Stand Up To Cancer!

Sponsored by: Stand Up To Cancer

Cancer takes one person every minute. One life in a moment. They are our brothers, our sisters, our fathers and mothers, our husbands and wives, our best friends, our children, ourselves.

Just when science is on the verge of the breakthroughs that can end cancer, the will and the funding are disappearing from the national agenda. The time has come to join together to accelerate the development of life-saving cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Harnessing the power and influence of the media, an extraordinary line-up of actors, musicians, athletes and journalists will be appearing in an historic, nationally televised event to Stand Up To Cancer, simultaneously broadcast live and commercial-free on ABC, CBS and NBC on September 5, 2008, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Stand Up To Cancer is more than a rallying cry. It is a galvanizing force created to urgently move research on all forms of cancer forward.

PLEDGE TO TUNE IN:

I recognize that this is where the end of cancer begins: when we unite together in one unstoppable movement and Stand Up To Cancer.

I pledge to learn more by watching this groundbreaking television program on September 5 at 8 p.m.

Banning Phthalates in Toys

Originally posted by Melissa Breyer Jul 30, 2008 9:05 am

Finally, lawmakers in D.C. are taking action against phthalates. It’s about time. At Care2 we’ve been issuing a clarion call against these toxic chemical plasticizers that are commonly used in children’s toys and have been banned for use in children’s toys in Europe since 1999. More than a dozen other countries have banned the chemical, as has California.

According to the Washington Post, federally funded research found that male babies born to women with high levels of phthalates in their blood exhibited changes related to low sperm count, undescended testicles and other reproductive problems. Other studies have connected some phthalates to liver and kidney cancer. Health experts argue that dangers may be more significant from cumulative exposure, because phthalates surround babies not only in toys and products but also in breast milk if the mother has been exposed to the chemicals.

Although it isn’t law yet, the House and the Senate have agreed to ban three types of phthalates from children’s toys as well as three other phthalates. Since U.S. companies make $1.4 billion worth of phthalates a year, you can imagine there was some serious lobbying going on against a ban; Exxon Mobile is a major manufacturer of phthalates. Not all that surprising to find that President Bush opposes the ban, but it is unclear whether or not he will veto the measure. The legislation would also ban lead in children’s products. It is stunning that this isn’t law already.

If you’d like to help, please sign this Consumers Union letter at the Care2 Petition site.

Read the complete Washington Post article here.

More from Melissa Breyer (203 articles available)