September '16 Tip Talks Newsletter
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IN THIS ISSUE
**LIB TALKS: Local News & Clever Consumerism.,
Focus on Slaking Thirst & Staying Healthy, Some Movement at State & Local Level – the Importance of Resisting Preemption
**GOOD NEWS: NY to Test School Water for Lead,
South Portland Maine Passes Lawn Pesticide Ban
**ACTIONS: Replacing Soda With Healthier Alternatives,
Calling for Limits on Chromium-6 in Drinking Water:
** RESOURCES: Free Green Flags School Environmental Leadership Program, Drinking Water Safety Info &
Water Filter Buying Guide
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**Local News & Clever Consumerism: I had hoped to settle on a way to provide info specific to RI & adjacent states this month, but am not yet ready to launch that effort. I’m still deciding whether to simply separate the local E-Mails and send only to them an enhanced version of this newsletter – or to send out a brief, special Local message at another time. Another puzzle is – the info would mostly be on ways to find healthy food and other buying options at the lowest cost – and on legislative actions. The question is – would these, while focused on Rhode Island, not also be helpful to outsiders in finding their own good buys, (For example, the tactics for finding best prices and sales at places like Whole Foods Market, local health food stores vs. supermarket chains might apply widely) and considering legislative possibilities wherever you live?
**Slaking Thirst & Staying Healthy: You will note that much of the action and resources this month are focused on what we drink!
Sadly, widely imbibed sodas are unhealthy way beyond just sugar – and the diet soda is actually worse – and, outrageously, promotes obesity more than the regular stuff! (What, a “get fat” diet product?) Contamination of our drinking water is also a serious ongoing problem. So, this month, I’ve provided info to help you figure out your own choices, including finding water filters that take out Chromium-6 – while demanding protection from the “regulators” who often don’t do their job. Fortunately, a quick search (using our “Good Search” option that benefits TIP – see info at bottom of this message) found plenty of info and filter options to address the Chromium-6 problem. For specific best choices, see this month’s Resources for an EWG report.
**State & Local Leaders are often better at protecting us than the Feds – which is why fighting preemption of their power, whether through the terrible TPP or the DARK act, etc. is so important.
This month, I’m including a stories from Maine & New York to encourage you not to despair! Perhaps you can tell us of some good moves in your own neck of the woods? Another thought –
if you share the information we provide with others, it could help to pressure the powers that be, whether retailers or government honchos, to do better in moving toward a healthier planet & people.
Blessings, Liberty G
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GOOD NEWS
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SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE, PASSES LAWN PESTICIDE BAN,
FOCUSES ON EDUCATION
( Beyond Pesticides, September 9, 2016) On Wednesday, City Council members of South Portland, Maine cast their final votes to pass an ordinance that bans the use of toxic lawn pesticides on private and public land. The ban, which passed 6-1, is an important public health measure in the protecting 25,000 residents, the largest jurisdiction in the state to-date to adopt such as measure.
In 2014, the Town of Ogunquit, Maine was the first jurisdiction to ban toxic lawn pesticides on both private and public land.
Maine’s status as one of only seven states that does not preempt local governments’ authority to restrict the use of pesticides on land within their jurisdiction empowers local governments to take this kind of protective action. Supporters of this ordinance, led by the local organization Protect South Portland, and supported by statewide organizations and Beyond Pesticides, put together an effective campaign to educate council members, the public, and the media about the dangers of pesticides, and the effectiveness of organic land management practices that do not utilize toxic pesticides.
GOVERNOR CUOMO SIGNS LANDMARK LEGISLATION
TO TEST DRINKING WATER IN NEW YORK SCHOOLS
FOR LEAD CONTAMINATION
State Department of Health Issues New Regulations to
Mandate Lead Testing in New York Schools by October 31;
New York First State in the Nation to Complete Lead Testing
in All School Districts by End of 2016
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ACTIONS
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CLEVER CONSUMER CAMPAIGN
WARNING OF THE MONTH – SODA ALERT
(Note: Be sure to read down to see the problem with
Diet Soda as a substitute. See suggestions for alternative drinks within the Wellness Mama page. Then, see info below in our resources section on using water filters to obtain nice, clean water to slake your thirst!)
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/food-and-health/soda-health-risks/
http://wellnessmama.com/379/reasons-to-avoid-soda/
TELL THE EPA – TAKE ACTION ON CHROMIUM-6 CONTAMINATION IN DRINKING WATER
A new EWG report reveals that this cancer-causing chemical contaminates the water supplies of more than 200 million Americans in all 50 states. Erin Brockovich first brought the dangers of Chromium-6 to national attention in 1993, but the EPA has failed to properly limit chromium-6 levels in drinking water. The chemical is expected to cause cancer when ingested at low doses. Please stand with EWG and tell the EPA to set a national safety limit for chromium-6 in drinking water.
http://action.ewg.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=2249&tag=201609Chrom6EBmail50
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RESOURCES\
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CHEJ GREEN FLAG SCHOOLS PROGRAM
CHEJ’s Green Flag Schools Program for Environmental Leadership provides a framework for students to become environmental leaders and contribute to positive change in their communities. Through the program, students of all ages learn environmental concepts, investigate their schools, and identify solutions for making their schools safer and healthier. This program is completely free of charge. Download the materials at:
http://chej.org/take-action/help/green-flags/ to get started, or
order a free hard copy by contacting CHEJ at info@chej.org.
IS YOUR DRINKING WATER SAFE?
By Megan Boyle, HCHW Editorial Director August 20, 2015
Originally published on Healthy Child Healthy World
www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2015/08/your-drinking-water-safe
EWG’S WATER FILTER BUYING GUIDE
www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-water-filter-buying-guide
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BENEFIT TIP WHILE SURFING THE WEB at: www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=818190
(Uses the Yahoo search engine)
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** SUPPORT TIP WHILE SHOPPING AMAZONJust go to: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/14-1862385 and the
link will take you to the site with TIP already selected as your charity. You then shop on smile.amazon.com the same way you would have shopped on www.amazon.com., but the donation will go to us (at no cost to you).**********************************
**OR MOST OF ALL, MAKE A DONATION:
Mail a check to TIP at the address above.
(We are a tax deductible organization)
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Liberty Goodwin, Director, Toxics Information Project (TIP)
P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940 Tel. 401-351-9193,
E-Mail: liberty@toxicsinfo.org Website: www.toxicsinfo.org **************************************