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Advocates Press EPA for Rigorous School Siting Standards
As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works to complete the first national Guidelines for the Siting of School Facilities, over one hundred environmental and children's health advocacy organizations have joined together to urge EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to set rigorous, child-protective standards for the location of new schools. Read the press release and letter sent to Administrator Jackson.
CHEJ Testifies Before Congress to Save Superfund Program
The Obama administration is pushing Congress to reinstate the polluter pays fees that fund the cleanup of orphaned Superfund sites. CHEJ Executive Director Lois Gibbs testified before the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works on the impact of orphaned sites on local communities. Read the full testimony.
Warning: “Toy Story 3” Partnership with Toys R Us May Be Toxic for Kids
On Saturday, June 19th, Teamsters, concerned parents, environmental health and consumer activists will leaflet movie theaters showing Toy Story 3 in more than twenty-five cities across America. They will distribute comic strips and information detailing the harmful poison plastic contained in Toy Story 3 toys being sold at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co’s (KKR) Toys R’ Us. Read the full press release.
New York City Council Considers Phthalates/BPA Ban
This week the New York City Council called a hearing to consider banning the sale of toys or children’s products containing bisphenol A or phthalates. Read CHEJ’s full testimony before the Council.
Special Interview with Sanjay Gupta & Lois Gibbs: Superfund Turns 30
Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at the successes and failures of the Environmental Protection Agency's toxic cleanup Superfund. Watch the video.
President’s Cancer Panel Gets Onboard with Precautionary Principle
Today the President’s Cancer Panel released a landmark report calling for the stricter regulation of chemicals to protect human health. Lois Gibbs responds with a call to action to protect children and communities from toxic chemicals. Read her full statement.
Nominate your mom for Mom of the Decade!
And send her this customizable video from Moms Rising to tell her how much you appreciate all that she does.
Photos from the Road - CHEJ's PVC-Free Schools Tour
CHEJ is back from our 10-day New York State PVC-free schools speaking tour! Check out some of the videos we shot.
CHEJ Across NY and In the News
This week CHEJ has been touring NY college campuses for the kick-off of our PVC-Free Schools Campaign. Follow our progress across the state with these news headlines:
Buffalo News: Gibbs brings campaign against PVC to UB
Fox 40: Nationally Known Environmentalist Speaks at BU
Your News Now: Environmentalist Pushes for Quicker IBM Toxic Waste Cleanup
Legislative Gazette: SUNY Campuses Celebrate Earth Day
We’re Blogging!
This week, CHEJ is proud to announce our new blog, Backyard Talk. Get up-to-the-minute information on the work being done at CHEJ and developments in the environmental health field at our new blog. www.chej.org/blog
CHEJ Kicks Off PVC-Free Statewide Speaking Tour in NY
CHEJ founder, Lois Gibbs will be traveling to universities across New York state over the next two weeks to introduce our new PVC-Free Schools Campaign. See the full schedule and download the new student activist toolkit.
Safe School Siting Work Moves Forward with Support of Newman’s Own Foundation
CHEJ is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from Newman’s Own Foundation in support of Child Proofing Our Communities. Throughout our history, many of the community groups that CHEJ has assisted have been working to prevent schools from being built on contaminated sites, or to prevent mold, pesticides or other indoor air quality problems at schools from threatening the health of students and staff. CPOC empowers groups to reduce or eliminate these threats through collective action at the local, state and national levels.
About Newman’s Own Foundation
Paul Newman was committed to helping make the world a better place. To carry on his philanthropic legacy, Newman’s Own Foundation donates all net royalties and profits after taxes from the sale of Newman’s Own products to charity. To date, Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $285 million to thousands of charities around the world. For more information, visit www.newmansownfoundation.org.
Scientists, Advocates to EPA: “Protect Families from Cancer-Causing Dioxin”
The time for incremental progress is passed, according to scientists, advocates and activists gathered to respond to the EPA’s draft cleanup goals for the cancer-causing chemical dioxin. The draft standard is based only on non-cancer health effects and does not adequately address the known carcinogenic properties of dioxin. Read the Press Release or visit our Resource Page for studies and coalition letters.
OH EJ Short Video Contest Announces Winners!
State legislators, environmental health activists and impacted community members gathered in Columbus OH today for the Environmental Justice Short Video Contest Award Ceremony.
Watch the Winning Videos:
FIRST PLACE: Behr Dayton Thermal Systems VOC Plume
SECOND PLACE: Surrounded: A Story of South Columbus (Also winner of People's Choice Award)
THIRD PLACE: Clyde, Ohio - The Cancer Cluster
For more information, read the press release and summaries of contest winners or see media coverage
EPA Orders Tonawanda Coke to Clean Up Its Act
The EPA is cracking down on the Tonawanda Coke Corporation for violations of state and federal environmental laws that have endangered the surrounding community. Read the EPA’s press release.
Spokesman Review: Superfund Outcry Grows Louder
More than 70 grass-roots groups from around the nation have joined Silver Valley activists in asking the Obama administration for new ways of dealing with pollution from cleanup of the Bunker Hill Superfund site in North Idaho. Read about CHEJ’s work with the Bunker Hill community in the Spokane Spokesman-Review
70+ Organizations Call on EPA to Correct Environmental Injustices at Idaho Superfund Site
CHEJ is working with the community impacted by the Bunker Hill Mine & Metallurgical Site in Idaho to fight for a safe cleanup plan. Joined by over 70 groups nationwide, from the Breast Cancer Fund, to the Sierra Club, CHEJ sent a letter to EPA today in support of the Bunker Hill community. Read the release and the letter.
EPA Promises to Protect OH Schoolchildren from Manganese Exposure
Last year, CHEJ worked with USA Today to expose high levels of school air pollution endangering students across the country. The EPA has followed up with air testing at 62 schools across the country; and in October found alarmingly high levels of manganese outside an elementary school in OH. On Thursday, the EPA promised to take measures to reduce levels of this toxic chemical near the school. Read full coverage of this story from USA Today.
FDA's BPA Announcement is an About Face on the Toxic Chemical
The FDA continues to lag behind consumer demand for safe, BPA-free products. In a recent announcement, the FDA upgraded bisphenol-A to a ‘chemical of concern’ and supports a ‘shift to a more robust regulatory framework for oversight of BPA.’ Meanwhile consumer advocates continue to lead the way in increasing the market for BPA-free alternatives. Watch CBS coverage of the story. Or read CHEJ's press release.
In the News: CHEJ Pushes NY State Towards Green Purchasing Policies
The Journal News reports on CHEJ’s efforts to harness the buying power of the State of New York to shift the consumer market to non-toxic products. The New York State Purchasing Committee is currently considering placing 85 chemicals on a Chemical Avoidance List. Full Article.
CHEJ Responds to New EPA Dioxin Standards
CHEJ finds cause for much hope and some concern in EPA’s draft interim dioxin soil cleanup standards released 12/31/09. For more information, see our press release.
New Study Links Phthalates to Breast Enlargement in Teen Boys
Yet another study linking phthalates to adverse health impacts was released this month. Researchers linked gynecomastia to higher levels of DEHP in the blood. Researchers strongly advice limiting exposure to plastic toys and food containers. Another study this month linked prenatal exposure to phthalates to shorter pregnancies.
New PVC-Free Schools Campaign Fact-Sheets
CHEJ is kicking off a brand new PVC-free schools campaign to encourage schools to ditch the poison plastic in favor of safer alternatives. We need your help to make it a success! We’ve created a series of new PVC-free schools fact-sheets to help educate parents, students and decision-makers on the dangers of PVC plastic.
Click here to download the new fact-sheets!
Baby’s Toxic Bottle Report Featured on NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams
After a shocking new report by Consumers Union finding bisphenol A in canned food labeled BPA-free, NBC’s Nightly News offered a special report on BPA-contaminated food and baby bottles. View the NBC segment or read the original Baby’s Toxic Bottle report.
Consumer Reports Finds BPA in Nearly All Canned Food Samples
In the wake of a new Consumer Reports study that found BPA in common, name-brand canned goods, the Center for Health, Environment & Justice and other environmental groups have joined forces to call on the FDA to act immediately to protect consumers from this hazardous chemical in our food supply. Read the release and Consumer Report’s original study.
Apple and Best Buy Make Progress in Ditching the Poison Plastic
The huge market shift away from the poison plastic continues. Apple nerds rejoice! This month, Apple announced the first ever PVC-free MacBooks and iMacs, making Apple the first major electronics company to completely eliminate PVC in these electronics. Apple was recently profiled in a report by Clean Production Action for their work phasing out PVC. In related news, Best Buy announced in their latest corporate social responsibility report they’ve made progress in phasing out PVC packaging and has set a goal of eliminating 50% of their PVC packaging by the end of 2010 (see page 38).
New Study finds PVC Packaging Breaks State Laws
A national study released today by the Toxics In Packaging Clearinghouse found toxic heavy metals in over 60% of PVC packaging it tested, which violates laws in 19 states.
[Read the full release to learn more]
Tell Target to Quit Ducking the Truth About the Dangers of PVC
While Target shareholders attended the company's annual meeting in
Cleveland today, protests, press conferences and letters were delivered to store managers at over 200 stores across the country.
Read the news release. Print out copies of our USA Today ad.
Check out new report, Way Off Target and see pictures from events around the country. Take action and sign our petition to Target.
Wal-Mart, Apple Announce New Plans to Eliminate PVC
Wal-Mart commits to support industry standard to eliminate PVC from all children's products, adding fuel to the national campaign challenging Target to “meet and beat” Wal-Mart’s commitment. View the news release.
CHEJ and other Environmental Groups Challenge Disney to Go Green with New Campaign Launch
CHEJ and Florida groups officially launch the national Disney Go Green Campaign, urging Disney to become a tourism-industry leader by switching away from toxic cleaners and over to green cleaning. Get involved in the campaign by sending a letter to Disney today! View the press release launching the campaign.NEW! See media coverage of the campaign kick-off.
Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty
The United Church of Christ released a new report, "Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty," a follow-up study to their original report two decades ago that helped spark the environmental justice movement. The report finds that minority communities are as or more unfairly burdened with toxic waste now than they were 20 years ago. [Read a summary of the report.]
How Much Pollution is in Your Community?
"Toxic Pollution and Health," a new report from U.S. PIRG, uses data from the Toxic Release Inventory to document the continued pollution of U.S. air and water.It also lists the 100 most polluted zip codes in the United States for different kinds of pollution. Want to see what's in your zipcode? Go to scorecard.org for the TRI information on your community.
Rate Sam Suds on YouTube!
Make sure more people see the video that the chemical industry doesn't want you to see. Go watch Sam Suds on YouTube and rate it! Click here for more ways to promote the video. [Take action here.] [Learn more.]
Students to Begin Classes at New School Built on Former Dump
After years of controversy and millions of dollars spent removing PCB-contaminated soil, Keith Middle School students and staff will finally move to a brand new, state-of-the-art school. There’s a catch: tons of polluted soil still remains on the site beneath a protective barrier.[Read More]
Watch Videos of the PVC Campaign in Action!
Check out videos of our giant PVC-free rubber ducky protest outside of Target in California, as well as the Raging Grannies singing songs at the Bioneers conference.
Pollution "putting millions of children at brain damage risk"
Millions of children throughout the world may have suffered brain damage as a result of industrial pollution, researchers say.
[Read more]
CHEJ Responds to Wal-Mart Chemicals and Packaging Policies
Wal-Mart unveiled a new safer chemicals policy as well as a packaging scorecard ranking suppliers on sustainable packaging. Wal-Mart gave PVC the worst possible rating as a packaging material.
[Read CHEJ’s responses]
Take Action - Tell Target PVC Is Out of Style
Target may have the latest hip designs, but they sell many products such as shower curtains made out of or packaged in PVC, the poison plastic. Take action and sign our petition to Target! [Learn more.]
Watch CHEJ's Funny New Video about the Poison Plastic
Check out CHEJ's funny new spoof video, Sam Suds and the Case of PVC, the Poison Plastic. Have a laugh and be one of the first to watch our three-minute animation. [Help promote the video]
Dozens of Target Stores Protested Nationwide
On October 11th, nearly 30 Target stores nationwide faced concerned mothers, scientists, environmentalists and customers who no longer want to purchase products and packaging made with PVC, sold by Target. [Read the news release]
New York Establishes First Ever Children's Environmental Health Council!
Making the protection of children from environmental hazards one of the highest priorities of the state, Governor Pataki has signed A.6905-a/S.3061-a to establish a first ever NYS Children’s Environmental Health Council. The council will develop health-protective programs and regulations to be implemented by school districts and boards of cooperative educational services.
[Click here to read the bill summary.]
News Release! National Academies New Study Concludes Dioxin is Toxic
The National Academies (NA) released a controversial report confirming what numerous scientific panels have concluded over the past 15 years: dioxin is a potent cancer-causing chemical. Chlorine-based industries have been effectively stalling the release of the EPA’s controversial dioxin reassessment for 15 years.
[Read the release]
[Read the study]
Press Release: Crabtree & Evelyn and Johnson & Johnson Are Expanding PVC Phase-Out
Victory! Crabtree and Evelyn has announced it is accelerating its plans to stop using PVC packaging products by March 2009, and Johnson & Johnson says it will reduce use of PVC packaging by 70 percent by year end 2007.
[Read the press release]
NYC to Reduce Purchase of PVC!
On December 21st the New York City Council passed legislation that will reduce the City’s purchase of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, Lead, Mercury, Toxic Flame Retardants, and other hazardous products, wielding its $11 billion annual purchasing budget to drive markets for safer, environmentally friendly products.
[Read CHEJ's news release]
[Read a copy of the bill that addresses PVC]
[Read a memo that talks about the bill]
Microsoft Completes Phase Out of Poison Plastic
Microsoft has joined the fast-growing ranks of major corporations demonstrating concern about the environmental health impacts of their products or packaging by phasing out PVC plastic. Microsoft announced that by the end of 2005 it will have completed its PVC packaging phase out, which has already resulted in the elimination of 361,000 pounds of PVC since July, 2005.
[Read more]
[Microsoft letter to retailers]
[Microsoft correspondence]
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