Ecology Center - Working for a safe and healthy environment where people live, work and play

Bill McKibben
November 11, 2009

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Mary Beth Doyle
Environmental
Health Fund

November 11, 2009: Climate Activist Bill McKibben Coming to Ann Arbor

Bill McKibben is one of America's
most important writers on business, culture and the environment. He is a key coordinator behind October 24th's International Day of Climate Action as well as the 2007 Step It Up Campaign. We will be holding two events on November 11th, featuring Mr. McKibben and we'd love for you to attend one or both:

October 7, 2009: Midwest Clean Energy Proposal Sets New, High National Standard, Groups Say

A blueprint for making robust investments in clean energy and energy efficiency — shaped jointly by utilities, environmental and farm groups, industry, labor unions, and state government — would catapult the Midwest ahead of other regions in generating economic development from technologies that combat global warming, according to observers of the Midwestern Governors Association's (MGA) Jobs and Energy Forum Wednesday.

Ecology Center, Six Others Honored with Michigan's First Green Chemistry Governor's Awards

"It is a great honor to be singled out for this acknowledgement," said Tracey Easthope, the Ecology Center's Environmental Health Director, who accepted the award on behalf of the organization. "We have been making the case for several years now that Green Chemistry should be a major component of building a sustainable economy, and we're delighted that Michigan is now positioning itself to be a leader in this new industry.

New Database on Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products Reveals Lead, Arsenic, PVC, & Hazardous Flame Retardants in School Supplies, Pet Products, Cars, and More

HealthyStuff.org Urges Government and Manufacturers to Phase Out the Most Hazardous Substances Immediately

A nonprofit environmental research organization released results today on over 900 common products tested for toxic chemicals including lead, cadmium, mercury, bromine, chlorine (PVC) and arsenic. Using an XRF analyzer, researchers at the Ecology Center analyzed the ingredients of pet products, cars, women's handbags, children's car seats and more, creating the largest database yet of independent tests of toxic chemicals in consumer goods.

Take ACTION to Protect Children's Health!

Ask your your state Senator and Chairman George to support the Michigan "Children's Safe Products Act!"

Take ACTION on deca-BDE!

Protect children, firefighters, and the Great Lakes from this toxic flame retardant. Please ask your state representative to help ban the last commercial BDE.

Michigan Doesn't Need More Coal!

New Study Finds Low-Carbon Fuels Policy Essential to Michigan's Leadership Role in Breaking America's Oil Addiction

9/8/09By redirecting even a portion of the over $14 billion that leaves our economy each year to import petroleum products, Michigan could become a leader in developing and using sustainable homegrown fuels and advanced battery technologies.

Environmental Protection Agency Moves to Ban Sale of Toxic Lead Tire Balancing Weights for Cars

8/26/09 – In a decision issued today, the Environmental Protection Agency reversed its 2005 decision and accepted a petition from a dozen environmental and public health organizations to immediately begin rulemaking to ban lead wheel balancing weights.

Groups Demand That GM Fulfill Its Obligation to Recover Mercury From Old Vehicles

8/13/09 – Today, environment groups expressed concern and dismay with the "new" General Motors (GM) claim that it's not responsible for funding the recycling of mercury switches from its old vehicles. The groups are demanding that the company continue meeting its obligations to fund legacy mercury recovery costs from GM end-of-life vehicles.

Coalition Calls for Mayor Bing to do the Right Thing: Outrage at Council's Reversal on New Business Model for Solid Waste and Ending of Incineration

5/27/2009 – During the mayoral campaign, Mayor Dave Bing stated that he supports an end to incineration of Detroit's trash, "The City cannot sell what it burns," in his support for the New Business Model for Detroit Solid Waste. Mayor Bing's immediate action on the proposed City Budget is crucial to ending incineration of Detroit trash and expanding the business opportunities based on materials recovery.

Huge Dow Shareholder Vote Urges Transparency on Cleanup

5/14/2009 – Almost 30 percent of Dow's voting shareholders voted to urge the company to report on progress to clean up a massive contamination site at Dow's mid-Michigan global headquarters. This is the third year in a row that this resolution has received significant support from shareholders.

House Passage of Landmark Children's Safe Products Act Hailed by Health & Environmental Organizations, Parents, & Toy Store Owners

5/13/2009 – The state's leading health, medical, health-affected, and environmental organizations as well as thousands of parents celebrated today's House passage of the Children's Safe Products Act (HB 4763-69) as a first step toward protecting children from toxic chemicals in children's products.

Safe Children's Products Act Hailed by Health & Environmental Groups

4/20/2009 – Backed by a 25-foot inflatable rubber ducky at press events around the state, some of the state's leading health, medical, health-affected and environmental organizations enthusiastically supported the recently introduced Safe Children's Products Act as a first step to protecting children from toxic chemicals in children's products.

Bill to Restrict Toxic Flame Retardant Introduced

3/25/2009 – HB 4699 — which would phase-out a toxic flame retardant (Deca-BDE) in mattresses, residential furniture, televisions, and computers — was introduced today by Representative Deb Kennedy and a bi-partisan group of 21 cosponsors and referred to the House Committee on Great Lakes & Environment.