Children do not need to be made fire retardant

A new study by the Environmental Working Group found that toddlers and preschoolers typically have 3 times as much toxic flame retardants in their blood as their mothers. In total, they found 11 different flame retardants in the children, and 86 percent of the time the chemicals were present at higher levels in the children than their mother.

Why is it a bad idea to have flame retardants in kids' bloodstreams? Flame retardants, or PBDEs, are widely used in in furniture foams, industrial textiles, and consumer electronics. PBDEs have been found in human breast milk, wildlife, and in food. In 1998, Swedish scientists discovered that PBDEs may pose significant risks to human and environmental health. As a result, the European Union and the states of California, Hawaii, Maine, New York and Washington took action to reduce, or ban, the use of PBDEs.

The good news is that the Michigan Legislature is currently discussing legislation to ban deca-BDE, a type of toxic flame retardant that shouldn't be used anymore. I just took action to get deca-BDE banned in Michigan, and if you live in Michigan, you should take a second to take action as well: http://www.mnceh.org/take.deca.php

In Defense Of Community Organizing: Make Sarah Palin Apologize

In her acceptance speech last night at the Republican National Convention, Vice Presidential nominee and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said, "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a `community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

Nominally, her words were an assault on Barack Obama's early career as a community organizer on Chicago's south side. But the impact reaches farther than that and is a direct affront to the thousands who have dedicated their lives to making America great.

Community organizing is the heart and soul of American democracy. We are privileged to live in a country where people with the energy and passion to dream of a better world can put in the sweat and shoe leather to build social movements from the ground up. Indeed, if it weren't for the sacrifice of organizers, we wouldn't have many of the opportunities we take for granted today -- from the 40-hour work week and the minimum wage to protections for a woman's right to choose and the right of African Americans to vote.

In fact, Sarah Palin would never have been able to take the stage as the nominee at a national political convention if it weren't for community organizers of the past who dreamed of, fought for, and won the right of women's suffrage.

Americans dedicate themselves to public service in many ways, and everyone who gives of themselves for the betterment of our nation -- from small-town mayors to community organizers -- should be recognized and honored for their valuable contribution.

Tell Governor Palin to apologize for her remarks regarding community organizers. Sign the petition.

Important Message From Community Activists in the Gulf Coast

Dear friends:

As tropical storm Gustave bares down on the Gulf of Mexico we find ourselves in a very dire situation. Our organization has worked to assist the residents of Plaquemines parish recover from the devastation of Katrina over the last three years and now we are faced with another evacuation to places unknown.

At present, as we make plans to leave our FEMA Campers and partially rebuilt homes and our communities we will be under a "Mandatory Evacuation" by Saturday August 30, 2008. We have about 30 men, women, children and elderly that are in need of assistance and care through out this difficult and stressful time. We have purchased food, water and are looking to arrangement for shelter and have exhausted our resources.

Monique Harden and her organization has donated $300.00 dollars towards the housing and care of these good people. We have plans to house ourselves at Jelly Stone Park in cabins that can sleep 6 to 10 people. These cabins are $80 to $110 dollars per day and allow us to house groups in a situation we can accomodate the kids and elderly in our group. We are asking for your help to provide for these needy people.

Because we do not know the direction or severity of this storm, we may have to go further north if it moves inland and the parish we are going to has a mandatory Evac as well. Hotels and other housing alternatives are all booked up as far as Tennessee and we may have to move these folks further north to a safe location.

Any ammount of assistance is a help and will be used to care for this group of people. They all have some money, but it will be used up quickly idf we have to travel 10+ hours to safety.

You can send this assistance to: Martin Denesse with a note for Hurricane Evac Assistance Western Union and e-mail me that you have donated. I will respond to the e-mail and let you know we have recieved it. Western Union should be sent to the New Orleans Location as it willl allow me to access the funds at any western Union Location nation wide.

I would ask one more thing of you, we have lost so much and the stress of this situation is great especially on children and the elderly...pray for us and that God would sustain us and protect us.

Blessings...

Pastor Martin Denesse
Grace Harbour Christian Ministries
Community Technology & Economic Development Center
for Plaquemines Parish
504-208-1479 Office / 318-607-7133 cell
One Parish...One Community...One Nation Under God!

Important Action If You Are In DC On Friday

Take Action to Get Toxic Flame Retardants Banned in MI

The Michigan Legislature is currently discussing legislation to ban deca-BDE, a type of toxic flame retardant that shouldn't be used anymore. Deca-BDE is part of a class of chemicals known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). They are widely used as flame retardants in furniture foams, industrial textiles, and consumer electronics. Deca-BDE is the most widely used form of PBDE, and is found in mattresses, televisions, computers, and residential upholstered furniture.

PBDEs have been found in human breast milk, wildlife, and in food. In 1998, Swedish scientists discovered that PBDEs may pose significant risks to human and environmental health. As a result, the European Union and the states of California, Hawaii, Maine, New York and Washington took action to reduce, or ban, the use of PBDEs.

I just took action to get deca-BDE banned in Michigan, and if you live in Michigan, you should take a second to take action as well: http://www.mnceh.org/take.deca.php

Why haven't I heard about the Amazonian Chernobyl until now?

File this under things we should have heard about a long time ago. Apparently, U.S. oil giant Chevron has dumped over 17 million tons of oil waste in Ecuador, in an area with multiple indigenous tribes and thousands of rare species of plants and animals. The contamination is so bad that it is being referred to as the "Amazonian Chernobyl."

The toxic pollution has devastated the wildlife, poisoned the land and water, and sickened the people of Ecuador. 30,000 Ecuadorians have sued Chevron, and in typical form, they are denying responsibility.

Read all about it in the London Daily Telegraph and on Amazon Watch's excellent website, Chevron Toxico.

Have other people heard of this before now? Anyone else feel compelled to boycott Chevron?

Don't Let Dingell Be a Dingaling

Fellow Michiganders and people who like babies and squishy toys-

Old Man Dingell has a key vote in a piece of legislation that could lead to a ban of phthalates. Phthalates are hard to pronounce chemicals (seriously though, who thought it would be a good idea to have so many consonants in a row?) that are included in adorable children's toys like rubber duckies and teething rings.

Adorable, right? Wrong. Phthalates have been linked to reduced sperm counts, damaged DNA, and undescended testicles in baby boys.

Tell Congressman Dingell to include the ban on phthalates on the legislation he is working on this week by going to this form. Or, if you are super lazy like me, you can take action by going to this website, where they do all the work for you.

Source: The Detroit Free Press