The TSCA is long overdue for an overhaul, but several in Congress are working hard to pass the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011. The Safe Chemicals Act would overhaul the 35-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which is widely perceived to have failed to protect public health and the environment. Specifically the Act would:

-          Require EPA to identify and restrict the “worst of the worst” chemicals, those that persist and build up in the food chain;

-          Require basic health and safety information for all chemicals as a condition for entering or remaining on the market;

-          Reduce the burden of toxic chemical exposures on people of color and low-income and indigenous communities;

-          Upgrade scientific methods for testing and evaluating chemicals to reflect best practices called for by the National Academy of Sciences; and

-          Generally provide EPA with the tools and resources it needs to identify and address chemicals posing health and environmental concerns.

To learn more, please go to Senator Frank Lautenberg’s website and also watch the below video. It is imperative to the future of our families and the planet, that there are immediate changes made to protect families from toxic chemicals.

Please share this information with everyone you care about. Also,  forward the video to our lawmakers and let them know that something must be done quickly. Additionally, you can sign a petition on the Environmental Working Group’s website, to express your concerns to Congress.

Previous posts on this topic can be viewed here.

So, for those that consider themselves environmentally conscious members of society and would choose to continue to be closed-minded about Shaklee and the notion that companies and people can’t change, then please don’t bother reading any futher. But, to those environmentally conscious members of society that believe in progress, change and the idea that ANYONE can catch the vision; I’d like to brag about Shaklee’s latest environmental achievement.

On December 2nd, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that eight businesses achieved goals set by the EPA, thus recognizing these companies as EPA Climate Leaders in 2009. Shaklee achieved its initial goal by maintaining net zero U.S. GHG emissions from 2006 to 2009, using a 2004 base year.

As stated on the EPA’s website: “The EPA works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies. Partner companies commit to reducing their impact on the global environment by completing a corporate-wide inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions based on a quality management system, setting aggressive reduction goals, and annually reporting their progress to EPA. Through program participation, companies create a credible record of their accomplishments and receive EPA recognition as corporate environmental leaders.”

This is not the first time that Shaklee received this honor. In 2006, they were recognized as a Climate Leader by the EPA. Actually, for over 50 years, Shaklee has quietly led the way in environmental stewardship and support of social causes.

In 2000, Shaklee became the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral™ certification and totally offset its CO2 emissions. There is more information on their achieivements and causes on the Shaklee website.

Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to share about Shaklee receiving the EPA Climate Leader Award. I am very proud of Shaklee and continue to strive, just as they do, to make positive changes for the sustainability of planet Earth.

The documentary is a MUST SEE for anyone who consumes any meat products. Yes, I am currently a carnivore, but have been 98% pork free for about 2 years. Now, after watching the food handling standards and exposures for food contamination in Food, Inc., I have begun to plan my fazing out, of any and all commercially processed meat products. In addition, I have embarked on some serious research in a vegetarian diet for my family. (No, I haven’t told the husband yet, SSHH, don’t say anything!).

Watching the “hidden camera” clips of food handling in the meat processing plants in this country and chicken farms, was stomach wrenching. Now, I’m no sissy when it comes to watching the processing of meats and foods. But, when I find out how the recent salmonella poisonings and other food contamination crisis’ occurred, and could have been prevented, then I do begin to feel ill.

I also learned about Monsanto’s role in the control of farmers and what they can and cannot do, once the farmer has acquired Monsanto’s “patented” seeds. Today, I also read an article about Monsanto’s negligence right here in my home state of Idaho. Basically, they (Monsanto), have already caused much environmental devastation in Southeastern Idaho’s high country, and want carte blanche to start another mine, without cleaning up their earlier messes. The scary thing is, that many EPA & FDA officials, were previously employed by Monsanto, at one time or another. I don’t see any conflict of interest there, do you?

There were numerous facts & disclosures discussed in the documentary and the narration by Michael Pollen was fantastic. I can’t do justice to the film by giving you the below tidbits, you’ll have to see the movie for yourself. But, here’s a few things I wanted to share:

1. Just a few years ago, apx 80 meat processing plants provided 20% of the meat that Americans consumed. Today, 13 meat processing plants provide 80% of the meat that we consume.

2. It takes 75 gallons of diesel to bring a steer to slaughter.

3. It is illegal to make disparaging remarks about the beef industry in Colorado. (Remember Oprah?).

4. One American farmer used to feed apx 628 people. Now, he feeds apx 128 people and huge companies/subsidiaries feed the rest.

5. One in three people born after the year 2000, will get diabetes.

The final message of the film was that we, as consumers, have a vote by what we do and do not purchase. One farmer that was interviewed, pled with the viewing audience to make our voices heard. He said that the farmers want to do the right thing, but so many hands are tied by big industry, that they can’t do it by themselves.

Some of my votes will include a more conscientious effort to purchase food products grown/manufactured within a 150 mile radius of where I live. Farmers markets; here I come! I also need to start my plan for my raised bed gardens. Also, I’ve made my feelings clear to my husband about Monsanto products in our home/property.

My list continues, but I’d like others to share what they are already doing or planning to do, to cast a vote for improved food handling and standards by the food industry and within our own homes.