June 9, 2006 - Day 3 - Week 10 - Chemicals Continued

Yesterday I related two stories of chemical contamination; one from California the other from Montana.

“These are not isolated stories. Little has changed at Clark Fork, little has changed on our farms, little has changed in our waterways, and chemicals are introduced faster than Wal Mart builds a new store.  Estimates are that as many as 50,000 chemicals may be present in our air, water and soil; and in 1192, American companies alone admitted to the discharge of 3.8 billion pounds of toxic chemicals.  (I do not know what the currents stats reflect, but it does not make much difference if it is a billion less, or two billion less; it is still way too much for our bodies to assimilate without compromise)

The frothing chemical cauldron keeps being added to on a daily basis and no one seems to know the full extent of the potential damage in the soup. (Even the conventionally grown lettuce we eat may contain up to a dozen different chemicals.)  Even the chemical industry has created its own 184-member Chemical Manufacturers Association with a “Responsible Care Initiative.”  This ten point guiding principle outline has been in place since 1988. Created because of public concern over the proliferation of chemicals, the industry itself is scared to death about its own creations.

In a recent Natural Resources defense Council report, co-released by Cal-Pirg, The California Public Research Group, there is indication that the chemical industry’s belief and behavior does not always line up.  (I quote: ‘The powerful pesticide lobby has so far prevented the passage of a national law that will protect the environment and our health.

In other words, chemicals are making us ill and killing us and the average citizen is not able to adequately protect themselves.”

The last sentence is where I ask for your help and guidance.  Let’s describe ourselves as the average American.  We work hard to provide for our family.  We care about the health of the environment.  We long to provide our children a safe, healthy, and hope filled future.  The same can be said about the grandkids as well.

So what are we to do?  Collectively we are called into a coalition of concern for cancer attacks all ages in all generations and chemicals are part of the equation.