Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ)  [Printer-friendly version]
January 27, 2006

THE BE SAFE PLATFORM -- PLEASE SIGN ON

[Rachel's introduction: The BE SAFE campaign is promoting the
precautionary philosophy nationwide and internationally. One
component of the campaign is the BE SAFE Platform. You can sign on
and add your own voice to this call to prevent problems, not merely
manage them.]

[RPR introduction: The BE SAFE campaign is promoting the
precautionary philosophy nationwide and internationally. One component
of the BE SAFE campaign is the BE SAFE Platform, reprinted here. You
can add your own voice to this call to prevent problems, not merely
manage them, by signing on as an individual or on behalf of your
group. The goal is a million signatures. -- Editors.]

The BE SAFE Platform

In the 21st century, we envision a world in which our food, water and
air are clean, and our children grow up healthy and thrive. Everyone
needs a protected, safe community and workplace, and natural
environment to enjoy. We can make this world vision a reality. The
tools we bring to this work are prevention, safety, responsibility and
democracy.

Our goal is to prevent pollution and environmental destruction before
it happens. We support this precautionary approach because it is
preventive medicine for our environment and health. It makes sense to:

** Prevent pollution and make polluters, not taxpayers, pay and assume
responsibility for the damage they cause;

** Protect our children from chemical and radioactive exposures to
avoid illness and suffering;

** Promote use of safe, renewable, non-toxic technologies;

** Provide a natural environment we can all enjoy with clean air,
swimmable, fishable water and stewardship for our national forests.

We choose a "better safe than sorry" approach motivated by caution and
prevention.

We endorse the common-sense approach outlined in BE SAFE's four
principles listed below.

PLATFORM PRINCIPLES

HEED EARLY WARNINGS

Government and industry have a duty to prevent harm, when there is
credible evidence that harm is occurring or is likely to occur -- even
when the exact nature and full magnitude of harm is not yet proven.

PUT SAFETY FIRST

Industry and government have a responsibility to thoroughly study the
potential for harm from a new chemical or technology before it is used
-- rather than assume it is harmless until proven otherwise. We need
to ensure it is safe now, or we will be sorry later. Research on
impacts to workers and the public needs to be confirmed by independent
third parties.

EXERCISE DEMOCRACY

Precautionary decisions place the highest priority on protecting
health and the environment, and help develop cleaner technologies and
industries with effective safeguards and enforcement. Government and
industry decisions should be based on meaningful citizen input and
mutual respect (the golden rule), with the highest regard for those
whose health may be affected and for our irreplaceable natural
resources -- not for those with financial interests. Uncompromised
science should inform public policy.

CHOOSE THE SAFEST SOLUTION

Decision-making by government, industry and individuals must include
an evaluation of alternatives, and the choice of the safest,
technically feasible solutions. We support innovation and promotion of
technologies and solutions that create a healthy environment and
economy, and protect our natural resources.

Click here to sign on as an organization.

Click here to sign on as an individual.