Let’s rid ourselves of single-use plastic! Call and let your representative know that you want NO PLASTIC in retailers, as the NY City Council convenes this week to discuss the Plastic Straw ban, recently introduced by Councilman Rafael Espinal. On board, is American Airlines, Caribbean Crew and most recently, Starbucks;
“Starbucks announced [last month] that it would eliminate plastic straws from more than 28,000 stores by 2020, becoming the biggest player in a surging movement against straws. The company will slowly start serving all iced beverages except Frappucinos in recyclable plastic sippy cups—and Frappucinos will come with a paper alternative.”–Slate Magazine
Though the new sippy cups are also made from plastic, the key difference (as described by Slate journalists) is that these new “cups” will be less expensive to recycle and remediate the negative impact that plastic waste currently has on the environment (#saveouroceans). However, the truth is, that plastic straws is only a drop in the bucket when it comes to the plastic problem. We need to push all retailers to stop packaging everything in plastic!
ACTION ALERT: PFAS Contamination STOPS NOW
“PFAS chemicals are used to make Teflon, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foam. And they’ve been linked to thyroid disease, liver damage, and fertility problems. This report was suppressed for months because people in the Trump administration thought it was a “public relations nightmare.” Rather than address the problem, they left communities with poisoned water supplies in the dark. They ultimately released the PFAS study because people like you demanded it. Together, we forced these officials to stop stonewalling and acknowledge this issue.” -Food and Water Watch
Take the next step and demand they do something about it.
These chemicals have contaminated the drinking water of millions of people across the U.S., and this report suggests that we don’t yet know the full extent of the contamination. The report also found that exposure to PFAS chemicals at levels 10 times lower than the existing guidelines, could be linked to negative health effects. Now is the time to demand that the EPA does what’s right. The EPA is taking comments until this Friday, July 20, on how to address water contamination from PFAS. We have to make sure that their plan helps the people who need it most.
Help flood the EPA with public comments to demand protection from PFAS.
Join me in Support of the Environmental Working Group!
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“Trump’s EPA is working to ensure known carcinogens and other toxic chemicals continue to put Americans at risk. Here’s how: In June 2016, Congress passed sweeping, broadly bipartisan legislation to update our nation’s woefully weak chemical safety system. The new law finally empowered the EPA to take action, and the agency identified 10 top chemicals of concern to tackle first. But now, Trump’s EPA is giving in to the chemical industry and undermining all that hard work by ignoring many known sources of exposure when evaluating the chemicals’ safety.” – Environmental Defense Fund Here’s what the EPA has chosen to ignore: major sources of exposure to these 10 dangerous chemicals that Americans face from their release into the air, water and land. For just 7 of these chemicals, EPA is ignoring over 68 million pounds of toxic emissions released every year when deciding whether these chemicals should be restricted or banned to protect public health. Here are just 3 reasons why this is extremely problematic:
Americans deserve to know that the air we breathe and the water we drink isn’t poisoning us and making us sick — but Trump’s EPA is deliberately ignoring our exposure to deadly chemicals. Don’t stand for it. Take action today, and tell the EPA: Americans deserve better. |
Stand UP to BIG AG: Support Center for Food Safety
The current Farm Bill encourages pesticide use by inhibiting meaningful court review of unlawfully approved pesticides, thus threatening extinction of endangered species. It also pushes back the current deadlines for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review and re-approve currently-used pesticides, allowing them to remain on the market. You can DONATE to help Center for Food Safety (CFS) keep EPA accountable. The agency should be helping people, not pesticide companies!
Additionally, the bill would also weaken the national organic food law and threaten organic integrity if it eliminates funding for the organic cost share program, which provides much-needed assistance to farmers that get certified. The bill undermines the independent National Organic Standards Board that is supposed to advise on the organic standards and review materials proposed for allowed uses in organic foods. Help CFS today ensure stronger provisions on pesticide use and protect our national organic food law.
Take Action for Climate and Job Justice
Take Action Now→ Find a Climate Event near you. In NYC, the Rally and March will take place on Thursday evening, Sept. 6th in Battery Park at 5:30 pm. All other events will take place on September 8th. To find a Climate Event near you, just enter a zip/postal code and join the Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice events happening all over the world. If you will be hosting a #ClimateJobsJustice action, make sure to add it to the map so others can join you!
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