TOXICS INFORMATION PROJECT (TIP)

LIBERTY GOODWIN, DIRECTOR

P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940

Tel. 401-351-9193, E-Mail: TIP@toxicsinfo.org

WEBSITE: WWW.TOXICSINFO.ORG

(Lighting the Way to Less Toxic Living)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FORUM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2007, 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.

Johnson & Wales University, Harborside Campus,

Recreation Center, 305 Shipyard Street, Providence

Free Lunch Provided For Those Registering by November 1

Spanish Language Translators Available

The Air We Breathe, The Food We Eat, Where We Live, Work & Play

Children’s Health, Skills Workshops

PLANNING FOR NEXT STEPS

Do you care about the environment?  Do you care about justice?  Do you care about your health and the health of your children? Rhode Islanders of all incomes, races and ethnicities deserve to live in safe and healthy communities. Learn what you can do to make your homes and neighborhoods healthier. Attend this free Environmental Justice Forum.  For more information or to register for the Forum contact Steven Fischbach, Community Lawyer at Rhode Island Legal Services - 1-800-662-5034 extension 182 or by email at steve.fischbach@gmail.com

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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FORUM 2007

AGENDA

(Draft 10.24.07)

9:00 Welcome

Robert Barge, President & CEO, RI Legal Services

Sharon Wells, Acting Director, Office of Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, US Environmental Protection Agency Region 1

9:15 Panel: Environmental Justice in Rhode Island: Case studies

What is Environmental Justice: Steve Fischbach – Community Lawyer, RI Legal Services

Lead Poisoning: Liz Colon – Childhood Lead Action Project

Asthma: Arelis Valerio, MDAE-C, Community Asthma Program, Hasbro Children’s Hospital –Draw A Breath

Contaminated Sites in Rhode Island:

Tiverton: Gail Corvello – ENACT (Environmental Neighborhood Awareness Committee of Tiverton)

Bradford: Gina D’Ambra – Bradford Coalition 2 End Pollution

Redeveloping Brownfields into Parks: Jane Sherman – Former Director, Woonasquatucket River Greenway Project

10:00 Break (participants view tables set up by local groups)

10:15 Concurrent Workshops I: Shared Concerns

Clean Air:

Chris Wilhite, RI Chapter, Sierra Club

Molly Clark, RI Chapter, American Lung Association

Jim Satel, Newport Housing Authority or Nancy Sutton, RI Departmen to Health

Where You Live, Work & Play:

Liz Colon – Childhood Lead Action Project

Phil Brown – Department of Sociology, Brown University

James Celenza – RI. Committee on Occupational Safety & Health

Gail Corvello – ENACT or Jane Sherman - Woonasquatucket Greenway Project (formerly)

Healthy Food:

Katherine Brown - Southside Community Land Trust

Dhitinut Ratnapradipa - RI Depart. of Health, Office of Environmental Health & Risk Assessment

Dorothy Brayley - Kids First

Children’s Health:

Arelis Valerio, MDAE-C, Community Asthma Program, Hasbro Children’s Hospital

Liberty Goodwin – Toxics Information Project (TIP)

Steve Fischbach – RI Legal Services

11:15 Break (participants view tables set up by local groups)

11:30 Concurrent Workshops II: Tools for Action

Working With Government:

Steve Fischbach – RI Legal Services

Rochelle Lee – Bates & Hall Associates

Amelia Rose – Toxics Action Center

Education for Action:

Marina Spitkovskaya - Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), Boston, MA

Phil Brown – Department of Sociology, Brown University

Working With the Media:

Sunshine Menezes - Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting

Karen Malcolm - Ocean State Action

12:40 Lunch with Keynote Speaker:

Elizabeth Yeampierre, Co- Chairperson, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance/ Executive Director, United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park

1:45 Next Steps Towards Creating an Environmental Justice Group

3:00 Conference Ends

CHILDREN’S HEALTH WORKSHOP

Led by: Steve Fischbach, RI Legal Services, Arelis Valerio, MD, AE-C, Pediatric Health Educator, and Liberty Goodwin, Toxics Information Project (TIP),

I. OVERVIEW: What are the threats to children’s health from environmental factors?

A. Introduction: (15 minutes)

1. Why are children more vulnerable? (Steve)

2. Children and asthma - the disease and that it can be controlled (Dr. Valerio)

3. Children and toxics - connections to other health conditions, such as endocrine disruption, autism & cancer. Why is this an environmental justice issue? (Liberty)

B. Other Concerns. (15 minutes)

Invitation to participants to share thoughts about the risks they see as important, from their own experience and knowledge.

II. ACTION OPTIONS/STRATEGIZING: How can we reduce the risks to children’s health from the world around them?

A. Comments by facilitators. (15 minutes)

1. Environmental toxins that can affect children that are within our own control - household and personal care products - require education.

2. Environmental threats that are not by our own choice - that require public advocacy - diesel emissions, toxic waste dumps, unhealthy school buildings & pesticided playing fields, toxic chemicals in toys and baby bottles, etc.,

B. General Discussion/Brainstorming (15 minutes)

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OUTLINE: CHILDREN & TOXICS SEGMENT,

CHILDREN’S HEALTH WORKSHOP

Presenter: Liberty Goodwin, Director, Toxics Information Project (TIP)

I. Connections to other health conditions, such as endocrine disruption, autism & cancer.

Reproductive Effects: Pthalates and Bisphenol-A in toys and cosmetics.

Learning Disabilities - Pesticides & Cleaning Products

Childhood Cancer - All the above.

II. Why is this an environmental justice issue?

A. Children have neither free choice nor the knowledge to choose healthy environments. At school, home and play, they are dependent on those around them for protection.

B. Truly factual information is not generally provided to the public on some of the most damaging chemicals in everyday life and products. People have a right to know the risks to which they are exposed, and to try to avoid harm from them.

C. The governmental entities expected to protect us simply don’t, in a wide variety of ways. Sadly, protection offered to many in other countries is greater than in our own - it is not fair or just that consumers elsewhere are safer than we are. Healthier alternatives that are being used successfully in Europe and elsewhere - why should we be denied them?

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SUMMARY

What Are the Threats to Children’s Health from Environmental Factors?

Connections to health conditions such as endocrine disruption, autism & cancer (and asthma).

Chemicals in household products, toys, personal care products. Pesticides and cleaning materials at home and school.

Action, Options/Strategizing: How can we reduce the risks to children’s health from the world around them? Environmental toxins that can affect children that are within our own control (as consumers) - household and personal care products - require education on risks and alternatives. Environmental threats that are not by our own choice require public advocacy - diesel emissions, toxic waste dumps, unhealthy school buildings & pesticided playing fields, toxic chemicals in toys and baby bottles, etc.,

Where to Find Information in the Internet:

Watch for a major expansion of pertinent articles and links on the Toxics Information Project (TIP) website as part of the new Kids & Toxics Information Exchange project. Some information is there now, more will be be added in December 2007 and throughout 2008. Visit: www.toxicsinfo.org/TIPS_kids.htm

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