Environmental Health

September 15, 2011

As parents, we have plenty on our minds as we settle into a new school year — new teachers, carpools, sibling rivalry — the list goes on. We really shouldn't have to add this: apples and peaches we're packing in our kids' lunchbags may expose them to chlorpyrifos, a pesticide known to lower IQs and...

MomsRising Together

Kristin Schafer

Environmental Health Health Care Food!

September 13, 2011

Over 90% of Americans have detectable levels of bisphenol-A in their bodies, which makes BPA one of the most pervasive toxic chemicals in our modern lives . Scary stuff, considering that studies link BPA exposure to breast cancer, infertility, early onset puberty, ADHD, and obesity . You can reduce...

MomsRising Together

Claire Moshenberg

Environmental Health Open Flexible Work

September 13, 2011

On the list of paradoxes, not many beat flying around the world to give talks about climate change. I can justify my carbon footprint if I have to--with myself as the main moving part, we've managed to build 350.org into the first big global climate campaign, organizing what CNN has called the "...

MomsRising Together

Bill McKibben

Environmental Health

September 12, 2011

My husband Gus and I have been lucky. I'm 36---and therefore considered an "elderly primigravida" on my charts at my doctor's office (that's "pregnant old-timer and first-timer" in layman's terms). I've had a healthy pregnancy---so far---and we avoided the nightmarish saga of infertility that many...

MomsRising Together

Anna Fahey

Environmental Health

September 8, 2011

Usually, my supermom powers get me pretty far. Children off to school in the morning? Check. Semi-nutritious snack in backpack? Check. Clean air for my children to breathe at recess? That's where I get stumped. That's not the kind of thing that any mom, despite our numerous superpowers, can do...

MomsRising Together

Donna Norton

Environmental Health

September 7, 2011

Author's note: This blog post originally appeared on Sightline Daily in a series on low-hanging regulatory reform to encourage sustainable practices. The test is simple: 12 seconds exposed to a small flame like a cigarette lighter. If the furniture foam doesn’t burn, it passes the test and can be...

MomsRising Together

Alan Durning

Environmental Health Food! Health Care

September 6, 2011

Traditional canned BBQ fare and potentially hazardous grilled meat can make BBQs feel like a toxic minefield. Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways to keep all of your favorite foods while protecting your health. Marinate Your Meat: The process of grilling meat creates compounds called HCAs, which...

MomsRising Together

Claire Moshenberg

Environmental Health Health Care

August 26, 2011

After a massive roof tarring project in her community made her family sick, Shelby organized her community to demand safer practices and put an end to the pollution. Penelope lost her child due to a very rare condition linked to estrogenic chemicals, but still persevered and created one of the most...

MomsRising Together

Janelle Sorensen

Environmental Health

August 24, 2011

Cloth or disposable? Sightline researcher Clark wrote about this way back in 2005. I guess it’s a question that our staff, rightfully, agonize over as they’re gearing up for a diapering blitz of their own. Our baby will probably be changed between 3000 and 7000 times in the first two years. For now...

MomsRising Together

Anna Fahey

Environmental Health Food! Health Care

August 23, 2011

Picture it: Perfect stacks of crackers and sliced meats, portioned and packaged in plastic. Syrupy fruits in single serve cans. Plastic thermoses full of warm canned soup. And all of these goodies gathered into a shimmering, plastic lunch box. These are the bright back to school images of lunch...

MomsRising Together

Claire Moshenberg