plastics, transit, fuel prices, EMF's, pesticides ban

[angela bischoff]

Bisphenol A most harmful to infants, study says
MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT
Globe and Mail
January 11, 2008

A new U.S. study on the plastic compound bisphenol A indicates that the
chemical may be far more dangerous for young children than for adults.

The finding has been submitted to Health Canada for its current safety
review of BPA, and bolsters the case for limiting bisphenol A exposure in
infants, who lack the capacity that adults have to detoxify it.

Bisphenol A is used in polycarbonate baby bottles and the epoxy linings of
cans, including those for almost all types of infant formula. Because BPA
can mimic estrogen, many researchers suspect it is a factor in health
trends linked to sex hormone imbalances, such as prostate and breast
cancer. <snip>

 Read full article here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080111.wbisphenol11/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home/

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Tax-Free Transit Benefits In Canada

For more than a decade Victoria Transport Policy Institute has promoted
employer-based incentives for public transit, called "tax-free transit
benefit" or "tax-free transit passes". There is now a promising
opportunity to have this policy established in Canada's tax code. If you
are a Canadian resident, your support can help. Please click the following
link for information:

http://www.vtpi.org/TT_alert.htm

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Appropriate Response To Rising Fuel Prices

This paper by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute evaluates public
policy options for responding to rising fuel prices. There is popular
support for policies to minimize retail prices by reducing fuel taxes or
providing production subsidies. But price-minimization policies are likely
to harm consumers and the economy overall by encouraging transportation
system inefficiency. Rather than reducing fuel prices it would be better
to allow prices to rise and simultaneously working to improve transport
system efficiency.

http://www.vtpi.org/fuelprice.pdf

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The research on the dangers of EMFs (electro magnetic frequencies) from
cell phones, wireless communications, transmission lines, and electrical
currents is conclusive and becoming recognized around the world. Youth
(with developing brains) are especially vulnerable.

An international working group of scientists, researchers and public
health policy professionals (The BioInitiative Working Group) released in
2007 its report on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health. They document
serious scientific concerns about current limits regulating how much EMF
is allowable from power lines, cell phones, and many other sources of EMF
exposure in daily life. Read their full report, news releases, links, etc.
here:  http://bioinitiative.org/index.htm

The attached is a video of Cindy Sage, co-editor of the recent
BioInitiative Report. This report was prepared by 16 leading scientists
around the world who reviewed over 2,000 studies to assess what we
actually know about the biological effects of EMF/RF. It reviewed the
known health effects of these technologies, ranging from cancers to ADD,
insomnia, depression, neurological disorders, Alzheimers, Lou Gehrigs,
etc., and it has been getting news coverage in many countries but very
little in the U.S. Watch her being interviewed here: 
http://www.youtube.com/v/7tZDor-_co0

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This Sunday's cover story in The New York Times Magazine makes plain the
threat: the winner of the 2008 presidential election could be decided by
flawed, insecure, and hackable electronic voting machines.

Can You Count on Voting Machines?
Jan. 6, 2008, NY Times Magazine
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/magazine/06Vote-t.html

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Coalition wants Ontario to pass pesticides ban

toronto.ctv.ca

The Ontario government should move quickly to pass a promised,
province-wide ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides, a coalition of
environmental activists and health professionals urged Tuesday.

The group of environmentalists, doctors and nurses said Ontario should
follow Quebec's lead and pass the ban this year.

"Such a measure would not only protect the health of everyone in Ontario,
including family pets and wildlife, it will also improve the quality of
our soil, air and drinking water," Susan Koswan, of Pesticide Free
Ontario, said during a news conference at the legislature.

Health professionals say pesticides cause diseases such as cancer and
birth defects, and the chemicals are especially harmful to children. 
<snip>

Jan Kasperski, CEO of the College of Family Physicians, said the long-term
effects of exposure to pesticides can be devastating, and it can also lead
to learning disabilities. <snip>

The coalition conducted a public opinion survey, which found 71 per cent
of Ontarians would support the idea of a ban on the cosmetic use of
pesticides.  <snip>

 Read full article here:
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080115/pesticide_ban_080115/20080115/?hub=TorontoHome




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