This post is part of the Green Moms Carnival, which will be hosted this month by Mary Hunt at In Women We Trust. The topic is "standards" with a specific look at Walmart's sustainability index.
She asked us to ponder this quote:
"Wal Mart and other big box stores are developing a sustainability index. I don't have the $250,000 it costs to get a seat at the table, but if I had a seat there, this is what I'd want to make sure is in that index criteria..."
Here's a little background. According to Treehugger.com, Walmart has been working on developing a sustainability index for over a year now. This is truly revolutionary, and it could possibly change the retail landscape for the better.
According to this Treehugger article:
"To enter the index, each product will have to undergo an intense life cycle analysis. This will require help from each of Wal-Mart's 60,000+ suppliers, and some painstaking research. With inspectors and analysts crawling up the supply chain and peeking into every corner of production in order to deliver a comprehensive environmental assessment, we might see some major changes made by some major companies.
But who's going to be doing the crawling and peeking, exactly? Well, researchers from some of the top universities in the US, for starters. Faculty at Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkelely, and others have reportedly been involved in the planning stages of the index. Wal-Mart's next move is to announce a 'sustainability consortium' (which will debut this Thurs. the 16th) that includes the likes of U of Arizona professors, big manufacturers like Proctor and Gamble and General Mills, and potentially all the aforementioned faculty and even other competing retailers like Target and Costco."
But guess who wasn't invited to the party (okay, consortium)? You guessed it. Consumers. Mamas, who hold most of the purse strings.
So, back to Mary's question. What would I like to say, if was at the table?
Here's what I would like to see on the sustainability index:
*Clear Labeling and Testing: All products labeled and tested for safety. Products could not contain phthalates, PVC, lead, and BPA.
*Country of Origin Labeling, with clear made in the U.S. labels emphasizing the lesser carbon needed for transporting the product. If the product was made in China, information about specific measures taken to ensure product safety should be included.
*Company Information about green practices and human rights for workers on each product.
*Expected lifetime of product, with information about how and where to recycle or send the product into reuse.
*Clear ingredients list for every product, including those pesky ingredients usually not labeled but present, particularly in cosmetics.
*Safety labeling from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Healthystuff.org, and the Environmental Working Group.
Oh, and I am just warming up. Now, I know I am dreaming, but she asked, and this is what I would love to see. I try not to shop at Walmart, for the many reasons I've discussed here before. But I am happy to see these efforts, I only wish they'd asked us consumers what we'd like to see. After all, it's Americans who made this the biggest, most profitable company in the world, so don't we have the power here?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tips for Parenting a Disorganized Child (from the authors of the new book: Late, Lost and Unprepared)
(Here is a wonderful guest post from the authors of an exciting new book called Late, Lost and Unprepared: A Parents Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning. I would love to review this book, and recommend it to many families in my school. Thanks for this informative post!)
By Joyce Cooper-Kahn PhD and Laurie Dietzel PhD
Kids with weaknesses in planning and organization have trouble independently imposing structure and order on tasks and on ideas. So, they have difficulty organizing information in their heads, as well as organizing their stuff or planning out a long-term project. When faced with a task, the disorganized child may have trouble thinking through the steps required, and she may tend to underestimate the complexity and the time needed.
Does this sound like your child?
• He neglects to turn in completed assignments.
• She arrives at an event completely unprepared.
• He underestimates the effort involved in a project.
• She is overwhelmed at juggling multiple classes and projects.
• He has trouble identifying the most important information.
• She has trouble organizing space.
If so, there are tried-and true behavioral interventions you can try--and continue to practice--with your child to help him or her with this challenge. Here are six:
Break down tasks into component parts.
For example, for a school project, divide the tasks into daily chunks, and enter these on the calendar or in an agenda book as homework. Build an extra day or two for the unexpected so your child gets in the habit of planning a cushion of extra time.
Offer organizational frameworks in advance.
Discuss the most important points to be learned before the child starts an independent reading task. Provide an outline of the major topics and subtopics from the text with space for the student to fill in specific information. Offer study questions in advance so the student understands the learning objectives before starting to read.
Teach the use of tricks and technology aids.
Buy a watch that can be set to vibrate and show a reminder phrase at the programmed time. When a student prints out an assignment, prompt her to also email it to her teacher. Teach a student to write a one-sentence summary on a sticky note after reading each paragraph that he can use later for his report.
Develop templates for repetitive procedures.
Make a checklist of everything that needs to be in his soccer bag. Laminate it and keep it in the soccer bag for last-minute checking. For young children, create photo charts with pictures from magazines for completing chores, preparing to catch the bus, and gathering necessary gear for sports practice.
Walk through the planning process with the child.
For a child who chronically loses or doesn't turn in homework, talk through the process. Is the homework getting lost at home? Is it in the bottom of the backpack? In his locker? Is it in the right notebook but forgotten once class starts? Once you identify the sticking point, add a step to his routine to get past it.
Provide accommodations at home and at school.
Simplify your child's schedule; consider reducing the number of extracurricular activities. For a high school or college student, it makes more sense to reduce the course load. Ask for advance notice of upcoming assignments from the teacher so you and your child can identify the most demanding times of the week or semester so appropriate adjustments can be made in her homework/study schedule.
* * * * *
Joyce Cooper-Kahn PhD and Laurie Dietzel PhD are highly esteemed clinical psychologists who specialize in learning and emotional challenges affecting children and their families. They are coauthors of Late, Lost, and Unprepared: A Parents’ Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning (Woodbine House, $19.95). You can find out more about their book at www.latelostandunprepared.com.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Eco-Friendly Dentistry: Part Two (Is fluoride safe in toothpastes and supplementation?)
Continued here is my interview with Dr. Koos, one of the founders of ORA, the nation's first Eco-Friendly Dentistry practice. I sent him a late addition question, and received this extremely informative, thorough, and somewhat shocking response. Read the whole thing, and be ready to have your (tooth care) world rocked.
I am wondering Dr. Koos, what do you think of fluoride supplementation of well water and high fluoride prescription toothpaste for children?
Volumes have been written regarding the use of fluoride and the fluoridation of water, both speaking for and against its use. The ADA has had a strong position, and they have staunchly stood by it, but I respectfully disagree on many levels. Tooth decay is actually the #1 disease in the world, but the fluoridation of municipal water, with its potential systemic health risks, is not the cure, nor should it be. The controlled application of fluoride professionally, periodically, can be safely carried out in the office, and has proven benefits to decreasing the incidence of caries and desensitizing teeth that have become hypersensitive secondary to bone recession and root exposure. Once again, with this topic, the Precautionary Principle should be upheld.
I would like to highlight the mounting fluoridation opposition - scientific, respectable & finally growing politically popular:
New York -- June 2009 -- Over 2,500 professionals urge the US Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted, citing scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. See statement: http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html.
Also, eleven Environmental Protection Agency employee unions representing over 7000 environmental and public health professionals called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country, and have asked EPA management to recognize fluoride as posing a serious risk of causing cancer in people. (1a) Last election day, 53 US cities rejected fluoridation joining a growing list of communities saying "No," to fluoridation. (1)
Since the professionals' statement was first issued (Aug 2007), the following occurred:
· The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Canada’s leading voice on environmental health issues, released a statement opposing fluoridation. (2)
· The National Kidney Foundation dropped its fluoridation support replacing it with this caution: “Individuals with CKD [Chronic Kidney Disease] should be notified of the potential risk of fluoride exposure.” (3)
· Researchers reporting in the Oct 6 2007 British Medical Journal indicate that fluoridation never was proven safe or effective and may be unethical. (4)
· “A qualitative review of ...studies found a consistent and strong association between the exposure to fluoride and low IQ,” concluded Tang el al., in "Fluoride and Children’s Intelligence: A Meta-analysis” in Biological Trace Element Research (5)
· Scientific American editors wrote in January 2008, "Some recent studies suggest that over-consumption of fluoride can raise the risks of disorders affecting teeth, bones, the brain and the thyroid gland"
· Dr. A. K. Susheela, a leading fluoride expert, explains in a video why US physicians overlook fluoride as a possible cause of diseases commonly caused by fluoride. http://tinyurl.com/Susheela
· A study in the Fall 2008 Journal of Public Health Dentistry reveals that cavity-free teeth have little to do with fluoride intake. Researchers report, "The benefits of fluoride are mostly topical…while fluorosis is clearly more dependent on fluoride intake."
· Research published in Biological Trace Element Research (April 2009). indicates that blood fluoride levels were significantly higher in patients with osteosarcoma than in control groups. (13) (Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, occurs mostly in children and young adults)
A Tennessee State legislator who is also an MD is urging all Tennessee Water Districts to stop fluoridation, reported a Tennessee newspaper on 11/29/08. At least 30 Tennessee water districts have already complied with his request.(6)
· On 1/5/09, the Burlington Board of Health recommended that Burlington cease fluoridation because fluoridation can harm some people. (7)
· On 1/6/09, a Canadian town, Drayton, stopped fluoridation, not to save money, but because it was in the best interests of residents, said the Mayor. (8)
· On 2/10/2009 Skagit County, WA officials reversed their 2007 fluoridation decision. (9)
· On 3/3/2009, Plainfield, Vermont bans fluoridation. (10)
· The Arkansas Oral Health Director is accused of giving eight "false or misleading statements" on fluoridation to an Arkansas legislative Committee. (12)
Signers to the FAN statement include:
· Dr. Arvid Carlsson,winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine
· Vyvyan Howard, MD, PhD, President, International Society of Doctors for the Environment
· Ken Cook and Richard Wiles, Environmental Working Group
Lois Gibbs, Center for Health, Environment, and Justice
· Steven Koos D.D.S., M.D., Leader in the Eco-Friendly Dentistry™ and the Green Healthcare movement
· Joseph Mercola, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, who runs the #1 most visited natural
health website
· Theo Colborn, PhD, co-author, “Our Stolen Future”
· Sam Epstein, MD, Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
· The current and six past Presidents of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and
Toxicology
· Board of Directors (2007), American Academy of Environmental Medicine
· Five Goldman Prize winners - given for excellence in protecting the environment
· Three members of the prestigious 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel that reported on fluoride’s toxicology
Three officers in the Union representing professionals at EPA headquarters
· Hundreds of medical, dental, academic, scientific and environmental professionals, worldwide.
· Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Arvid Carlsson, says, “Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It's really obsolete.”
Fluoride jeopardizes health - even at low levels deliberately added to public water supplies, according to data presented in a 2006 National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) National Research Council (NRC) report. Fluoride poses risks to the thyroid gland, diabetics, kidney patients, high water drinkers and others and can severely damage children's teeth. (11) At least three panel members advise avoiding fluoridated water.
“The NRC fluoride report dramatically changed scientific understanding of fluoride's health risks," says Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network. "Government officials who continue to promote fluoridation must testify under oath as to why they are ignoring the powerful evidence of harm in the NRC report,” he added.
The Professionals’ Statement also references:
· The new American Dental Association policy recommending infant formula NOT be prepared with fluoridated water.
· The CDC’s concession that the predominant benefit of fluoride is topical not systemic.
· CDC data showing that dental fluorosis, caused by fluoride over-exposure, now impacts one third of American children.
· Major research indicating little difference in decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.
· A Harvard study indicating a possible link between fluoridation and bone cancer.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a DC watchdog, revealed that a Harvard professor concealed the fluoridation/bone cancer connection for three years. EWG President Ken Cook states, “It is time for the US to recognize that fluoridation has serious risks that far outweigh any minor benefits, and unlike many other environmental issues, it's as easy to end as turning off a valve at the water plant.”
References:
(1a) http://www.nteu280.org/Issues/Fluoride/Press%20Release.%20Fluoride.htm
(1) http://www.fluoridealert.org/communities.htm
(2) http://www.fluoridealert.org/cape.html
(3) National Kidney Foundation, “Fluoride Intake in Chronic Kidney Disease,” April 15, 2008
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/Fluoride_Intake_in_CKD.pdf
(4) "Adding fluoride to water supplies," British Medical Journal, KK Cheng, Iain Chalmers, Trevor A. Sheldon, October 6, 2007
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18695947?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
(6) http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/2840202
(7) http://www.swabvt.org/node/300
(8) http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1373584
(9) http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/commissioners_vote_to_halt_fluoride_program/
(10) http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090303/NEWS0301/90303100/1009/NEWS01
(11) National Research Council (2003-2006): Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/epa/nrc/
(12) "State oral health director challenged over comments about fluoridation,"
March 10, 2009,by Kathryn Lucariello, Carroll County News
http://www.carrollconews.com/story/1509198.html
(13) Biological Trace Element Research, “Serum Fluoride and Sialic Acid Levels in Osteosarcoma,” by Sandhu R, Lal H, Kundu ZS, Kharb S, Apr 24, 2009 [Epub ahead of print]
Thank you, Dr. Koos for the depth of this information. It has certainly informed me and I hope it is helpful to you, readers. It has certainly caused me to rethink some of our practices. What about you?
I am wondering Dr. Koos, what do you think of fluoride supplementation of well water and high fluoride prescription toothpaste for children?
Volumes have been written regarding the use of fluoride and the fluoridation of water, both speaking for and against its use. The ADA has had a strong position, and they have staunchly stood by it, but I respectfully disagree on many levels. Tooth decay is actually the #1 disease in the world, but the fluoridation of municipal water, with its potential systemic health risks, is not the cure, nor should it be. The controlled application of fluoride professionally, periodically, can be safely carried out in the office, and has proven benefits to decreasing the incidence of caries and desensitizing teeth that have become hypersensitive secondary to bone recession and root exposure. Once again, with this topic, the Precautionary Principle should be upheld.
I would like to highlight the mounting fluoridation opposition - scientific, respectable & finally growing politically popular:
New York -- June 2009 -- Over 2,500 professionals urge the US Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted, citing scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. See statement: http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html.
Also, eleven Environmental Protection Agency employee unions representing over 7000 environmental and public health professionals called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country, and have asked EPA management to recognize fluoride as posing a serious risk of causing cancer in people. (1a) Last election day, 53 US cities rejected fluoridation joining a growing list of communities saying "No," to fluoridation. (1)
Since the professionals' statement was first issued (Aug 2007), the following occurred:
· The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Canada’s leading voice on environmental health issues, released a statement opposing fluoridation. (2)
· The National Kidney Foundation dropped its fluoridation support replacing it with this caution: “Individuals with CKD [Chronic Kidney Disease] should be notified of the potential risk of fluoride exposure.” (3)
· Researchers reporting in the Oct 6 2007 British Medical Journal indicate that fluoridation never was proven safe or effective and may be unethical. (4)
· “A qualitative review of ...studies found a consistent and strong association between the exposure to fluoride and low IQ,” concluded Tang el al., in "Fluoride and Children’s Intelligence: A Meta-analysis” in Biological Trace Element Research (5)
· Scientific American editors wrote in January 2008, "Some recent studies suggest that over-consumption of fluoride can raise the risks of disorders affecting teeth, bones, the brain and the thyroid gland"
· Dr. A. K. Susheela, a leading fluoride expert, explains in a video why US physicians overlook fluoride as a possible cause of diseases commonly caused by fluoride. http://tinyurl.com/Susheela
· A study in the Fall 2008 Journal of Public Health Dentistry reveals that cavity-free teeth have little to do with fluoride intake. Researchers report, "The benefits of fluoride are mostly topical…while fluorosis is clearly more dependent on fluoride intake."
· Research published in Biological Trace Element Research (April 2009). indicates that blood fluoride levels were significantly higher in patients with osteosarcoma than in control groups. (13) (Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, occurs mostly in children and young adults)
A Tennessee State legislator who is also an MD is urging all Tennessee Water Districts to stop fluoridation, reported a Tennessee newspaper on 11/29/08. At least 30 Tennessee water districts have already complied with his request.(6)
· On 1/5/09, the Burlington Board of Health recommended that Burlington cease fluoridation because fluoridation can harm some people. (7)
· On 1/6/09, a Canadian town, Drayton, stopped fluoridation, not to save money, but because it was in the best interests of residents, said the Mayor. (8)
· On 2/10/2009 Skagit County, WA officials reversed their 2007 fluoridation decision. (9)
· On 3/3/2009, Plainfield, Vermont bans fluoridation. (10)
· The Arkansas Oral Health Director is accused of giving eight "false or misleading statements" on fluoridation to an Arkansas legislative Committee. (12)
Signers to the FAN statement include:
· Dr. Arvid Carlsson,winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine
· Vyvyan Howard, MD, PhD, President, International Society of Doctors for the Environment
· Ken Cook and Richard Wiles, Environmental Working Group
Lois Gibbs, Center for Health, Environment, and Justice
· Steven Koos D.D.S., M.D., Leader in the Eco-Friendly Dentistry™ and the Green Healthcare movement
· Joseph Mercola, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, who runs the #1 most visited natural
health website
· Theo Colborn, PhD, co-author, “Our Stolen Future”
· Sam Epstein, MD, Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
· The current and six past Presidents of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and
Toxicology
· Board of Directors (2007), American Academy of Environmental Medicine
· Five Goldman Prize winners - given for excellence in protecting the environment
· Three members of the prestigious 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel that reported on fluoride’s toxicology
Three officers in the Union representing professionals at EPA headquarters
· Hundreds of medical, dental, academic, scientific and environmental professionals, worldwide.
· Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Arvid Carlsson, says, “Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It's really obsolete.”
Fluoride jeopardizes health - even at low levels deliberately added to public water supplies, according to data presented in a 2006 National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) National Research Council (NRC) report. Fluoride poses risks to the thyroid gland, diabetics, kidney patients, high water drinkers and others and can severely damage children's teeth. (11) At least three panel members advise avoiding fluoridated water.
“The NRC fluoride report dramatically changed scientific understanding of fluoride's health risks," says Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network. "Government officials who continue to promote fluoridation must testify under oath as to why they are ignoring the powerful evidence of harm in the NRC report,” he added.
The Professionals’ Statement also references:
· The new American Dental Association policy recommending infant formula NOT be prepared with fluoridated water.
· The CDC’s concession that the predominant benefit of fluoride is topical not systemic.
· CDC data showing that dental fluorosis, caused by fluoride over-exposure, now impacts one third of American children.
· Major research indicating little difference in decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.
· A Harvard study indicating a possible link between fluoridation and bone cancer.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a DC watchdog, revealed that a Harvard professor concealed the fluoridation/bone cancer connection for three years. EWG President Ken Cook states, “It is time for the US to recognize that fluoridation has serious risks that far outweigh any minor benefits, and unlike many other environmental issues, it's as easy to end as turning off a valve at the water plant.”
References:
(1a) http://www.nteu280.org/Issues/Fluoride/Press%20Release.%20Fluoride.htm
(1) http://www.fluoridealert.org/communities.htm
(2) http://www.fluoridealert.org/cape.html
(3) National Kidney Foundation, “Fluoride Intake in Chronic Kidney Disease,” April 15, 2008
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/Fluoride_Intake_in_CKD.pdf
(4) "Adding fluoride to water supplies," British Medical Journal, KK Cheng, Iain Chalmers, Trevor A. Sheldon, October 6, 2007
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18695947?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
(6) http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/2840202
(7) http://www.swabvt.org/node/300
(8) http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1373584
(9) http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/commissioners_vote_to_halt_fluoride_program/
(10) http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090303/NEWS0301/90303100/1009/NEWS01
(11) National Research Council (2003-2006): Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/epa/nrc/
(12) "State oral health director challenged over comments about fluoridation,"
March 10, 2009,by Kathryn Lucariello, Carroll County News
http://www.carrollconews.com/story/1509198.html
(13) Biological Trace Element Research, “Serum Fluoride and Sialic Acid Levels in Osteosarcoma,” by Sandhu R, Lal H, Kundu ZS, Kharb S, Apr 24, 2009 [Epub ahead of print]
Thank you, Dr. Koos for the depth of this information. It has certainly informed me and I hope it is helpful to you, readers. It has certainly caused me to rethink some of our practices. What about you?
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