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Central Valley Toxics Forum February 22, 2012
Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy (CHANGE), Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) and the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ)…
Invite you to participate in a Community Forum on Toxic Chemicals in Consumer Productson February 22, 2012
LA Toxics Community Forum 12/16
Please join us on Friday, Dec. 16th from 1:-00 to 4:30 at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in LA to find out how we can continue progress with rules being developed by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), and voice your concerns about toxics in your community! We'll have a workshop for groups to learn more from 1:00-2:30, and a Community Forum with DTSC from 3:00-4:30.
CHANGE is hosting this meeting to discuss key health and environment topics on the department’s informal draft Safer Consumer Products Regulation to implement AB 1879 (read more on DTSC’s website).
Read more...A Holiday Gift for Generations to Come
As a pregnant woman with a background in toxicology, I find myself already worried about the ubiquity of chemicals in our environment -- knowing that I, like most Americans, have as many as 700 chemicals, including substances linked to serious health problems floating in my body -- it's hard not to be.
This passage from my Huffington Post piece, "A Holiday Gift for Generations to Come," helps relate that it’s not our responsibility to avoid products with toxic chemicals because they should not be there in the first place! It is, however, up to us to tell our representatives we deserve a better environment for our families. And here's what you can do:
Read more...New Draft Safer Consumer Product Regulations
We need your voice to make sure Californians and our environment are protected in the state’s Safer Consumer Product Regulations, a key component of the Green Chemistry Initiative! A new informal draft was officially released on October 31 by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Please mark your calendar for a Dec. 5 public workshop hosted by DTSC - sign up for updates on CHANGE at this workshop! More details below.
We want to protect Californians by removing the most pervasive and hazardous chemicals from the market, promoting the use of safer/healthier alternatives, and protecting the health of workers, fenceline communities, and those facing the greatest hazards. We all deserve a chemical policy framework that accomplishes these goals.
We'll be adding more information and analysis as the public meetings unfold. Please sign up here to receive updates from CHANGE.
Read more...CVAQ, CHANGE, CPR say: Toxics Out Now!
On August 23rd, CHANGE, CVAQ (Central Valley Air Quality Coalition), and CPR (Californians for Pesticide Reform) advocates from all over the state –- urban residents from Oakland, Los Angeles and Fresno to rural residents from Earlimart, Coachella and Arvin –- are joining together to say Toxics Out Now!
Learn more and register for August 23rd. It's free!
From the air we breathe as we walk in our neighborhoods or play in our homes, to the food we feed our children and the beds we sleep on, to the many personal care products we use to wash our hands and brush our teeth, our natural and built environments are overloaded with toxic chemicals.
Read more...You're Invited to the Toxies!
Are you ready to walk the red carpet? How about the excitement of the awards ceremony? Or maybe just the afterparty...
You're invited to join us at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood on June 16th to make some noise for bad actor chemicals at the 2nd Annual Toxies!
Don't worry, if you're not in LA, you can always bring the party to you by signing up to host a satellite viewing party!
The new toxies website is here: www.toxies.com, where this year's nominees will be announced.
RSVP for the 2011 Toxies right now!
june 16, 2011 | 4pm PDT: red carpet | 5pm: awards ceremony | 6pm-8pm: afterparty
California’s Toxic Sofas – Give Us a Choice for Health
I see thousands of patients every year with chronic and acute illnesses — some are easily treatable, others present more of a challenge, and for some there is regrettably nothing that I can do. Many illnesses are triggered as a result of multiple factors. For these patients, I cannot help but think of the many ways in which their illnesses may have been prevented. What if they had better access to health information and healthcare services? What if we more highly valued prevention?
Right now members of the California legislature have the opportunity to take a step towards better health for Californians, and make a decision that values science-based prevention. Learn more and take action now!
Read more...President Obama: Protect All Americans From Cancer-Causing Chemicals
While February is officially cancer prevention month, cancer is part of our lives every month of the year. This is why we’re asking you to tell President Obama to take this simple action: Protect all Americans from cancer-causing chemicals.
Every minute, at least one American will die from cancer this year. In the United States, despite healthy lifestyle changes (such as the decline in smoking), cancer incidence has been INCREASING, not decreasing. We know that toxic chemicals in the environment are at least part of the reason behind the increase.
Cancer takes a devastating toll on individuals and families. Consider these facts:
- 1.5 million American men, women, and children were diagnosed with cancer in 2009; 562,000 died from the disease;
- Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in children younger than 15;
- In 2009, cancer cost the nation $243.4 billion; half of that, $124.8 billion, is the cost of lost productivity due to premature death.
Lawmakers, Scientists, Advocates All Oppose Green Chemistry Rules
Despite widespread opposition from scientists, doctors, public interest advocates and lawmakers – including Assemblyman Mike Feuer, the author of the state’s Green Chemistry law – the flawed proposal for Green Chemistry regulations may be pushed through.
CHANGE and many other groups submitted their final comments on December 3 and received great media coverage of this pressing issue from LA Weekly, SF Chronicle, and more. Read CHANGE-led letters opposed to this gutted regulation:
Read more...BPA In Paper Money
It turns out that the cash in your wallet may be contaminated with the dangerous chemical BPA. A recent study by Safer Chemicals Healthy Families and the Washington Toxics Coalition found that BPA (a widely used chemical that causes genetic damage, miscarriages, birth defects and acts like a hormone) is present in paper money. Water bottles, baby bottles and sippy cups just a few years ago were almost all made from BPA-containing plastic (although many are now BPA-free). The linings in food cans often contain BPA. Now we have to deal with BPA contamination in an item that we literally touch multiple times a day.
