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Table of Contents Edition

Try This at Home: Can Precaution Apply to Toxic Cleanups?
  Here we begin an occasional column by Carolyn Raffensperger, "Try
  this at home" -- how to apply precaution in common situations. We
  welcome your questions sent to rpr@rachel.org. We may not be able to
  answer all of them, but we will try. Our goal is to establish a
  dialogue and learn from each other.
Greenpeace Flunks Electronics Firms Based Partly on Precaution
  "The scoring is weighted more heavily on the use of toxic
  substances in production rather than criteria on recycling, because
  until the use of harmful substances is eliminated in products, it is
  impossible to secure 'safe', toxic-free recycling."
Sweden Is Moving to Ban Many Uses of the Flame Retardant, Deca
  Sweden is steadily pushing toward its goal of eliminating
  persistent toxic chemicals from use. Others in the European Union,
  influenced by the chemical industry, oppose Sweden's precautionary
  approach.
Ethics and Nanomedicine
  The European Union's Group on Ethics in Science and New
  Technologies will analyze the ethical issues inherent in the medical
  uses of nanotechnology. This article is based on a "vision
  document" published by the European Commission, the EU's
  environmental agency. Note the emphasis on the importance of the
  precautionary principle.
The Sabotage of Excessive, Wasteful Caution
  The Methuselah Foundation, which aims to prolong human life, says
  the precautionary principle will halt all progress. This is a common
  criticism of a precautionary approach so we should examine it
  carefully. Instead of the precautionary principle, they favor the
  proactionary principle, which was developed to justify speeding up
  technological innovation for the purpose of replacing humans with
  another form of life.

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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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