Chemicals, Obesity and Diabetes: How Science Leads Us To Action

Friday, October 14, Colby College in Maine

Registration is open for a unique, one-day conference organized by the Environmental Health Strategy Center and Colby. This is your chance to learn about the latest, cutting-edge scientific research linking chemicals to obesity and diabetes, and discuss policy implications and strategies.

The science will be presented by the leading national experts in this area. Both Maine and national public policy and public health experts will share their insights and lead discussion about policy strategies. Workshops will offer the opportunity to delve more deeply into the science, policy solutions, impacts on vulnerable populations, and how to build this new information into public health and medical work. More information appears below at the linked pages.

Conference info: https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/338/mtgdetail.asp?formid=meet&caleventid=11128
Registration: https://www.colby.edu/administration_cs/special_programs/goldfarb-event-registration.cfm

Please register now to attend if you want a space (the event will sell out), and feel free to circulate the announcement by forwarding it widely.

Plastic Pollution Coalition

Plastic Pollution Coalition is a global alliance of individuals, organizations and businesses working together to stop plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on humans, animals and the environment. http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org

With its work, Plastic Pollution seeks to put plastic pollution at the forefront of global social, environmental and political discourse.

Plastic Pollution Coalition Strategic Goals

To achieve its mission, Plastic Pollution Coalition has defined the following strategic goals:

• End the global dependence on disposable plastic, the primary source of plastic pollution;
• Reduce the overall global plastic footprint for individuals, businesses and organizations;

Achieving these strategic goals requires collaboration on a global scale between individuals, organizations, businesses and policy-makers to raise awareness and improve understanding of the complex problem of plastic pollution; to create solutions; and to pursue these solutions relentlessly, with a sense of utmost urgency.

Plastic Pollution Coalition Core Initiatives 

Educate and inform. Elevate the discourse about plastic pollution to the forefront of the public attention; deliver access to information about all aspects of plastic pollution and their interconnections;

Connect globally. Connect all involved parties—local communities, environmental organizations, public health organizations, environmental justice organizations, individuals and businesses—to each other in their work to end plastic pollution;

Strategic Initiatives

(1) Encourage, inspire and support individuals, organizations and businesses to end their dependence on disposable plastic, and to reduce their plastic footprint;
(2) Encourage, inspire and support plastic product manufacturers to own the end of life of their products; to invest in truly biodegradable products; and to self-regulate the output of non-biodegradable matter;
(3) Encourage, inspire and support the creation of economic incentives for businesses willing to invest in plastic alternatives; legislation that curbs irresponsible proliferation of disposable plastic;
(4) Encourage, inspire and support international leaders to form global alliances against plastic pollution

What was in the World Trade Center plume? Ten years later, what exactly residents and rescue workers were exposed to remains at least a partial mystery. The question is: did all those toxicants – whether dust particles or air pollution – harm human health? Scientific American
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-was-in-the-world-trade-center-plume

Conserving and developing more sustainable systems is not boring or depriving -- it's actually engaging and innately satisfying. Questioning where things come from and how they're made helps us become deeper, holistic thinkers and will have a major impact on our children. If we truly change our ways we will not diminish or "lose" our lifestyle -- we will gain enormously. We'll lead more thoughtful and meaningful lives together. When people reflect on the highlights of a past year, they often mention a time they have slowed down and connected with family or friends, taking notice of something beautiful in nature. We can have lots more of this.

-- Quote from Peg Winship's last Ask Beth column, February 27, 2007  For the health of our children and the world, fight global warming, February 27, 2007

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/02/27/for_the_health_of_our_children_and_the_world_fight_global_warming/

U.S. researchers find Roundup chemical in water, air

Report: Roundup is Everywhere in Air, Water | Safelawns Daily Post and Q&A Blog