First paid sick days and now safer chemicals reform—MomsRising has unveiled its latest secret weapon, a Tuesday blog focusing on a less toxic world.
Earlier this summer, the national organization called MomsRising visited the Massachusetts statehouse to deliver books and urge lawmakers to pass An Act to Establish Paid Sick Days.
Last month, MomsRising held a National Day of Action to push national comprehensive chemicals reform, to reduce exposure to toxins that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, asthma and other serious illnesses and conditions. The “SuperMoms,” garbed in colorful capes, joined together with another group, Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, to advocate Senate passage of the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S.847).
Whether nationally or locally, MomsRising is getting word out about ways ordinary people can help change laws and society in order to provide economic security for families. They’ve now instituted a new Tuesday blog to provide information, offer support, and raise awareness for their cause.
MomsRising Offers Weekly Guides for Reducing Exposure to Dangerous Chemicals.
As one example of their helpful blog information, MomsRising talks about baby bedding that’s labeled no-iron or shrink-resistant (and how it may contain chemicals that could cause allergic or asthmatic reactions). They also suggest freezing vinegar and water to make a non-toxic garbage disposal cleaner…and taking off your shoes before entering the house to reduce exposure to lead-contaminated soil, pesticides and dust mites.
It’s a toxic world, but MomsRising says it’s here to help. Every Tuesday on the MomsRising blog, parents and the toxic-concerned can find new information on how to eliminate dangerous chemicals and toxins that are in everyday products. Topics have ranged from choosing sunscreen and beauty products, to making a green baby or wedding registry, to detoxifying dorm rooms and non-toxic one ingredient swaps to make cleaning products from pantry staples.
“It seems we hear every day about a new chemical lurking in our homes or the products we buy. For parents trying to raise their children in a safe environment, it can seem pretty overwhelming,” said Claire Moshenberg, MomsRising campaign associate. “Our weekly guides break down the information moms need into easy-to-understand, realistic tips for daily life. We can’t avoid all chemicals, but a few simple changes at home or in your routine at the store can make a big difference.”
MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground grassroots organization of more than one million members, has been working to update the nation’s chemicals policies to reduce exposure to toxins that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, asthma and other serious illnesses and conditions. Last month, parents and kids, wearing superhero capes joined Safer Chemicals Healthy Families in a national Day of Action to push for Senate passage of the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S.847).
Legislating to curb toxic chemicals.
The Safe Chemicals Act would allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take action to curb certain toxic chemicals and join 174 other countries that have ratified the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. To date, the U.S. is the only superpower that has not ratified the treaty, which would eliminate dangerous chemicals, including dioxins, PCBs and flame retardants in food, water and everyday products.
“The health of our families and our communities is at stake,” said MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “These dangerous chemicals are literally poisoning us and our kids, and low-income communities and communities of color suffer the most. It’s time to take action, assert some mom-power and say it’s time we eliminated these known poisons from the food, water and products we use.”
MomsRising also hosted a mini toxics blog-a-thon on its web site and MomsRising members who participated in the Day of Action posted photos of their kids at the Day of Action events on the organization’s Facebook page. Members and their friends who couldn’t join an event (and even those who could) were asked to replace their Facebook and Twitter profile pictures for the day with a picture of the letter M (for Mom) wearing a cape.
MomsRising.org is an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to achieve economic security for all families in the United States. MomsRising is working for paid family leave, flexible work options, affordable child care, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes so many mothers. MomsRising also advocates for health care for all, toxic-free environments, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. Established in 2006 and now celebrating its fifth anniversary, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families. In 2011, for the second year in a row, Forbes.com named MomsRising's web site as one of the Top 100 Websites For Women. For more information, visit their website at http://www.momsrising.org/
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