I thought some on the list might find this relevant to their current work.
----- Original Message ----- From: jamie harvie To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 3:24 PM Subject: [COMFOOD:] NGO Statement on Chemicals Principles for ObamaTransition Team In light of the recent conversations around the Obama transition, see attached press release by colleagues working on chemicals policy. HCWH Food Coordinator Institute for a Sustainable Future 8 N. 2nd Ave. East. Suite 200 Duluth, MN 55802 218 525 7806 November 20, 2008 Scientists, Physicians, Health Advocates, Parents to Obama: Chemical Exposure is an Urgent Crisis in the United States Suggested Principles and Guidelines for Toxic Chemical Regulatory Reform in the U.S. (Washington) Physicians, scientists, health advocates, and parents groups hold great optimism and high expectations for the Obama administration in addressing toxics issues, and its ability to choose administrative staff who will prioritize public health, worker safety and a clean environment. Today, they submitted their pleas for a halt to the urgent chemical exposure crisis in the U.S. and the world, and have submitted their ideas on what to do about it to the Obama Change.gov website that has been set up to receive input for the new administration. Specific ideas submitted by the group include: Immediate steps toward prevention of exposure from known dangerous chemicals Public disclosure of chemistry in products, Protection for scientists Transforming the chemical economy to a green collar economy Addressing toxic chemical issues throughout all government agencies "Our members don't want to have to feel like they have to be research chemists to buy products for their children," says Joan Blades, co-founder of MomsRising. "Chemical regulatory reform is past due. It is outrageous more and more parents look for labels that say items meet European regulatory standards, because American standards are not to be trusted. We want our families protected from chemical exposure." Health and environmental advocates point to recent developments around the chemical bisphenol-A as a prime example of the need for greater integrity at the administration level. "An immediate priority for the new administration should be to support a ban on bisphenol A in food can liners and plastic baby bottles. More than 130 scientific studies have linked this toxic hormone disrupting chemical to breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, neurological effects and other illness--even at very low doses," said Janet Nudelman, policy director at the Breast Cancer Fund. "We have more than enough evidence of harm to act, and we need to do so quickly." "Toxic chemical exposure is such a great threat to American health. It effects some of our most fragile individuals in our society, children and the unborn child, who cannot protect themselves from these assaults. That is why we must do it for them. We are looking to the Obama administration to listen to the scientists, physicians, and health professionals to immediately implement strategies that will save lives and prevent human suffering," says Kristen Welker-Hood, ScD MSN RN Director, Environment and Health Programs with Physicians for Social Responsibility. "The EPA's own scientists had to stand by, silenced by a gag order, and watch as chemicals and rules were approved without adequate scientific study," says Dr. William Hirzy, EPA scientist, and vice president of EPA scientists' union, NTEU 280. At least one EPA advisory scientist was publicly attacked in a letter and removed from an advisory panel on a chemical used in flame retardants by industry. "Our government has failed to protect us from toxic chemicals leaking from dumps, being released into the air and water in environmental justice communities, and even in children's toys and baby bottles. We need nothing short of a total overhaul of our nation's failed chemical regulatory system, which for years has benefited the big polluters and left communities and workers struggling for justice," said Lois Gibbs, Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, "We believe that living without toxic chemicals in our water, soil, air, and bodies is a universal human right. It's time to stop the contamination of our nation's cities, towns, and rural areas - often located in low income communities of color. But chemical exposure also knows no boundaries and depending on the chemical, can travel thousands of miles from where it is applied," according Pam Miller, director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, "So no one is protected from toxic chemical exposure. Arctic Indigenous peoples are among the most highly exposed people in the world." Martha Dina Arguello, executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles, says, "Whether people are living in rural communities contaminated by pesticide drift, or living in cities and exposed to air contaminants from traffic, or just becoming exposed buying unregulated products, everyone is in danger from unregulated chemicals. We are asking for immediate attention to these issues with help and support for the people working toward real solutions." Even the administration's efforts to restore the integrity of the financial marketplace can play a role in ensuring safer chemicals, said Sanford Lewis, Counsel, Investor Environmental Health Network. He said, "As the Obama administration strengthens the Securities and Exchange Commission, it should ensure that all financial risks, including the risks associated with toxic products, are being disclosed to investors. This has not been the case under the prior administration." "Toxic chemicals are one of the greatest threats to our health and environment," according to Dr. Arlene Blum, Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute. "However, this problem can be solved. With scientific information and political will, we can move to safer products and protect our health." Guidelines and Principles for Toxic Chemical Regulatory Reform in the United States list 5 clear steps and remedies to the current chemical exposure crisis in the U.S. and the World. The complete guidelines can be found: http://isitinus.org/whatwecando.php and http://www.louisvillecharter.org/whatsnew.shtml Available for Interviews Martha Dina Argüello, Executive Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles Cell: 310.261-0073, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Martha can address a variety of toxic chemical exposure issues - to communities of color, about educating physicians, and what has happened in California toward reforming chemical regulatory policy - she has been involved in the California Green Chemistry Initiative. Joan Blades, President and Co-Founder, MomsRising.org. To schedule an interview, contact: Gretchen Wright or Lisa Lederer at 202.371.1999 Arlene Blum PhD, Executive Director and Founder, Green Science Policy Institute 510.644.3164 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Arlene can address flame retardants and the efforts toward Green Chemistry solutions. Jose T. Bravo - Director, Just Transition Alliance / Alianza de Transicion Justa Chula Vista, CA. Jose works with communities contaminated with chemicals, which occurs mostly where low income people of color are living, although everyone is at risk. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 619.838.6694 Cell Elizabeth Crowe is a young mother. She works on chemical weapons issues, and on environmental justice issues and was very involved in the making of this document. Director, Kentucky Environmental Foundation 859.986.0868 [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Jay Feldman, Executive Director, Beyond Pesticides, [EMAIL PROTECTED] 202.543.5450. Jay can address pesticide contamination from lawn chemicals and everyday pesticide use. Christopher Gavigan, CEO and Executive Director, Healthy Child, Healthy World. Author of Healthy Child, Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, Christopher can address how to raise a family in a less toxic environment. 310. 820. 2030 www.healthychild.org <http://www.healthychild.org> Lois Gibbs, Executive Director, Center for Health Environment and Justice, 703.237.2249, www.chej.org. Lois has been working on toxic exposure issues since 1970 when her activism around Love Canal forced the founding of the Superfund designation. Kathryn Gilje, Executive Director, Pesticide Action Network North America, 415.981.1771, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kathryn can address the need to support farmer transitions off of chemically based farming, and the dangers of agricultural pesticide contamination for farmworkers and those living in rural communities. John Kepner, Project Director, Beyond Pesticides, 202.543.5450 ext. 20 [EMAIL PROTECTED] org. John can address lawn chemical and household pesticide exposure issues. Richard Liroff, Ph.D., Executive Director, 703.970.4790 [EMAIL PROTECTED], and Sanford Lewis, JD, Counsel, Investor Environmental Health Network, 413 549-7333, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Richard or Sanford can address how investors can address the risks and opportunities associated with toxic chemicals and products and safer materials. Sanford can also discuss how the securities and exchange commission can better protect investor interests regarding toxic chemicals in products as part of its regulatory reform efforts. Elise Miller, M.Ed. Executive Director, Institute for Children's Environmental Health National Coordinator, CHE's Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative. 360.331.7904 www.iceh.org, www.partnersforchildren.org, www.chenw.org <http://www.chenw.org> Pam Miller, Founder and Executive Director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics. Pam can address the drift of POPs chemicals from lower hemispheres, putting Indigenous peoples in the Arctic at great risk for illness from chemical contaminants and can also address the several hundred toxic waste dump sit4es, now leaking chemicals due to global warming, and contaminating water, soil and air near communities. 907.222.7714 Janet Nudelman, Director of Program and Policy, Breast Cancer Fund. Janet has been extensively involved in working toward restrictions on harmful chemicals such as bisphenol A and phthalates. To arrange an interview contact Shannon Coughlin 415.336.2245, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Judith Robinson, young mother of two. Director of Programs, Environmental Health Fund 802.257.4215, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jennifer Sass, PhD. NRDC Senior Scientist, Natural Resource Defense Council, 202.289.2362, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dr. Sass can address scientific integrity issues, and the need for chemical regulatory reform. Ted Schettler, MD, MPH. Science Director, Science and Environmental Health Network. Ted is co-author of Generations at Risk: Reproductive Health and the Environment, which examines reproductive and developmental health effects of exposure to a variety of environmental toxicants, and also co-author of In Harm's Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lynn Thorp, National Campaigns Coordinator, Clean Water Action. 202.895.0420 ext. 109 http://www.cleanwateraction.org/. Lynn will address the need for chemical policy reform and what is happening with federal policy. Kirsten Welker-Hood, ScD MSN RN, Director, Environment and Health Programs, Physicians for Social Responsibility - National, Washington DC. (202) 667-4260 ext 244, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dr. Welker-Hood can speak on comprehensive federal chemical policy reform as well as medical and health professional activism advocating for safer chemical management regulation and pediatric environmental health. Resources Contaminated without Consent www.contaminatedwithoutconsent.org <http://www.contaminatedwithoutconsent.org> Healthy Child, Healthy World www.healthychild.org Is It In Us? http://isitinus.org/ <http://isitinus.org/whatwecando.php> The Louisville Charter www.louisvillecharter.org <http://isitinus.org/whatwecando.php> MomsRising www.momsrising.org <http://www.momsrising.org> Physicians for Social Responsibility www.psr.org Principles of Environmental Justice http://ej4all.org/environmental.principles.php Scientific Consensus Statement on Environmental Agents Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Developed by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment's Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative February 20, 2008 (revised July 1, 2008) http://www.iceh.org/pdfs/LDDI/LDDIPolicyStatement.pdf -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIBING AND UNSUBSCRIBING TO COMFOOD: You can subscribe to COMFOOD by going here: https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/comfood You can unsubscribe to COMFOOD by going here : https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/signoff/comfood _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
