Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States and worldwide (excluding skin cancer).
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Jun 01, 2001
The Precautionary Principle Project partners’ focus on protecting children’s health and development is off to a strong start! Because children and developing fetuses are particularly vulnerable to long-term damage from chemicals that enter their bodies, protecting our children’s health is a precedence. In the recent Bill Moyers PBS special report "Trade Secrets," it was disclosed that the vast majority of chemicals on the market have not been thoroughly tested for their effects on our health. We are the guinea pigs in a vast experiment on the impact of new technologies and chemicals.
Chemical producers with strong political influence have successfully lobbied for policies that demand direct proof of a harm, which can take years to establish, before taking action. This dangerous delay caused by special interest intervention in the regulatory process is often called a "count the bodies" approach to policy-making, while a policy that responds to substantial evidence of harm can protect us years in advance from potential ill effects. A change in policy is called for.
May 9th Legislative Hearing on Beacon Hill
The Campaign to Protect Children’s Health and Development calls on Acting Governor Jane Swift to create a Commission to coordinate an action plan to protect child health and development in the Commonwealth. This Commission would ensure that state agencies review their programs, policies, and procedures for consistency with the action plan and the Precautionary Principle.
Senate Bill 1115, an Act establishing the Massachusetts Commission to protect child health and development was heard by the Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture on May 9th. Breast cancer activists, environmental activists, scientists, and concerned citizens packed the hearing room to testify on its behalf. President of the MBCC Board of Directors, Bev Baccelli, and MBCC Precautionary Principle Project Coordinator, Sharon Koshar, both presented compelling testimony before the committee. Chemical industry representatives were also present to oppose the bill.
Call to Action
The bill is now being considered by the Committee, and you can make a difference.
Ways to Help:
1. Contact your state senator and representative as soon as possible and urge them to support Senate Bill 1115, "An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Commission to Protect Child Health and Development." Tell them how child health is not being adequately protected – be specific in your concerns – and tell them how important it is that we establish an action plan for protecting children’s health. You can address the letters to your representative and senator at The State House, Boston, MA 02133.
2. Join the Coalition to Protect Children’s Health and Development. Contact Sharon at 413/586-7395 or koshar@javanet.com for endorsement forms. Bring them to your family doctor, your chiropractor, your priest, minister, or rabbi, your PTA, clubs, and organizations. We can supply supporting articles and documents to help you educate your friends about the issues, or invite Sharon to help you spread the word.
3. Funds needed! This campaign is going to take more funds than we currently have available! Send a check to the MBCC and earmark it "Campaign to Protect Children’s Health."
4. Organize a local forum to bring attention to the inadequacy of our current laws, the breast cancer epidemic, and the need for the Precautionary Principle. Contact Sharon at 413/586-7395 or koshar@javanet.com.
5. Write letters to the editors of your local papers, explaining the need for this Commission. We would be glad to help you draft something.
The Senate Bill is just the first step of the campaign. Bringing the Precautionary Principle to Massachusetts will be a long and tough fight. Over the next several months, a Founding Committee of activists and scientists will establish a campaign platform of action items necessary to protect our health.
The Campaign to Protect Children’s Health and Development
Stop the Epidemic: The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer CoalitionJun 01, 2001
The Precautionary Principle Project partners’ focus on protecting children’s health and development is off to a strong start! Because children and developing fetuses are particularly vulnerable to long-term damage from chemicals that enter their bodies, protecting our children’s health is a precedence. In the recent Bill Moyers PBS special report "Trade Secrets," it was disclosed that the vast majority of chemicals on the market have not been thoroughly tested for their effects on our health. We are the guinea pigs in a vast experiment on the impact of new technologies and chemicals.
Chemical producers with strong political influence have successfully lobbied for policies that demand direct proof of a harm, which can take years to establish, before taking action. This dangerous delay caused by special interest intervention in the regulatory process is often called a "count the bodies" approach to policy-making, while a policy that responds to substantial evidence of harm can protect us years in advance from potential ill effects. A change in policy is called for.
May 9th Legislative Hearing on Beacon Hill
The Campaign to Protect Children’s Health and Development calls on Acting Governor Jane Swift to create a Commission to coordinate an action plan to protect child health and development in the Commonwealth. This Commission would ensure that state agencies review their programs, policies, and procedures for consistency with the action plan and the Precautionary Principle.
Senate Bill 1115, an Act establishing the Massachusetts Commission to protect child health and development was heard by the Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture on May 9th. Breast cancer activists, environmental activists, scientists, and concerned citizens packed the hearing room to testify on its behalf. President of the MBCC Board of Directors, Bev Baccelli, and MBCC Precautionary Principle Project Coordinator, Sharon Koshar, both presented compelling testimony before the committee. Chemical industry representatives were also present to oppose the bill.
Call to Action
The bill is now being considered by the Committee, and you can make a difference.
Ways to Help:
1. Contact your state senator and representative as soon as possible and urge them to support Senate Bill 1115, "An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Commission to Protect Child Health and Development." Tell them how child health is not being adequately protected – be specific in your concerns – and tell them how important it is that we establish an action plan for protecting children’s health. You can address the letters to your representative and senator at The State House, Boston, MA 02133.
2. Join the Coalition to Protect Children’s Health and Development. Contact Sharon at 413/586-7395 or koshar@javanet.com for endorsement forms. Bring them to your family doctor, your chiropractor, your priest, minister, or rabbi, your PTA, clubs, and organizations. We can supply supporting articles and documents to help you educate your friends about the issues, or invite Sharon to help you spread the word.
3. Funds needed! This campaign is going to take more funds than we currently have available! Send a check to the MBCC and earmark it "Campaign to Protect Children’s Health."
4. Organize a local forum to bring attention to the inadequacy of our current laws, the breast cancer epidemic, and the need for the Precautionary Principle. Contact Sharon at 413/586-7395 or koshar@javanet.com.
5. Write letters to the editors of your local papers, explaining the need for this Commission. We would be glad to help you draft something.
The Senate Bill is just the first step of the campaign. Bringing the Precautionary Principle to Massachusetts will be a long and tough fight. Over the next several months, a Founding Committee of activists and scientists will establish a campaign platform of action items necessary to protect our health.
| The prevalence of asthma is doubling in the U.S. every 10 years. Asthma accounts for 1 in 6 pediatric emergency room visits in the U.S. Nearly 17% of children under age 18 suffer from one or more learning or developmental disabilities. Brain cancers in young children ages 0 – 4 years increased 53% between 1973 and 1995; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in teens ages 15 – 19 increased 128% in the same period.! |
Published by Stop the Epidemic!
The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
http://mbcc.org
To view our newsletter archives, please go to:
http://mbcc.org/acatalog.php?id=1
The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
http://mbcc.org
To view our newsletter archives, please go to:
http://mbcc.org/acatalog.php?id=1
Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
1419 Hancock Street, Suite 202, Quincy, MA 02169 • Ph.(617) 376-6222 • Fx.(617) 376-6221 • toll free: 1-800-649-6222
www.mbcc.org Email: info@mbcc.org
mbcc.org site map
MISSION STATEMENT: "Defining breast cancer as a political issue, the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition challenges all obstacles to the eradication of this disease."
MISSION STATEMENT: "Defining breast cancer as a political issue, the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition challenges all obstacles to the eradication of this disease."
Copyright © 2008 Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, All rights reserved.
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