Green Mama Activism: Top Shoe Brands Deforesting the Amazon and Contributing to Global Warming

For an eye opening experience, watch this video about where the leather in many top brands of shoes comes from. According to Greenpeace,

"For the past three years, Greenpeace has been investigating the cattle industry in Brazil. Not only is the cattle industry the chief source of CO2 emissions in Brazil and also responsible for 80% of deforestation in the Amazon, it is also the largest single driver of deforestation anywhere in the world.

Our investigation exposed the Brazilian government’s complicity in bankrolling the companies responsible for deforestation in the Amazon, as well as several top name shoe brands – such as Adidas, Nike, Reebok, and Timberland – whose demand for leather may be supporting cattle ranchers that are illegally slaughtering the Amazon."

In ads these companies promote health, exercise, and enjoying nature, while contributing directly to global warming and rampant deforestation, two of the most critical (and interrelated) environmental problems of our time.

Take action to tell them they are a BIG part of the problem. What shoes are in your closet?


image: New Running Shoes by Somewhat Frank

Green Mama Activism: Call Coke and Del Monte to say No to BPA and Unethical Tactics

Hopefully you have been able to read this week's posts about the big BPA meeting and the deceptive and unethical practices used by Coca-Cola and Del Monte (among others) to try and convince the public (especially new moms) that the chemical, BPA, is safe.

The Environmental Working group has given us a place to channel some of that energy. They are suggesting we call these companies directly, to express our outrage.

Here is the information over at the Enviroblog.

Now pick up the phone! In case you need more fuel for your inner fire, just read the meeting notes from the BPA industry lobbyist meeting. That ought to do it! Go, green mamas everywhere, go.

image: EWG.org

Mom Bloggers on BPA Lobbyists- You Are Not Scaring Us Into Believing You

Oh, I just love feisty green mom bloggers. They are smart, funny, and dig deep into these issues. And they are seriously angry with the BPA lobbyist meeting I reported on yesterday.

Check out this post from The Smart Mama. She's got more details about the backdoor BPA Lobbyist meeting, including the companies that attended (which I wondered about in my last post).

They were:

Coca-Cola
Del-Monte
North American Metal Packaging Association
The American Grocers Association
Alcoa
Crown
The American Chemistry Council

Jennifer at the Smart Mama linked back to several posts from mom bloggers about this meeting, and we are all pondering our next action about this. What are your ideas, readers? How can we work together to say we won't be scared into believing BPA packaging is the only way to secure a safe food supply? How can we convince them that a pregnant women, no matter how earnest looking, will not convince us to forget the myraid health problems associated with BPA?

image: Man in a Shark Suit by billypalooza on Flickr under Creative Commons

Mamas: BPA Lobbyists are Targeting You!

In a very predictable but still frightening move, BPA and industry lobbyists and manufacturers are developing a PR and lobbying plan to combat all the negative press (and legislation) about BPA,or bisphenol A, in food and beverage packaging.

They just have that pesky problem that BPA has been linked to numerous cancers, hyperactivity, obesity, interference with chemotherapy treatments, heart disease, diabetes, and reproductive system problems.

In an internal meeting, reported by the Washington Post, companies such as Coca-Cola are joining with others in packaging industry to fight for the heart and soul of the debate--YOU.

Yes, young mothers with the purse strings in the family, it's you they want. And they are willing to pay a very large sum for it. 500,000 bucks, to be exact.

According to the article, "The notes said the executives are particularly concerned about the views of young mothers, who often make purchasing decisions for households and who are most likely to be focused on health concerns." Oh, yes. The power of mothers. Diane, of the Big Green Purse, isn't this just what you mean?

They go even farther, suggesting what tactics might work to scare mothers into believing BPA is safe (no I didn't make this up):

"Industry representatives weighed a range of ideas, including "using fear tactics [e.g. "Do you want to have access to baby food anymore?" as well as giving control back to consumers (e.g. you have a choice between the more expensive product that is frozen or fresh or foods packaged in cans) as ways to dissuade people from choosing BPA-free packaging," the notes said."

This is so offensive, on so many levels I don't even know where to start. These companies are resorting to the lowest strategies and tactics to continue to sell their products, no matter the mounting research about the health consequences of exposure to BPA.

They want you. According the memo, is: ""Their 'holy grail' spokesperson would be a 'pregnant young mother who would be willing to speak around the country about the benefits of BPA,' " the notes said." I'm sure they'd be able to pay her really well!

Remember this anytime to want to reach for a Coca-Cola product. And I'd love to know what other manufacturers attended this meeting. This might be the seed of another Green Mama activism action. I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, let's ask new FDA Commissioner, Margret Hamburg, to end this mayhem once and for all, for the safety of children and families.

image: canned food by shooting brooklyn on flickr