Tag Archives: policy

Fighting Fire with Facts: Union of Concerned Scientists vs. Monsanto

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Fighting Fire with Facts: Union of Concerned Scientists vs. Monsanto
The courageous Union of Concerned Scientists has launched an ad campaign to counter claims made in Monsanto’s glossy PR campaigns. UCS has run their ads this month on buses and transit stations in Washington D.C., targeting areas near USDA headquarters, the EPA offices, and Capitol Hill. Their hope is that Washington leaders, disproportionately influenced by… Read more »

House Ag Committee is Still Marking Up the Farm Bill! Take Action!

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House Ag Committee is Still Marking Up the Farm Bill! Take Action!
This latest Farm Bill update came today: “We are very disappointed to see that the House Ag Committee rejected two amendments proposing to restore cuts to SNAP. Call your Representative and let them know that you oppose any cuts to SNAP. We are pleased to report that the House Ag Committee has passed: Rep. Johnson’s… Read more »

Take Action to Get Dangerous Flame Retardant Chemicals Out of Homes

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Take Action to Get Dangerous Flame Retardant Chemicals Out of Homes
We have devoted several blog posts to toxic flame retardant chemicals that are used in home furnishings. (Read more here and here). With a recently published series in the Chicago Tribune, it has been uncovered that flame retardant manufacturers have used deceptive lobbying techniques to ensure their products are required by law. Now we want… Read more »

California’s TB 117: A Mandate for Carcinogens in our Homes?

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California's TB 117: A Mandate for Carcinogens in our Homes?
As a recent media story from KQED, “The Political Firestorm Inside Your Sofa,” points out, California is usually seen as a state that leads on environmental issues. In the case of state law TB 117, the state seems a dangerous dinosaur, risking public health for an outdated fire safety policy. TB 117 is under scrutiny… Read more »

Nitrates in Groundwater Pose Health Risk to Rural Farming Communities

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Nitrates in Groundwater Pose Health Risk to Rural Farming Communities
From California Watch, a newly published UC Davis study on nitrate pollution in groundwater draws some grim conclusions. The study examined the sources, impact, costs and potential solutions in five California counties, representing the biggest agricultural producers in the state, and found 10% of the 2.6 million residents of those counties might be drinking nitrate-contaminated… Read more »