Good information on the precautionary principle in the List archives: http://snipurl.com/11fwi precautionary principle 243 matches
This below from Rachel's, go to the website version for hotlinks to the "Further reading" section. ---- http://www.precaution.org/lib/prn_pp_def.htm Environmental Research Foundation, August 27, 2005 THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE IN A NUTSHELL By Peter Montague The Wingspread Statement's definition <http://rachel.org/library/getfile.cfm?ID=189> of the precautionary principle <http://www.precaution.org/lib/pp_def.htm> is now widely quoted: "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. "In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof. "The process of applying the Precautionary Principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially affected parties. It must also involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action." The Essence of Precaution: Critics say that the precautionary principle is not well-defined. However, the Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN <http://www.sehn.org>) points out that, in all formulations of the precautionary principle, we find three elements: 1) When we have a reasonable suspicion of harm, and 2) scientific uncertainty about cause and effect, then 3) we have a duty to take action to prevent harm. The precautionary approach suggests five actions we can take: (1) Set a goal (or goals); (2) Examine all reasonable ways of achieving the goal, intending to choose the least-harmful way; (3) Monitor results, heed early warnings, and make mid-course corrections as needed; (4) Shift the burden of proof -- when consequences are uncertain, give the benefit of the doubt to nature, public health and community well-being. Expect responsible parties (not governments or the public) to bear the burden of producing needed information. Expect reasonable assurances of safety for products before they can be marketed -- just as the Food and Drug Administration expects reasonable assurances of safety before new pharmaceutical products can be marketed. (5) Throughout the decision-making process, honor the knowledge of those who will be affected by the decisions, and give them a real "say" in the outcome. This approach naturally allows issues of ethics, right-and-wrong, and justice to become important in the decision. Instead of asking the basic risk-assessment question -- "How much harm is allowable?" -- the precautionary approach asks, "How little harm is possible?" In sum: Faced with reasonable suspicion of harm, the precautionary approach urges a full evaluation of available alternatives for the purpose of preventing or minimizing harm. ============== Further reading: In the U.S., the leading proponent of the precautionary approach is the Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN). Their web site i<http://www.sehn.org> is a gold mine of information. Here are some suggested readings: Precautionary principle -- overviews -- By Schettler, Barrett and Raffensperger (2001?) -- By Nancy Myers (2002) -- The Wingspread Statement (1998) -- By Jared Blumenfeld (2003) Precautionary principle in the workplace: -- By Eileen Senn (2003) -- By Frank Ackerman and Rachel Massey (2002) -- By The American Public Health Association (1996) -- By Eileen Senn Tarlau (1990) -- By Anne Stikjel and Lucas Reijnders (1995) Precautionary principle and environmental justice: -- By the California Environmental Protection Agency (2003) -- By Peter Montague (July, 2003) -- By Peter Montague (Feb., 2003) Precautionary principle and municipal/county government: -- The San Francisco Precaution Ordinance (2002) -- The San Francisco White Paper on Precaution (2002) Precautionary principle and environmental science: -- By David Kriebel and others (2001) Precautionary principle and children's health: --By The American Public Health Association (2000) Precautionary principle and public health: -- By Tickner, Kriebel, and Wright (2003) >Joe Street wrote: > >>Ok this is the part I don't get. You keep saying there in a >>massive cohort of subjects walking around with amalgams and how >>come we aren't seeing a problem, and I'm telling you there's a >>massive cohort of subjects and we are seeing problems. I can't >>prove it is the amalgam and you can't prove it's not. >> > > How can I prove a negative? There SHOULD be some indication of >widespread health issues linked to amalgam if the problem actually >exists because the cohort with amalgam fillings is so large. If >that's the case, what are the medical indications? If you can't >prove ill effects from amalgam fillings--and I've had them in my >mouth for decades now, without problems--how do you expect to >convince me that a problem exists? > >>And it has nothing to do with a coverup or conspiracy by the >>medical association cause they don't know for sure either.( but >>there is the precautionary principle right?) >> > > The precautionary principle is something I learned about HERE. >Nobody else talks about it, at least in my circles, and this >discussion outlines its merits. I'm learning a lot in reading and >writing to other people in this forum, and that's why I'm still a >subscriber after all these years. The flip side to the >precautionary principle is that if I have the fillings already, I'm >better off leaving them in than removing them because by removing >them, I increase my exposure to mercury vapor. > >> At the time amalgams were first used they seemed like a wonderful solution. >> > > Amalgams are tough, yet tender. They're softer than porcelain, >so they're easier on the jaw, last far longer than porcelain, and >they're cheaper than gold. That's why they're used. > >>Trans fat was going to be the solution to a problem as well >>remember? All I'm saying is that one day when you say to yourself >>'crap, I just found out that I should wear gloves when I change the >>engine oil on my car cause there's stuff in there that can harm me >>if I get it on my skin' then you wear gloves right? You don't go >>on getting motor oil all over your hands. But maybe if you're an >>unscrupulous garage owner you don't bother to tell your mechanics >>about the issue because then you have to do something for them and >>it might cut into your profits. >> > How do we know that skin exposure to oil causes problems? >Couldn't we use similar techniques to draw definitive conclusions >about mercury in amalgam fillings and vaccines? > >>Unfortunately I'm just as skeptical of UV cure epoxies as I am now >>of the amalgam I have in my head. Epoxy is the new wonderful >>solution but it has even less of a track record. Gold is probably >>fine but then I have to be careful next time I go to the third >>world walking around with that gold flashing in my mouth. If I go >>porcelain my buds will accuse me of having a glass jaw and what can >>I say? Ahh you can't win. Stay away from candy kiddies! >> > > You'd better brush, floss and visit your dentist regularly!!! > > >robert luis rabello >"The Edge of Justice" >Adventure for Your Mind ><http://www.newadventure.ca>http://www.newadventure.ca > >Ranger Supercharger Project Page ><http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/>http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/ _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
