How is Mama Says connected to the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Vermont?
The Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Vermont is a diverse coalition of more than thirty endorsing organizations working to protect public health from exposure to toxic chemicals and promote a precautionary approach to chemical regulation.
Mama Says plays an active role in the Alliance, participating primarily in the coalition’s reproductive toxins work group, but also contributing to efforts to create healthy schools in Vermont.
Susan Paris represents Mama Says in the coalition. She can be reached at slparis2000@yahoo.com.
Current Campaigns
Comprehensive Chemical Reform
What’s the issue?
Consumers in the United States cannot trust that the products we buy are safe. Most consumers are under the false impression that chemicals used in every day products must have been tested for safety. Unfortunately, this is a myth that threatens public health.
Each year there are more than 80,000 chemicals used commercially in the United States. The majority of these chemicals are approved without testing and are only removed once they have been found to cause harm. As a result, toxic chemicals are taking a tremendous toll on human health and are contributing to an alarming trend including increased rates of birth defects, learning disabilities, autism, cancer, and fertility issues.
What is the Alliance doing?
The Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Vermont has made great strides in protecting Vermonters from toxic exposures. This includes passing policies to protect children from lead, phthalates, toxic flame retardants, and BPA. Now the Alliance will move beyond this chemical by chemical approach and will urge the Vermont legislature to establish a comprehensive system that identifies and regulates toxins in products and requires the use of the safest alternatives.
Healthy Schools
What’s the issue?
Improving indoor air quality in schools is essential to providing safe and healthy learning environments for children. Harmful chemicals found in cleaning supplies, pesticides, and other products can negatively impact the health of students. A growing awareness of this problem has resulted in the implementation of “healthy schools” reform policies in states and school districts across the country. Unfortunately, Vermont only has a voluntary program that has failed to protect the majority of our children and school personnel from polluted indoor air.
What is the Alliance doing?
The Alliance is currently working to transition our schools from conventional cleaning supplies to safer, green cleaning products. Vermont’s state buildings have already made this transition. In addition, 90 schools in Vermont have received guidance on switching to green cleaning products and the vast majority have found these less-toxic alternatives to be cost neutral and equally effective. It is time for all Vermont schools to follow suit.
How to Get Involved
Become part of the Parents Action Group
The Alliance is working to have an active group of parents who will contact their legislators at critical moments in our campaigns, or who are interested in participating in media events or other activities. If you’re interested in becoming involved in our efforts to ensure that toxic chemicals aren’t used in our children’s products or schools, please contact Charity Carbine at ccarbine@vpirg.org.