Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), 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.