org/cms/letter/letter_27254/?rd=1&t=1&referring_akid=2051.1635335.8c3YBB
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FOOD DEMOCRACY NOW
Break Up Big Food: The evidence is in: America’s food system is
broken. Every week we read about record-breaking food safety recalls,
a spiraling childhood obesity epidemic, and the continued loss of
independent family farmers. All of these problems can be traced back
to one thing: excessive consolidation by Big, corporate food.
The aisles of most American grocery stores give an overwhelming
illusion of choice when it comes to our food. A closer look,
however, quickly reveals that most of the meat, grain, milk — and
even the grocery stores themselves — are all owned and controlled
by just a few corporations. The figures are startling:
• A single company (Monsanto) controls the seeds of 93% of soybeans
and 80% of the corn grown in the U.S.
• 4 companies (Tyson, Cargill, Swift & National Beef Packing Co.)
control 83% of the beef packing industry4
• 4 companies (Smithfield, Tyson, Swift & Cargill) control 66% of
the pork packing industry
For too long now, food and agricultural production has been consolidated
into the hands of a few agribusiness giants. These companies dictate to
us how our food is produced, how much farmers are paid for their crops
and livestock and how much consumers pay for food. Food Democracy Now!
participated in a workshop recently, where we heard Attorney General
Eric Holder talk about the “reckless deregulation that has restricted
competition in agriculture” and promise that the Department of Justice,
under his watch, was committed to “vigorous enforcement” of U.S.
antitrust laws. But given the power of the companies on the other side,
we know
that the change we need will not come easily. We must stand together
and make our voices heard in favor of a fair and democratic food system!
Please support Secretary Vilsack and Attorney General Holder as they
move forward. Join them today in pushing for real enforcement of U.S.
antitrust laws and an end to America’s food monopolies. It only takes
a moment. And after you've signed the petition, please ask your friends
and family to do the same.
http://fdn.actionkit.com/go/bust_up_big_food/124?akid=112.94384.N-uNvc&t=9
Thank you for participating in food democracy
– Dave, Lisa and The Food Democracy Now Team
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BREAST CANCER ACTION (BCA)
Pinkwashing Alert. We've seen a lot of outrageous stuff here at BCA,
but we've never seen pink buckets of fried chicken being sold to
"cure breast cancer". KFC and Susan G. Komen for the Cure are telling
us to buy buckets of unhealthy food to cure a disease that kills women.
It's preposterous, and we have to tell them to stop. KFC's "Buckets
for the Cure" campaign is an especially tasteless example of pinkwashing
--when a company purports to care about breast cancer by promoting a
pink ribboned product, but manufactures products that are linked to
the disease. Make no mistake--every pink bucket purchase will do more
to benefit KFC's bottom line than it will to cure breast cancer.
This pinkwashing is especially egregious because KFC, like most
fast food chains, is overwhelmingly present in communities that
have poor health outcomes. Susan G. Komen for the Cure knows that
social inequities affect breast cancer mortality rates. Given this
disconnect, we are especially disturbed by this partnership.
Pinkwashing has hit a new low. Together we can stop it.
Learn more about our “Think Before You Pink” campaign, and the
problems with breast cancer cause marketing - and tell
Susan G. Komen for the Cure & KFC what you think of this
pinkwashing partnership. Go to:
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6098/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2758
Thank you for standing up for women's health. Be well,
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MORE TIP TALKS "CATCH-UP* -
Just five of the very helpful resources that have come our way
over the last few months. All can give you much assistance in
living a healthy life!
Blessings,
Liberty G
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ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (EWG)
HEALTHY HOME TIPS
Healthy Home Tip #12: Focus on Young Children:
www.ewg.org/healthyhometips/toxicfreechildren?utm_source=tox&utm_medium=email&utm_content=first-link&utm_campaign=hht
Reduce Mom’s chemical exposures while pregnant
Feed your baby safely
Create an eco-healthy home
Clean greener at home
Go ahead, have a look at the simple steps you can take to improve
your family's environmental health, whether you have a newborn or
a fifth grader, or a few in between! It's easy and important to
your family's health. Click on the tip above -- then share it
with a friend.
Healthy Home Checklist: Create a Less Toxic Home Now!
www.ewg.org/healthy-home-tips/checklist?utm_source=toxng&utm_medium=email&utm_content=first-link&utm_campaign=hht
We created this checklist for you to use as you walk through your home
-- and open your bathroom cabinet, look under your sink, and check those
laundry supplies. It's an easy, hands-on way to create a less toxic
environment for your family. And when you're done, you can breathe
easier (literally!) knowing that you've tackled the toxics that
matter most in your home. Download our Healthy Home Checklist and
learn how to:
1. Identify the toxic products in your home by room: bathroom, kitchen,
laundry and cleaning closet, and the rest of the house.
2. Replace them with safer alternatives.
Go ahead -- get started! Just download our Healthy Home Checklist,
grab a pen and walk through your home. It's an easy and effective
way to reduce the toxins in your home.
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CENTER FOR HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT & JUSTICE (CHEJ)
No Silver Lining”, a new report CHEJ co-authored & co-released 5-18-10,
“which found toxic bisphenol A (BPA) in canned foods like green beans
and chicken noodle soup.
http://contaminatedwithoutconsent.org/nosilverlining.php
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NOFA ORGANIC LAND CARE
www.organiclandcare.net
Please visit our newly renovated regional organic lawn, garden and
landscape website and browse our informational offerings for homeowners
and professionals. You are welcome to participate in the Organic
Landscaping Forum in the Green Room. If you have a related website
or blog, please feel free to link to ours.
Please spread the word. Enjoy!
Sarah Little, Wellesley, MA,
NOFA Organic Land Care Committee, Chair.
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NATIONAL INHALANT PREVENTION COALITION (NIPC)
www.inhalants.org :
2010 RESEARCH STUDY USING POISON CONTROL DATA
REVEALS STARTLING INHALANT DATA:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-2080v1
The April issue of PEDIATRICS, The Journal of the American Academy
of Pediatrics, published a recent study that analyzed data from
60 Poison Control Centers on over 35,000 reports of inhalant exposure
between 1993 and 2008. Over this period the data indicated that
there were 167 inhalant deaths reported to Poison Control Centers.
Of particular interest is that inhalant fatality rates were greater
than that for other substances:
· Inhalants = 5.5 deaths per 1,000 cases;
· Methamphetamines = 3.7 deaths per 1,000 cases;
· Cocaine = 2.2 deaths per 1,000 cases; and
· Most deadly products were butane, propane and air fresheners.
Other findings:
· More boys (73.5%) used inhalants than girls (different than other
studies we reported where gender use rates, overall, were similar and
with greater use among girls 15 and younger);
· 3,400 different products were reported (most frequently reported were
propellants, gasoline and paint but propellant use substantially
increased most over time);
· Gasoline was most misused by younger children & boys and propellants
by older children & girls;
· Inhalant use declined by a third since 1993 among 12 – 17 year olds
(but use has been stable in recent years); and
· Instances of inhalant abuse were reported among children as young
as 6 years of age.
For more complete information please see WEBMD article at
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20100419/inhalant-abuse-down-but-still-snaring-young-kids.
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PROGRAM ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & THE ENVIRONMENT (PRHE)
“TOXIC MATTERS” is the new PRHE print and online publication designed
to help people avoid exposure to toxic substances that are present in
our daily lives. Toxic Matters is a nontechnical guide that provides
evidence-based recommendations for preventing exposure to environmental
substances with adverse reproductive and developmental health impacts.
Recommendations are divided into five categories which include:
Prevent exposure at home - learn how to make informed choices
in your home life that can positively affect your health and the
health of the ones you love;
Prevent exposure at work - learn how many substances used in
different jobs, present in office buildings or used in workplace
renovation projects are toxic to reproductive health and about
your right to a safe and healthy work environment;
Prevent exposure in your community - learn how to reduce
pollution in your community and limit your exposure to pollution
in outdoor air;
Become a smart consumer - find links to consumer guides that
will help you find non-toxic products;
Make the government work for you - learn how you can influence
public policy and support policies that stop chemical pollution
in the first place.
The online version of this brochure & further resources are available
on the PRHE website at http://www.prhe.ucsf.edu/prhe/tmlinks.html.
Printed copies may be ordered, with a donation for printing costs.
If you would like more information on Toxic Matters or PRHE’s other
programs, please email prhe@obgyn.ucsf.edu or visit our website at
www.prhe.ucsf.edu.
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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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