Good News To Start The Weekend: Monsanto is a little less evil then they were last week

After this morning's bummer of a post, I decided we could all use some good news. Earlier this week, Monsanto, the evil agricultural mega-corporation, announced that it is selling off its dairy hormone business.

Recombinant bovine growth hormone, also known as rBGH, is an artificial growth hormone developed by Monsanto to increase dairy cows’ milk output. rBGH causes health problems in cows and increases antibiotic use on dairy farms. While the effect on humans consuming rBGH milk is not clear, studies suggest that rBGH increases another chemical that is linked to increased cancer risk. Basically, this stuff is pretty yucky, and environmental groups have become more and more outspoken about the problems associated with it, consumers have stopped buying milk produced with it, and businesses like Starbucks are staying away from it.

I can only assume that Monsanto made this decision based on the excellent letter to the editor I wrote last week.

Source: Food and Water Watch

Good news to start the weekend!

The Senate Environment and Public Works committee passed legislation today that addresses toxic substances in drinking water, advances environmental justice issues, limits the release of mercury, tracks hazardous waste, cleans up the Great Lakes, and improves sanitation systems for rural and native villages in Alaska.

Superhero Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the EPW Committee said: "The bills approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee today tackle some of the most dangerous pollution threatening our families and communities."

Great work, EPW! (Congress, don't screw it up)

Congress Removes Toxins from Toys, Exxon Proves Itself To Be More Evil Than Originally Thought

In a rare victory in the world of toxic chemicals, Congress decided earlier this week to ban phthalates in children's toys and reduce lead levels. As I reported last week, phthalates are chemicals used to soften plastic that are commonly used in children's toys such as rubber duckies and teething rings. They have been linked to reduced sperm counts, damaged DNA, and undescended testicles in baby boys.

Obviously, taking toxic chemicals out of toys that babies chew on is a good thing. Exxon Mobil, who manufactures DINP, one of the most common phthalates, has a different view on the ban, however: "What's at stake is, in fact, children's safety," said Elissa Sterry, a vice president at Exxon Mobil Chemicals. "If DINP is replaced by alternative products, that's a potential risk to children."

Really, Exxon? Really? You want to play that game? Because that sounds suspiciously like a threat.

And if that wasn't bad enough, Keith Hennessey, director of Bush's Economic Policy Council, wrote to the Senate with a similarly idiotic claim that a ban on toxic chemicals in toys could hurt children. "Banning a product before a conclusive, scientific determination is reached is short-sighted and may result in the introduction of unregulated substitute chemicals that harm children's health," he wrote.

It seems like there is a pretty easy solution to that: Start regulating chemicals that children are exposed to. Oh yeah, and stop being evil.

Source: The Washington Post