Non-Toxic Kids

Watch an 8 year old girl tell Dr. Oz: Organics aren't snobby, but safer and healthier!

2013-05-15T18:30:00.001-07:00

When Dr. Oz wrote about how organic foods were no healthier then conventional foods, I was stunned, like many healthy food advocates, environmentalists, and organic farmers. Here was a famous health advocate, someone who expouses the merits of eating whole foods, telling Americans to eat BPA laden canned foods?

He said: "Organic food is great, it's just not very democratic. As a food lover, I enjoy truffle oil, European cheeses and heirloom tomatoes as much as the next person. But as a doctor, I know that patients don't always have the time, energy or budget to shop for artisanal ingredients and whip them into a meal."

Of course he skipped over the mountains of research linking exposure to pesticides from food to numerous health problems and diseases, and the health problems of farm workers exposed to these toxic chemicals. He also stigmatized all of the families working hard to buy healthy, local, and organic food as snobby foodies.

Well, Dr. Oz, get ready to be taken to task by an 8 year old. Coral and her mom wrote this letter in response to Dr. Oz's article in Time magazine, and it is amazing. I couldn't have said it better myself. Coral knows more than most adults about the merits of local, organic, whole food eating. We can all learn from her!

Want more reasons to buy organic? See this great article from our friends at Kaia magazine.

Please share this all over Twitter and Facebook to catch Dr. Oz's attention. Coral should be on his show to take him on for these views. She will certainly have a rocking future in journalism, politics, or environmental health as well!

What do you think of this video?

6 Tips for Prolonged Latent Labor (when patience is running thin!)

2013-05-13T20:06:00.001-07:00

My second baby was 9 days overdue. This may not seem like a long time in the scheme of a pregnancy, but if you have ever been pregnant, you know that at the end, doing just about anything is a serious challenge. Sleeping. Eating. Bending over. Standing. Being awake. Nine days in this state is an eternity.

And everyone, everyone is all-- "when's that baby gonna come!" and "feel anything yet?" to "you look like you are going to pop!" which is simply just loads of fun.

So, for all those mamas out there experiencing prolonged latent labor, and all of their families (especially partners!) and friends, here is a helpful list for you.

1. Do not call and see if she has had the baby yet. She hasn't. She doesn't really want to answer the phone and be a disappointment because she hasn't produced a living thing yet. She will call you. You may need your partner to answer all the phone calls, or leave a message that simply says, "Not yet!"

2. Do not under any circumstances call it false labor. There is nothing about it that feels "false." Calling it false may demand that you are kicked in the teeth by a overdue pregnant woman. Nothing good can come of this. If you must discuss on again, off again labor, which is real, painful, LABOR, call it latent labor.

3. Please do not tell women pregnant with their second child how fast this one will be. Oh, I held on to that like a lucky charm. When I was overdue I felt betrayed by the sisterhood! It wasn't fast! It wasn't easy! How could that be? Going in to birth with that mindset is a set up. Each birth is its unique story and journey, and it doesn't matter how many times you have done it before, each one is different.

4. Find support. This was a lifeline for me, at 3am, when I was up all night with labor leading no where. To find other women who had been through this meant the world to me. I found my support on Mothertalkers. They came to me online and shared their stories. It mattered. I wasn't alone. And I would be okay.

5. Find humor and distraction. Each time you have labor pains, everyone looks at you expectantly. When this happens for days on end, everyone just needs to pretend it isn't happening. Do anything you can do get out of your own way. Movies, visits, short walks, errands, just do something so you are less like a watched pot!

6. Most importantly, monitor yourself and the baby. Keep in close contact with your doctor or midwife, Women in prolonged latent labor are often encouraged to induce or have a c-section. I know I was desperate and tired-- if my midwife had encouraged me to induce, I would have. Luckily, though, she encouraged me to be patient (so very hard!). She even said, "Enjoy this time," and I had to resist the urge to sock her in the face. But she was right. My baby just wasn't ready yet.

In the end I was able to have my beautiful daughter naturally and she was healthy-- so worth the (long) wait.

Mad love to you mamas out there experiencing prolonged latent labor. We have been there too, and it is no picnic. Dig deep in your heart, do what you need to do, and in the end the most important thing is that you and your baby will be happy and healthy together.

Do you have any tips for women experiencing prolonged latent labor?

Moms Not Lovin It! (McDonalds, stop marketing unhealthy food to our kids)

2013-05-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

Moms are tired of fighting corporate fast food marketing at the grocery store, on TV, in movies, online, on the radio, and even in our schools. For Mother's Day, let's call on McDonald's to stop the aggressive marketing to children!

The White House , four federal agencies (FTC, FDA, CDC, and the USDA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics have all recommended that McDonald’s and its competitors stop promoting junk food to children, finding that marketing to children under 8 is “inherently deceptive” and “wholly exploitative.”

Nevertheless, McDonald’s continues with its deceptive marketing campaigns designed specifically to appeal to young children, while convincing parents that their food is healthy.

McDonald’s uses television, cross-promotions with kids’ shows and movies, celebrities and role models, radio, the Internet, video games and even schools, to completely envelope the environment children grow up in with their marketing. McDonald’s also runs more playgrounds and gives away more toys than any other private entity in the world. They use Ronald McDonald, a friendly cartoon character, to entice children to buy their products. Sound familiar?

McDonald’s contributes to the soaring rates of diet-related disease that already put one in three children today at risk for developing diabetes. McDonald’s also contributes to the ballooning health care costs (already over $190 billion annually in the US) that are associated with treating preventable diet-related illnesses like asthma, celiac, and heart disease. Both the human and economic toll will be staggering in years to come unless we change course now.

With your voice, we can show shareholders that concerned parents across the country refuse to stand for McDonald’s shameless profiting off of this global health nightmare.

Post the above image on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Pinterest, etc. with your thoughts on McDonald’s marketing practices. Don’t forget the hash tag #MomsNotLovinIt, and direct people to www.MomsNotLovinIt.org.

Join us in telling McDonalds "We are NOT lovin it." Thanks for this Mother’s Day gift!

Glade: Stop Keeping Toxic Secrets (you've upset Emma and parents everywhere!)

2013-05-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

SC Johnson, makers of Glade air fresheners, say they’re committed to transparency: “We know you value transparency, and we’re committed to sharing what’s inside our products.”

Except when it comes to fragrance ingredients.

Women’s Voices for the Earth’s product testing shows allergens and hormone disruptors like synthetic musks hiding out in Glade air fresheners. But you won’t find these chemicals on the label, because the makers of Glade keep fragrance ingredients a secret from consumers. What else is Glade hiding?

We have a right to know what’s in the products we bring into our homes. And we have the power to convince Glade to put an end to this secrecy. They’ve said it themselves: “As a family company, listening and responding to consumers is [our] top priority.”

Hmmm. Let's review what's in Glade air fresheners that has baby Emma (and us) all upset:

Toxic Chemicals Found in Glade
(These are just a few of the hundreds of fragrance chemicals that may be part of a Glade fragrance)

Synthetic musks. Test results in WVE’s 2011 Dirty Secrets report found one of these toxic chemicals hiding out in Glade.

Musks are:

persistent (they don’t break down in the environment); bioaccumulative (they build up in our bodies)
potential hormone disruptors
may break down the body’s defenses against other toxic exposures
showing up in our blood and breast milk

Allergens. Test results in WVE’s 2011 Dirty Secrets report also found several allergens in Glade products. Tens of millions of people are sensitized to these chemicals, which cause reactions that range from red bumps, itchiness and wheezing to severe breathing problems.

SC Johnson’s Fragrance Palette SC Johnson, makers of Glade, has published a master list of nearly 1,500 ingredients they use in their fragrances. However, these ingredients aren’t product-specific, which means that SCJ fragranced products may include any of those chemicals. This massive list is all but useless to the consumer.

Some chemicals of concern in the fragrance palette:

Synthetic musks: Galaxolide and Tonalide.
All 26 of the allergens currently disclosed on SCJ product labels in the European Union (EU). SCJ doesn’t disclose these allergens on product labels in the US because they’re not required to by law.
Several additional allergens, which have been deemed of concern in the EU.
Several chemicals of concern identified by an EU panel as having no publicly available human safety data.
Terpenes, which can react with ground level ozone in the air to form cancer-causing formaldehyde.
Petroleum – the same compound in gasoline

So, you can see the problem. That's why we need YOU! Let's put parental pressure on Glade to do the right thing and list (and eliminate) the harmful toxic chemicals used their air fresheners (and all products).

What can you do? Quick and easy steps:

Action 1--LIKE/SHAREthis image to help us make the images go viral on social media to spread the word to as many people as possible.

Action 2--TAKEACTION: Post image to Glade’s Facebook page and tell them you have a right to know what you’re spraying in your home.

See? These are easy steps even for the most sleep deprived parents among us!

How can you avoid toxic air fresheners and chemicals in your home? See this great resource for tips, and share your thoughts here in the comments.

We are finally able to open up windows in our house and clean out all the stagnant winter air. We also use air filters with a HEPA filter, clean with non-toxic ingredients, and vacuum (ah, sometimes) with a HEPA filter. What are your tips?

Join Team ENERGY STAR in the EPIC Fight to Protect the Climate!

2013-05-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

Last year, I was part of Team ENERGY STAR, a an exciting initiative developed to engage and educate American youth and their families about saving energy in the home. Team ENERGY STAR empowers kids to help protect the climate through easy-to-implement, money-saving actions and provides them an outlet for sharing their passion for preserving our environment.

This year ENERGY STAR partners PTO Today and LG Electronics have brought in the heroic characters from the new movie EPIC, to help kids learn about the importance of saving energy while having fun at the same time.

How can you and your kids get involved? Easy!

Kids can join Team ENERGY STAR by visiting energystar.gov/team where they will get easy-to-download educational and interactive materials, such as a comprehensive Action Kit with the ENERGY STAR Home Check-Up, an EPIC-themed activity booklet, and a Professor Bomba’s Binoculars kit to help kids see the world in a whole new way. Kids are also encouraged to come back and share their stories about protecting the environment by saving energy to inspire others. Participants even have a chance to win cool prizes from PTO Today courtesy of Fox and LG Electronics USA. Stories will be showcased on ENERGY STAR’s social media pages and the top stories will be featured on LG’s electronic billboard in New York’s Times Square. How cool is that?

Why Save Energy?

About 70 percent of the electricity we use comes from power plants burning fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels causes greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change - a real and urgent challenge affecting people and the environment worldwide. Using energy-efficient products and practices reduces the amount of carbon pollution added to the atmosphere and can lessen the effects of climate change.

What does saving energy have to do with our health?

Plenty! As I have written about before here and at Moms Clean Air Force, the Earth’s climate is changing in ways that can have serious consequences for public health. Climate change will likely increase the number of people suffering from illness and injury due to more pollution, extreme heat, floods, storms, droughts and fires as well as allergies and infectious disease. The elderly, the very young, the disabled, and the poor alone are especially vulnerable, as are people with heart disease or asthma. Climate change is also expected to cause more severe allergy symptoms because a warmer climate promotes the growth of molds, weeds, grasses and trees that cause allergic reactions.

What’s the impact of ENERGY STAR?

Over the past 20 years, Americans with help from ENERGY STAR have saved over $230 billion on utility bills, preventing more than 1.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That is amazing! Let's grow these numbers even larger. Just think of the impact.

How can parents get involved?

· Take action to reduce your energy use at home

· Help your family and friends save energy

· Encourage your family and friends to take the ENERGY STAR Pledge

· Inspire others by sharing your story

That's it! Please visit energystar.gov/team a visit to learn more about saving energy, ENERGY STAR appliances, to find a fun and engaging activity book for kids about saving energy, and to be entered for great prizes!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am writing about Team ENERGY STAR because I support the program and because I believe it is important to educate the public about energy efficiency and climate change. I have received a modest "thank you" reward from LG, an ENERGY STAR partner, in appreciation for my post. That gift in no way influenced my belief that saving energy is important and necessary.

Top 10 Green Scams of 2013

2013-05-02T19:08:00.001-07:00

(Here is a guest post from our friends at The Green Life Online. I am particularly disturbed by Kashi and Apple. What surprised you?)

On Earth Day, it can seem like every company, product, and marketer is suddenly touting their eco-friendliness and green cred. It’s mostly hogwash – well,greenwash, to be specific. And it’s hard to tell the truly green from the green scams.

To help out, The Green Life Online released the annual “Don’t Be Fooled” report. The report lists the top 10 cases of green scams from the past year.

“Lots of companies are eager to jump on the Earth Day bandwagon,” said Jeff Gang, coordinator of The Green Life Online. “But consumers are skeptical. We want to see substantive changes in environmental practices, not just greenwash ad campaigns.”

The Green Life Online is calling for marketers to stop making misleading claims, and urges consumers to vote on the top scams, and report new greenwash scams through their online tool.

“It’s not just dishonest to greenwash your products,” says Gang. “It undermines products and companies that truly care about the planet. And it has to stop.”

“Earth Day is over. But our task is year-round: together, we can change our lives for the greener. Especially if green scams stop getting in the way,” he said.

Here, in alphabetical order, are the top green scams of the past year:

1. Amazon: Despite FTC action ordering them to stop, Amazon continued selling rayon sheets labeled as “100% bamboo.”

2. Apple advertises the new Retina Macbook Pro laptop as “the world’s greenest,” but experts say it’s the “least repairable, least recyclable” computer in a decade.

3. Audubon International: certifier of golf courses under dubious standards, using the well-known name and bird logo, despite no affiliation with the Audubon Society

4. Canadian Tar Sands: the Canadian government spent millions to run ads calling tar sands oil extraction “responsible,” while undermining environmental protections.

5. Kashi: Their cereal stretches the meaning of “all natural” with genetically-engineered ingredients.

6. McDonald’s & Marine Stewardship Council: a partnership to sell “sustainable” fish sandwiches, despite a murky record for protecting fish and wildlife

7. Organix: A hair-care brand. Most of their products aren’t organic.

8. Sherwin-Williams: their Dutch Boy Refresh paint claimed to be “zero-VOC” – but most colors actually contained dangerous VOCs.

9. Sustainable Forestry Initiative: an industry-dominated group that greenwashes paper and wood

10. Two Sides: A paper industry group that pressures banks and utilities to stop offering paperless billing

The winner? The Canadian Tar Sands. What is your best, worst example a green scamming or green washing?

image: by NHN_2009 on Flickr under CC

5 Meaningful Mother's Day Gifts That Give Back

2013-04-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have mad love for all the mamas out there! So many amazing women holding the world together with love, care, strength, compassion, spirit, and kindness. You need AT LEAST one day where you are doted on (many days, in my opinion). In that spirit, I give you a virtual hug and encourage you to let your loved ones know (ahem, husband or partner) how you would like to spend the day and what you might like as a present. And some need less subtlety, such as forwarding this post with which number you would like!

Here are many ways to give back in the spirit of motherhood, and other gift ideas. For you, for your mom, and for grandma too. Please add yours in the comments!

1. Show mother love to an abandoned or abused farm animal. You can ask to sponsor an individual animal at Farm Sanctuary and learn all about what sweet creature you are helping.

2. Consider giving a woman in need a safe birth, maternal health care, or a clean water gift. Motherhood is a sisterhood, and many mamas don't have access to the basic care that will keep they and their babies safe and healthy. You can ask your partner to give you an IRC Rescue gift to ensure the sisterhood continues.

3. What does your mom want? Photos of the grand kids, of course! You can create a personalized mother's day card with pictures of your little sweeties and have Tiny Prints send them directly to your recipient. No hassle. Just memories. Love that.

4. Honor your mom by giving to those who have no mom. Here is an amazing project that improves orphanages to raise children in a loving, stable, and organized home. This is a real chance to make a huge difference in the lives of children who have no mother.

5. Ask for items to detox your home from our friends at MightyNest. Get plastic out of your kitchen, lunch gear, or grab a new plastic-free water bottle or coffee mug. You deserve it! You can find sweet and healthy gifts for anyone at this site and you know it is safe, green and toxin free.

Oh, dear mama readers, I wish you a beautiful day of rest, treats, and some spoiling. I KNOW you deserve it. Mothering is hard work these days, and you deserve (at least) this day of appreciation, in whatever form best suits you.

Please let me know what you will be doing-- or what you are wishing for in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.

image: kurtbudligerphotography.com

*I'm affiliated with Tiny Prints and MightyNest, so any purchases made through these links directly supports the writing on this site-- and thank you!

Too Much Tech: The Effects of Tech Culture on Families (and Screen Free Week!)

2013-04-27T17:20:00.001-07:00

This article really caught my eye. It's from a few years ago, but it rings more and more true each day. Especially the two parents, with a meal on the table, using their ipads. I shuddered a bit, because, well, I write a lot from the kitchen table. Mostly when the girls are asleep, but sometimes not. I try to fast forward in my mind to when the girls are tween and teens, wanting to put their computers or iphones on the dinner table, and me saying, we don't do that. Then they would say those dreaded words, "But you do it!"

So I usually keep my computer AWAY from the dinner table, and try not to be on it at all when they are awake. But it is hard.

This article from the New York Times describes why it is so hard for us. It is addicting, truly, and sends a chemical to our brain that we like, and brings us some immediate joy or gratification. I can see this. Especially when I have publishers considering books and articles. Sometimes, after reading Pooh stories for about an hour, I itch for communication with the outside world. For some news--be it from a friend, colleague, or publisher. To feel like I matter, outside my domestic life.

Then I think about my students. As a teacher, I can usually tell who has been brought up with lots of screen time. It is usually those who have trouble with executive functioning, the ability to prioritize and organize tasks in their daily lives. They've also usually been exposed to some mature content that impacts their thinking. Also, proficient readers are less likely to have been given acess to loads of screen time. These are my anecdotal observations from over 10 years of teaching.

I worry that our generation, parents now and their chidren, will never actually be present in the moment-- for a sunset, a meaningful moment, a realization, without having to communicate about it immediately. Unplugged used to just mean from the TV. Now it means so much more-- uplugged from ipods, computers, ipads, video games.

The impact on family time is profound:

"Lily, a second-grader, is allowed only an hour a day of unstructured time, which she often spends with her devices. The laptop can consume her.

“When she’s on it, you can holler her name all day and she won’t hear,” Mrs. Campbell said.

Researchers worry that constant digital stimulation like this creates attention problems for children with brains that are still developing, who already struggle to set priorities and resist impulses."

An hour of unstructured play time, and she is on the computer? What about going outside?

And the teenager struggles with attention while studying. Why? Because his screens are calling him-- friends on Facebook, Twitter, texts from his girlfriend. I fully believe that if I was a teenager now, and if I had access to all this media, I would have fallen right into it and maybe not emerged to focus on schooling (which was hard enough without those distractions).

So. I am left with the thought to unplug myself. At least once a week, at night. And to make sure the girls see a role model that lives in the moment.

Want to go even further? Challenge yourself to a screen free week! It is officially April 29-May 5th but you can do it anytime. I just came back from a trip and was barely on the computer. I feel free from the weight of the news (especially) and the constant demands for attention. Just imagine how kids might feel?

Now, where did I put that novel?

image: by Anakronfilm on Flickr under CC

7 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day (or any day) with your kids

2013-04-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

Earth Day always sneaks up on me, which is funny, as an environmental blogger and activist. I find that I am constantly thinking about how to live healthier and gentler on our lovely but rapidly changing planet, but not necessarily about April 22nd as Earth Day.

Thankfully, it is often our kids that motivate us to celebrate days we might normally overlook, or be too busy to do anything about.

On this Earth Day, here are a few simple ideas about how to celebrate with the little people in your life:

1. Spend the Day (or hour) Outside! We know that spending time in nature calms us, adults and children. After the stress and violence in our country last week, we could all use some outdoor time to reflect, connect, explore, and calm. Take a walk, a hike, a picnic, anything outside with your family. The bonds that grow to nature and in the family are more important than any organized Earth Day activity.

2. Spend the Day (or part of it) Volunteering: Pick up litter in your neighbor hood. Travel to your favorite park, river, or natural area and pick up any litter. Just spend time observing nature, too-- and you will benefit as well.

3. Create an Honor Earth Table: Collect items from nature (on the ground and not alive!) with your kids such as twigs, rocks, pine cones, and dried flowers. Set up a table or small area in your home and have your kids place the items on a nice cloth. You could then have each person share why they selected a particular item. This is short and lovely way to connect to nature and to each other.

4. Make an Earth Day Pledge: At dinner time, gather the family and ask each person to make a pledge to do something (small or large) to protect the earth. It could be (if it were me), "I will remember to take out the compost before it gets moldy." Kids can contribute pledges such as "I will turn out the lights when I leave the room," or "I will turn off the water when I brush my teeth." By sharing these, possibly with a candle lit, the day becomes more special, and the commitment has meaning.

5. Grab this free Earth Day Activity Guide from our friends at Green Kid Crafts.

6. Read Earth themed books together such as The Lorax by Dr. Suess, The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales, or any of these books about spring. What are you favorites?

7. Pick an environmental charity and make a donation. The Sierra Club is a great choice. Your child may also be interested in the World Wildlife Fund, the Nature Conservancy, or other choices based on their interests. Selecting a local resource based charity could be a good fit too-- promoting localism and the health of your local ecosystems.

Will you celebrate Earth Day with your family? What are your ideas for teaching your children to care for the Earth? Please share them in the comments, I know you have great ideas.

Running and Air Pollution

2013-04-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

(We are still reeling from the senseless violence in Boston, and mourning the loss of life, the terrible injuries, and the big city races that are now forever changed. I wrote about the bombings over at my author website. Before this heinous and senseless act, I had written about running and air pollution for Moms Clean Air Force. Here is part of that post.)

While thumbing through my recent Runner’s World magazine, I found a short article about running and air pollution. As an air quality activist and a long-time runner, this article fit a cross-section of my interests. It took me back about 20 years, to when I was visiting my aunt in Los Angeles. I went for a run in the dingy haze, on a high traffic street. I learned later it was an ozone alert day. I came back, and my aunt said that my run had probably been the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes.

Did I benefit more from the run or damage my lungs from running during a bad air day?

The article highlighted the hundreds of thousands of runners across the U.S. who are affected by poor air quality daily. City runners are faced with air pollution from vehiclesand industry. These exposures can lead to an increased chance of heart and lung disease. Suburban runners are hit with increased pollution from mowers, weed whackers, and lawn chemicals. Country runners (yours truly) are not spared, either. Agriculture, wildfires, dust from dirt roads (hello, Vermont!) can all cause respiratory problems.

Please read the rest of this post at Moms Clean Air Force.

image by Kurt Budliger Photography

Home Depot: Mind the Store!

2013-04-15T05:02:00.000-07:00

With a familiar pit in my stomach we pulled up to a Home Depot in Vermont. I had my two kids with me and a letter from Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, asking Home Depot to move away from selling products that contain any of the Hazardous 100+ chemicals that have been linked to numerous health problems and diseases.

Photo taken by my 6 year old daughter.

I've done lots of on the street (or rather, in the legislature or at press conferences) activism and advocacy before. But that doesn't mean I don't get a little bit nervous.

And it was that time of day. You know, when the afternoon whining has started-- and there are still many errands yet to be run.

The store parking lot was packed. I grabbed the letter and my two kids, walked in and asked the greeter where I could find the manager. I waited for him as he consulted with a couple. Thankfully, they were giving out free popcorn which is probably the reason why the waiting was just a-okay for my daughters.

Finally it was my turn and the manager listened to me talk about the progress Home Depot has made so far in lowering VOCs and providing more eco-friendly products. I told him about the Hazardous 100+ and he nodded, and even continued to listen when I showed him the broad coalition of organizations that support limiting or eliminating any products that may contain the Hazardous 100+ chemicals from store shelves to protect consumers. It was crowded, and I could tell my time was up, but I do think he will pass the letter and the experience along.

Here's a video shot right after we came out of the store about what happened.

I was happy to have this respectful interchange with him despite the crowded store. I am hopeful that Home Depot will be a leader in providing healthy products to American families. Will you join me in asking Home Depot, and 9 other major retailers to Mind the Store?

Better yet, head in to stores and deliver the same letter. The more of us doing it the more impact we will make. And if I can do it with two hungry kids, on a crowded and busy Saturday, so can you!

Safe Chemicals Act of 2013 Introduced!

2013-04-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

(Wow! Look at this guest post and email action from the Breast Cancer Fund. The Safe Chemicals Act was introduced again to reform our outdated and broken chemical policy. Please ask your senator to cosponsor this important bill!)

Our country just took a step closer to modernizing our outdated toxic chemicals policy and ensuring a healthier world for our children and grandchildren!

Today, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) reintroduced the Safe Chemicals Act, which will overhaul the archaic Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.

This legislation is being introduced just two months after a federal advisory committee stated that the Safe Chemicals Act would reduce exposure to cancer-causing chemicals found in everyday products and, thus, would reduce incidence of breast cancer.

The Safe Chemicals Act is the result of years of research and collaboration with environmental, health and business communities from across the nation. The bill gives the EPA the necessary tools to oversee safety testing of toxic chemicals, and would put the burden on industry to prove that chemicals are safe before being put in products we use in our homes and schools.

On the other hand, an alternative bill, which may be introduced by Sen. David Vitter (R-L.A.), promises to put the interests of the chemical industry above public health. After the Safe Chemicals Act was gaining momentum in the last Congress, Vitter pledged to write his own bill on chemical regulations. Based on reports of who Vitter’s been meeting with—Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, the American Chemistry Council—and who he's not—no health or environmental groups, to our knowledge—his bill promises to be the "Pro-Chemical Industry Act."

The Safe Chemicals Act will finally give the EPA the tools it needs to truly protect public health, helping to prevent not only breast cancer, but many other diseases as well. We cannot put our children’s health on the line. The time for real chemical reform is now!

Urge your senator to cosponsor Sen. Lautenberg’s Safe Chemicals Act and steer clear of Sen. Vitter’s “Pro-Chemical Industry Act.”

Sincerely,

Nancy Buermeyer
Senior Policy Strategist
Breast Cancer Fund

Retailers: Mind the Store and Protect Your Customers from Toxic Chemicals

2013-04-10T18:08:00.002-07:00

As a blogger, I regularly write about options for safer, less toxic consumer products for our homes. But while it’s important to arm consumers with good information, we have very limited access to where toxic chemicals are showing up, what their health effects are and how we can avoid them.
Due to our lax federal laws on toxic chemicals, we as consumers are burdened with carrying extensive lists to the store of which chemicals to avoid, and often times products aren’t labeled. This is too overwhelming for sleep deprived and busy parents!

We will continue to ask Congress to pass the Safe Chemicals Act, but in the meantime Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families has launched a new campaign called Mind the Store as a way to significantly move the marketplace away from toxic chemicals. If individual consumers can move the market, imagine what would happen if major retailers started to ask their suppliers to stop using toxic chemicals?

The Mind the Store campaign is asking the big 10 biggest retailers to get tough on what we’re calling the Hazardous 100+ toxic chemicals. We’re asking the retailers: do not carry products that contain the Hazardous 100+ toxic chemicals.

What are the Hazardous 100+ toxic chemicals?

The Hazardous 100+ is a list of chemicals of high concern, which at least two authoritative governmental bodies have formally identified based on strong credible scientific evidence. The team of experts from Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families has identified an additional group of nearly thirty chemicals that the published scientific literature or some authoritative government bodies indicate pose similar hazards. They call the combined list the Hazardous 100+.

Retailers are in the same position as we are as consumers. Since our federal laws are so broken, they often don’t have access to information on what toxic chemicals are in which products. Some retailers have taken steps to reduce toxic chemicals in their store brands, which should be celebrated, now let's take the next step to get tough on toxics

We’re asking these 10 retailers to “Mind the Store”!

Target

Walgreens
Lowes
CVS

Best Buy

Costco

Safeway

Kroger’s

Walmart

Home Depot

In the coming months, I will be personally asking one of these retailers to Mind the Store. Stay tuned! I am hopeful that once these companies learn about these toxic chemicals they will work to make sure they are not sold in their stores. I will be working closely with Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families on this important issue.

Please join us! Ask these retailers to Mind the Store to protect all families from toxic chemicals.

Little Passports: Monthly Delivery of Hands-On Geography for Kids

2013-04-08T03:45:00.001-07:00

How do you teach your kids about the world? Most of us would love to be able to travel to different countries every year-- but the reality of jobs, finances, school schedules, and other considerations get in the way.

And then there is geography. I teach sixth grade, and you would be surprised by the how many students don't know their countries, continents, waterways and landforms. In addition, there is the constant and growing need for an understanding and appreciation of world cultures. Developing empathy and perspective taking promotes peace.

I was thrilled to find the new company, Little Passports. They've come up with a super clever way to make geography come alive every month for your child. How?

Two characters, Sam and Sofia, tour the world and the U.S. and send your child a letter, engaging activities, maps, photos, materials, and souvenirs from their travels each month. They've got two options for children of different age ranges.

The World Edition is for kids ages 5-10 years old. My six year old received all this in her first shipment and she was hooked.

The U.S. Edition is for kids ages 7-12 years old, and Sam and Sofia visit two states a month. My girl was particularly excited about the disposable camera and the field guide.

This is a great way to engage children in learning about geography, history, culture and language without leaving your home. And what kid doesn't absolutely love mail? I only wish our young characters, Sam and Sofia, where wearing helmets on the scooter (I know, just call me Safety Mom!).

What do you think? How do you teach your children about geography, culture and history?

*I received a sample of Little Passport Kits for my review team to use. My review is based solely on my opinions and observations of my review team (my 6 and 8 year old children). I'm also an affiliate of Little Passports so buying through these links will help support the writing on this site. Thank you!

Activist Mom Bloggers Take On Kraft about Food Dyes in Macaroni and Cheese

2013-04-04T19:22:00.003-07:00

I'm a big fan of David and Goliath stories. Of real people taking on big corporations and making change happen. I love that social media has leveled out the playing field a bit, given voice to so many people, and allowed direct access with companies like never before.

You may have heard of the mothers taking on Kraft for putting food dyes in Macaroni and Cheese sold in the U.S. and selling a different version without food dyes in Europe. What gives, why is America a dumping ground for artificial colorings?

Back in 2011, the FDA was considering putting labels on food containing artificial food dyes, because researchers are finding they have an negative effect on the behavior of all children. Here's a guest post I wrote for our friends over at Practically Green about it. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has also linked the artificial colors to hyperactivity in children, migraines, and asthma.

So these moms are taking it right to the company. Here is their petition on Change.org. You may have seen these dynamos. They were on Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, The Chicago Tribune, and USA Today. Fantastic!

And now they are meeting with Goliath (I mean, Kraft).

Vani Hari, a.k.a. “Food Babe,” delivered more than 270,000 petition signatures to Kraft's headquarters in the Chicago area demanding the company stop using artificial dyes in its iconic Macaroni & Cheese products sold in the United States.

A group of campaign supporters and blog followers from the Chicago area greeted Hari at the event and hand-delivered the petitions to Kraft alongside Vani. Hari then met with Kraft representatives to discuss removing artificial dyes from their entire line of Mac & Cheese products.

Following the meeting, Hari expressed hope that Kraft would eventually remove the controversial dyes. Kraft did not commit to reformulating their American Macaroni & Cheese, an Hari had a message for them:

“I can give them a preview: if Kraft is anything like the hundreds of other companies facing a consumer uprising online, they’ll eventually start listening to their customers and work with us to ensure the health and safety of all Kraft Macaroni & Cheese products.”

"I traveled all the way from North Carolina to Chicago to bring the voices of more than 270,000 Kraft customers right to their doorstep,” Hari added. “If Kraft really wants to do right by their customers, like they’ve said, they’ll make their American products just as safe
as their European ones.”

I applaud the efforts of these bloggers and activists. Please add your name to this petition. This is another important action in the movement to make food safer and healthier (and more transparent!) for our families. We also encourage Kraft to listen to consumers and remove harmful artificial food dyes from their foods.

In the meantime, buy Annie's Mac & Cheese, or better yet, cook it up from scratch. What kind of Mac & Cheese does your family eat?

Pick of the Week: Green Kid Crafts

2013-04-02T19:43:00.001-07:00

I've been following Green Kid Crafts for a little while now. They have wonderful eco-friendly art and craft ideas on their site, and I love how they are offering a monthly service for busy parents of eco-friendly art and craft kits for kids. Most regular art and craft materials are plastic, run out fast, and are destined for the landfill. Not Green Kid Crafts!

These art materials are minimally packaged and produced from renewable, recyclable and/or biodegradable materials wherever possible. Green Kid Crafts is also a member of one of my favorite organizations-- 1% for the planet.

Each box comes with 3 or 4 projects designed to boost creativity, build confidence, and engage kids ages 3-8 with nature. And for the next week you can get a one month craft kit for only 10 bucks with free shipping. Love that! This is a good way to give it a try and see what your little experts think.

*I'm an affiliate of Eversave, where this sale is hosted. Buying through this link supports the writing at Non-Toxic Kids. Thank you!

Artterro Art Kits at MightyNest: Creative, Eco-Friendly Fun (and giveaway!)

2013-04-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit picky about art kits for my kids.

Most come with many little plastic bags and little plastic parts that spread all over the house like confetti. Then they get vacuumed up or thrown out by my husband as he attempts to pull the house in some sort of order (usually only if we have people coming over!).

There are very few art kits that are truly eco-friendly and that promote full on creativity. Thankfully, my friends at MightyNest sent me a couple of Artterro kits to test out. I should say, for my research team to try out.

Both kits came in recyclable cardboard, with non-toxic inks on the packaging. Inside was only one plastic bag with some materials in it. And the art materials are handmade, gorgeous papers, wool, and thread. Everything here is usable and high quality, and could be used for other projects.

The Art Dolls Kit was perfect for my 5 year old to test. It says 6+, but she was a-okay with doing all of the designing, cutting, and gluing. I helped her with some of the hand sewn elements. Essentially, this kit has more than you need to create 4 funky and creative dolls. She worked on these over the course of a snow day, for about 3 hours (I kid you not).

Just take a look.

Next was the Book Making kit. This kit came with enough material for my 8 year old to create 4 beautiful books to fill in with art or stories. The paper is incredible. She had lots of choices as she designed each book. We gave her some help with stitching the books together at the seem. This was engaging, fun and promoted literacy.

The packaging for both can become a frame for the work, or be recycled. The directions are suggestions-- not simply directions, but encouragement. There are great pictures of different kinds of designs to inspire your little artists too.

(see the whole post for the giveaway!)

These kits are a wonderful birthday gift. No plastic, no waste, no commercial characters, just art and homemade fun.

And you can win one! Just enter below and good luck. The giveaway starts at 9 am EST and runs for one week.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Google+ Hangout: Hands on learning in and out of the classroom

2013-03-28T17:52:00.001-07:00

Here is my first Google+ Hangout! It was part of the Google+ Spring Into Education series. The topic was hands on learning in and out of the classroom. And yes, I talk with my hands.

I was joined by Dana Hudson, the Northeast Regional Co-Lead for National Farm to School Network, and John Fish, garden educator and author from Life Labs. They were full of great ideas for teacher and parents!

Listed here you can find lots of their great resources for inspiration. I also shared my book for teachers who want to incorporate service learning into their curriculum called Change the World with Service Learning: How to Organize, Lead and Assess Service Learning Projects. John has a new book about school gardening that I really want for our school!

Check it out and please let me know what you think. I'd love to hear if you like the format, found it useful, and if you would watch others like it. You can comment here, on our Facebook page, or on the event page. Thanks!

We Need Safe Cosmetics Now

2013-03-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

(Guest post from the Breast Cancer Fund)

You expect that the shampoo you buy at the supermarket is totally safe, right? Not so.

What about the expensive face cream from the department store? Nope.

In fact, loopholes in current federal law mean that the U.S. cosmetics industry is basically unregulated. That means that companies can put toxic ingredients like formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, triclosan and other unsafe chemicals in everything from shampoo to hand soap to lipstick.

As a shopper, you can read labels to avoid some ingredients, but some aren't on the label. And not everyone has time to read labels or knows what to avoid in cosmetics and personal care products.

As of yesterday, Congress is considering a solution that protects all Americans, women and men, young and old, regardless of whether they've ever heard of phthalates. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2013 in the U.S. House of Representatives, and we're really excited.

This bill closes the loopholes that allow unlimited amounts of toxic ingredients in the soaps, lotions and makeup that you and your family use every day.

Act now for a safer tomorrow:

Ask your representative to sign on to the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act!

Why do you think we need safer cosmetics?

10 Reasons Why National Parks Should Buck Bottled Water

2013-03-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Kristin Urquiza, campaign director for Corporate Accountability.

You've probably seen them. Plastic bottles of water for sale in some of our most pristine and treasured places: our national parks. You're not alone. Every year, hundreds of millions of park visitors get the message that the only place to get safe water is from a plastic bottle.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Bottled water is far less regulated than tap and can even come in bottles that leach toxic chemicals. But for years, the bottled-water industry has used our national parks as a billboard and concession stand to sell their products. And Coke (producer of Dasani) leads the way.

We're not buying it any more. Our parks are not for sale, and neither is our most essential shared resource: water.

Top ten reasons to call on national parks to Think Outside the Bottle

10. People drink a lot of water in the parks.

People drink 2.6 billion gallons of water in national parks every year. That's enough to fill almost 4,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. That's a lot of water in plastic bottles that could be coming straight from the tap.

9. It's good for parks' budgets . and therefore the taxpayer's wallet.

Before going bottled water free, Grand Canyon National Park estimated that 30 percent of its recycling waste came from disposable plastic bottles - and disposing of those bottles poses significant costs to national parks...that is, our tax dollars!

8. And it's good for your pocketbook.

Bottled water is a lot more expensive than tap water - about 1900 times more. And, bottled-water-free Zion National Park sells water bottles that cost just about as much as a bottle of water.

7. There's way too much plastic waste - in our parks and in the country.

Did you know, Americans use enough plastic water bottles every year to circle the equator 217 times end-to-end?! Since bucking the bottle, Zion National Park has 5,000 fewer pounds of trash each year.

6. National parks conserve nature - they should conserve energy, too.

It took 8 million kilowatt hours each year to produce the number of bottles that were being sold at the Grand Canyon. By going bottled water free, the Grand Canyon is conserving enough energy to power more than 700 U.S. homes for a year!

5. Climate change, climate change, climate change.

About 20 billion barrels of oil go into producing all the water bottles that Americans throw out each year. And it generates more than 25 million tons of greenhouse gases. That's equivalent to putting about 4.7 million more cars on the road for a year!

4. But it's about far more than plastic bottles.

The bottled-water industry uses our national parks to paint its eco-unfriendly product green. For example, Coca-Cola has spent decades using our national parks to promote its brand. During the 1960's Coca-Cola launched "Discover America": a marketing campaign that tied it closely to the National Park Service.

3. Even retailers who sell bottled water want parks to buck the bottle.

Xanterra Parks and Resorts manages lodgings and shops at the parks and it's helped both Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon phase out bottled water sales. Chris Lane, the company's VP for environmental affairs, said:

"We sell bottled water, so in theory it would be a hit to our finances. But there is an alternative. There was water before there was bottled water. Nobody was dying of thirst."

2. The bottled-water industry has no place meddling in park policy.

When the Grand Canyon decided to go bottled water free, Coca-Cola got the plan tabled by leveraging its relationship with the National Park Foundation - the most important funder of the National Park Service.

Thanks to the outcry by people like you across the country, the Grand Canyon stood up to Coke. But the corporation made sure other parks would face multiple hurdles to go bottled water free.

1. You're already making in happen!

The growing momentum across the country can turn bottled-water-free parks into a reality. After extensive studies to make sure going bottled water free was possible and safe, Zion and the Grand Canyon did it. They installed hydration stations and maps with their locations so people know how and where to get water. And there are a dozen more parks that have done the same. YOUR favorite park could be next!

In short, national parks going bottled water free is good for the environment, our pocketbooks and our democracy. Our national parks should not be billboards and concession stands for this ecologically damaging product.

You can make a difference! Protect our parks and make sure the bottled-water industry can no longer undermine confidence in the tap.

Call on the National Park Service director to make our national parks bottled water free!

And if you live in or near Philadelphia (Liberty Bell Center), San Francisco (Golden Gate and Yosemite), and Seattle (Mt. Rainier), get involved in local efforts to help parks go bottled-water free by emailing Erin at EDiaz [at] StopCorporateAbuse.org.

Hands On Learning In and Out of the Classroom: Live Google+ Hangout

2013-03-20T19:07:00.002-07:00

It's hard to believe today is the official first day of spring. See, where I live, we have a fresh foot of snow on the ground, and it seems that spring is no where in sight.

But then I feel the stronger sun (when it is out!) on my face, see how it is light later into the evening, and I hear the birds chattering a bit more. I know it will eventually come.

And it is the perfect time to think about outdoor learning. As a parent and a teacher, I know outdoor learning experiences are important for our kids, but actually doing it on a regular basis can sometimes be daunting.

So, I hope you will join us for our first ever Google+ Hangout on this topic. I'll be the host. I'm in my 14th year of teaching, I've been an environmental educator, and in 2010 I wrote a book called Change the World with Service Learning that is all about how teachers can get outside and lead hands-on activities with students.

I'll be joined by some wonderul place based, environmental educator experts. Dana Hudson is the Northeast Regional Co-Lead for National Farm to School Network. She has worked extensively connecting farms and schools and is an expert on food and farming based learning experiences. Dana is also the mom of two young children, ages 2 and 5.

We'll also be joined by John Fisher of Life Labs. He is the Outreach Director of Life Lab located on the UCSC Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems Farm. Since 1996 John has worked exclusively in farm- and garden-based education programs teaching pre-school through high school students and provided professional development opportunities for thousands of educators. John has a new book out called The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids.

We want to hear from you. What are your questions about outdoor and place based learning experiences? As a parent, or teacher, we want to hear from you. We'll try to answer your questions live during the hangout.

Yes, it will be LIVE. So please join us live on March 28th, at 4:30 EST. Here's the event information. You can leave a comment there or here. This hangout is part of the Google+ series, Spring into Education. Please follow me on Google+ for updates as well. Thanks and I hope you can join us!

image: by Christaface on Flickr under CC

5 Ways to Improve School Snacks

2013-03-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

Pretzels with homemade hummus served for all school snack.

(originally posted at Momsrising in the Junk Free Schools Carnival)

Research shows that 40 percent of students buy and eat snack foods at school in a typical day. I can see this daily in my classroom. Many parents are too busy to pack snacks, especially healthy ones. Some of my students are on their own to pack lunches and snacks, and the result can be unhealthy, processed and packaged foods. When schools sell unhealthy snacks and drinks outside of meals, it can cause kids to eat less of their lunch, consume more fat, take in fewer nutrients, and gain weight. How can we improve what kids snack on at school, and what is available?

A team of organized parents, school staff, cooks and students can change the eating culture of the school significantly. Here are a few ideas for how to improve school snack nutrition, from an insider:

1. White to Wheat

We've all heard that white flour baked goods are not very healthy. These carbohydrates break down into sugar, are used by the body quickly, and don't sustain energy. One change to advocate for is a shift from white baked goods to whole wheat, in all items possible. One great place to start? Bagels. In my school students used to eat huge white bagels with white cream cheese. We shifted to smaller, whole wheat bagels wrapped in foil. The foil is recyclable, which makes this even better.

Then the cooks started shifting our pizza dough to half white, half wheat. Now the crust is all whole wheat and is tasty as ever.

2. Move away from packaged snacks

This seems like a huge endeavor, especially if your school has vending machines with junk food choices. In some schools, replacing poor nutritional quality foods in vending machines for healthier ones is a great place to start.

For other schools, take one packaged item, like an energy bar, and replace it with a homemade version. Our school sells super tasty homemade bars and muffins each week. You can find the nut free energy bar recipe here. No packaging needed! These are served in small wax paper bags.

3. Talk with students about healthy choices

This may seem obvious, but it surprising how communication can be overlooked in our busy lives. As a parent, teacher, or nutrition advocate (and maybe all three!) you can find opportunities to communicate that can make a real difference in the lives of students.

In my 14 years of teaching I have had hundreds of conversations with students about healthy eating. I've seen students eating chips, cake, and candy for breakfast. The key is to not come from a place of judgement, but from a place of sincere helpfulness and caring. Teachers can ask if the child is hungry, would like help finding other food, and come up with some healthier choices together. Many times, this kind of conversation is a relief for students. They may be shouldering much of the food preparation burden. Also, it is another expression of love and caring for the whole child.

4. No more liquid candy: encourage water consumption

We know that children drink many of their calories in soda or juice. These extra calories can add up to weight gain, diabetes, and cavities. There are many ways to take this on.

One is working to eliminate sugary choices available in school. Our school phased out chocolate milk in the last 2 years. This was not without complaint, of course, because what kid doesn't love chocolate milk? But the question became, should students be drinking it every day, sometimes twice a day at school?

Next is encouraging water consumption. Not bottled water, which is terrible for the environment and not as well regulated for health as tap water. Schools can put in refillable water stations by water fountains (our middle school has doene this). It even has a tally for how many plastic water bottles were saved from its use. Classrooms should allow and encourage students to bring, use and fill water bottles.

5. Take small steps

This issue can be overwhelming. But every school can make significant progress by starting small. We have made steady progress at our school, but have kept it manageable for everyone by taking it one step at a time. Start (or join) a nutrition committee at your school, and identify one or two small steps to begin with. Every change you make will improve the nutrition in your school for hundreds of students!

Remove Toxic Flame Retardants from Products for the Home

2013-03-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

Here is an exciting green mama activism action and guest post from our friends at The Breast Cancer Fund. Please sign this petition to remove toxic flame retardant chemicals in changing pads, nap mats, and home furnishings. Please share widely too. Simply being at home should not be dangerous for our children! Comments are open until March 26th, so please sign and share today.

We could have flame-retardant-free sofas in stores as soon as 2014 if a new proposed regulation goes through! Will you add your voice in support of fewer toxic chemicals in our homes?

Sofas, armchairs, children's nap mats, infant changing pads and many other foam-stuffed products contain toxic flame retardant chemicals as a result of an outdated and obscure California state rule called Technical Bulletin 117.

California isn't the only state affected. Most furniture throughout the United States adheres to California's laws because manufacturers don't want to make two versions of the same product.

Flame retardants have been linked to lowered IQ in children, reduced fertility and increased cancer risks; they show up in our homes, environment, workplaces and bodies.

Ironically, flame retardants added to furniture aren't preventing fires or fire deaths as promised. In fact, they can make fires more deadly by increasing smoke and toxic gases.

But there's great news. Under order from Gov. Brown, California just revised its flammability standard with a goal of reducing flame retardant use, and the draft is open for public comment through March 26. The proposed rule (TB117-2013) gives companies better ways to provide fire safety—without the use of harmful flame retardant chemicals.

I expect the flame retardant makers will do everything they can to fight this new rule. Let regulators know that the flame retardant industry doesn't represent the interests of American families.

Gretchen Lee Salter
Senior Policy Manager
Breast Cancer Fund

5 Reasons to Care about the US-China Greener Consumption Forum

2013-03-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

On March 22, in Washington D.C., an important forum is taking place called US- China Greener Consumption Forum: How Women Can Use the Power of Their Purse to Protect the Planet. It will focus on empowering women to make greener, healthier choices that lessen pollution, carbon in our atmosphere, and improve health and wellbeing of everyone.

Here's why we should go to the forum (if possible!), or read about it, and share widely:

1. Women shop for their families and can make a difference with their actions and purchases.

Consumer demand is leading to the most rapid use of natural resources, energy, and water that the world has ever seen. The consequences for pollution, impact on climate change, exposure to toxic substances, and waste are equally significant.

While we can't shop our way out of every problem, the choices we make when we do shop offer us one of the fastest, easiest ways to protect our health and the health of our families. Just as importantly, consumer dollars are a company's lifeblood. When we shift our spending to greener products and services, we're sending a powerful message to manufacturers worldwide that, if they want to continue to get our business, their products must meet our greener, cleaner expectations.

2. Consuming LESS will be a focus of the forum as well.

Buying less is the first part of the green consumption equation. At the Forum, we will highlight examples of the "sharing economy" and look at case studies (like "meatless Monday" and ENERGY STAR in the U.S., and similar examples in China) that have been very successful in reducing consumption.

3. The focus is on women.

In the U.S., women influence at least 80% of all consumer purchases. In China, women contribute about half of all household income and influence and make more than half of all purchasing decisions. If women in both countries can be mobilized to use their power as consumers and as entrepreneurs alike, significant progress can be made in reducing our global carbon footprint while creating a greener, cleaner world.

4. Women are making the world healthier and greener by organizing in the United States. We can share what has worked and what we learned.

We have already seen this to be true in the U.S., where "green" consumer demand has motivated companies to reduce their use of toxic chemicals in baby products, minimize packaging and incorporate recycled materials into the packaging they use, power their manufacturing facilities with solar and wind, develop concentrated cleaning products to reduce materials use and waste, grow more food organically, and create cosmetics and personal care products free of parabens, phthalates, and other hormone-disrupting chemicals, just to name a few examples.

5. Environmental heroes and advocates will be speaking at this forum.

A complete list of speakers will be available next week. Lisa P. Jackson, the recently retired Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will deliver the luncheon keynote address. Other speakers Huan Gao, the mayor of Yichun, China; Xiang Guo, the General Director of the Chinese Women Activity Center; Peter Banwell, Director of Product Marketing for Energy Star; Elizabeth O'Connell, Campaigns Director for Green America; the founders of Au Naturale organic cosmetics and Skincando body care products; Cheryl Newman, VP and Deputy Chief of Mission for Honest Tea; and many more.

Can you come? There is still time to register to attend this first ever forum.

Can't come? Follow the event on twitter and Facebook. That's what I will be doing from up here in Vermont!

Vermont Bottle Bill Activism (Agency of Natural Resources Forum)

2013-03-12T18:18:00.002-07:00

I've just returned from the Agency of Natural Resources forum on the Vermont Bottle Bill. I arrived soaked after searching the state house building (with lots of well dressed legislators milling about) to find out the meeting was in a different building. I dashed through the pouring rain (who carries and umbrella anymore?) to the far entrance and looked like a drowned rat to the guard inside. Apparently, I looked like a drowned rat that cares about recycling, because he directed me to the forum.

Now I've spoken in the legislature and in public forums before. Once in support of the lead in consumer products bill, and another time as part of the Vermont body burden study. But I never cease to get seriously nervous. Palm sweating, I need to use the bathroom, oh, why am I here nervous. My friend Richarda Ericson wrote a hilarious post about mama activism-- all the reasons why moms are nervous but should show up in the halls of the legislature and policy making anyway. Read it for a good laugh and then think, if she can do it, so can I.

Here's what I said today, in support of expanding the bottle bill:

"Thank you to the ANR for this opportunity to give comments. I'm a parent, teacher, environmentalist and writer, and I'm hear to express my support for an expanded bottle bill.

I teach my students and my own children the importance of responsibility and civic engagement. The Bottle Bill shows product stewardship-- consumers who buy the product and the beverage industry taking responsibility for their usage and products. Our society needs to evaluate the life cycle of all products for sustainability.

I've seen my students and community groups raise much needed funds for field trips, The Red Cross, and clubs from collecting returnables. It's made all the difference in what they are able to do.

I've looked into the eyes of small business owners who run transfer stations. I want to support their efforts and local businesses.

The Bottle Bill is working and it is motivating. Research tells us that our recycling rates would be much lower without it.

So many more beverage choices are now available now. The market has outgrown the Bottle Bill. It needs to change with the times and be expanded.

Let's expand the Bottle Bill to support a clean Vermont, community groups, and small businesses. Thank you."

The best part about doing this was that one of my students (from the Earth Hero team!) showed up for the forum with her mom and brother, and watched me speak. She also watched articulate college students, activists, business owners, and community leaders speak as well. It is my hope that she was inspired by this process and motivated to speak up and be a leader in her life.

Most speakers at this forum were in support of an expanded Bottle Bill. While lobbyists and corporate money is on the side of the beverage industry, we've got heart, research, and the future on our side. I'm hoping that this really matters.