.
.

Precaution trainings are now set for Mar. 31-Apr. 2 in New Brunswick,
N.J.; May 19-21 near Chicago; June 23-25 in Seattle. Some scholarships
are available. More info here.


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Rachel's Precaution Reporter #27

"Foresight and Precaution, in the News and in the World"

Wednesday, March 1, 2006.............Printer-friendly version
www.rachel.org -- To make a secure donation, click here.
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Table of Contents Edition

Maine's Governor Baldacci Orders a New Policy for Chemicals
  Pressured by a lot of well-organized citizens, Maine's governor,
  John Baldacci, signed an executive order Feb. 22 committing state
  government to finding less-harmful alternatives to toxic chemicals for
  consumer products and services -- a precautionary approach that
  doesn't even mention precaution. More great work from activists in
  Maine! And hats off to Governor Baldacci!
Resolution for Healthy, Environmentally Sound Schools
  The Emeryville, California School District has adopted the
  precautionary principle and has spelled out what it means:
  anticipatory action to avert harm, community right to know, assessment
  of alternatives to find the least harmful way, full cost accounting to
  tally up both goods and bads, and decision-making that respects and
  involves the people affected.
Phthalate Safety Concerns Merit Substitute Products
  When do we know enough to act? For sure when less-harmful
  alternatives are readily available. In the case of DEHP (a phthalate)
  in medical devices, good alternatives are available now. As physician
  Ted Schettler says, the Food & Drug Administration should use its
  authority to meet its public trust responsibility: require labeling of
  DEHP-containing PVC medical devices and move the medical device market
  to safer alternatives by requiring substitution where suitable
  alternatives exist. This is the "substitution principle" -- an
  important part of precautionary action.
Critic Says Precaution 'Dictates' the Use of a Toxic Chemical
  Want to see a neat trick? In this op-ed, Patrick Moore argues that
  precaution 'dictates' that we continue to use a dangerous flame-
  retardant (deca-BDE) instead of searching for a less-harmful
  alternative. George Orwell would feel vindicated by Mr. Moore's
  inventive double-speak. Oh, and be sure to check out the web site
  maintained by activists who keep tabs on Mr. Moore's work.
Leaked Report: U.S. Misled the World On Biotech Foods 'Victory'
  In Rachel's Precaution Reporter #24 we reported that the World
  Trade Organization (WTO) had basically outlawed the precautionary
  principle for genetically-modified foods, forcing the European Union
  to allow the import and sale of such products. Now it seems that we
  may have been duped by U.S. spin doctors who misrepresented what the
  WTO actually said in its secret report, which has just been leaked.

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  Rachel's Precaution Reporter offers news, views and practical
  examples of the Precautionary Principle, or Foresight Principle, in
  action. The Precautionary Principle is a modern way of making
  decisions, to minimize harm. Rachel's Precaution Reporter tries to
  answer such questions as, Why do we need the precautionary
  principle? Who is using precaution? Who is opposing precaution?

  We often include attacks on the precautionary principle because we  
  believe it is essential for advocates of precaution to know what
  their adversaries are saying, just as abolitionists in 1830 needed
  to know the arguments used by slaveholders.

  Rachel's Precaution Reporter is published as often as necessary to
  provide readers with up-to-date coverage of the subject.

  As you come across stories that illustrate the precautionary 
  principle -- or the need for the precautionary principle -- 
  please Email them to us at rpr@rachel.org.

  Editors:
  Peter Montague - peter@rachel.org
  Tim Montague   -   tim@rachel.org
  
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Environmental Research Foundation
P.O. Box 160, New Brunswick, N.J. 08903
rpr@rachel.org
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