I have been trying to live green for more than a decade. But like most people, what really galvanized me was having my daughter and my responsibility to protect her from anything that might harm her, especially her health. My fear of her one day getting cancer or another illness or condition as a result of something she was exposed to is why I started my business. It's why I spend so much time on twitter and facebook reading, following great organizations and bloggers, connecting with other people who are trying to live a nontoxic life.
Because of the thousands of children suffering from cancer, and the devistating effect this disease has upon families President Obama declared September 2011 National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. While this is certainly an issue worthy of the President's attention, what frustrates me about this proclamation and the dialogue around it in the media is that like Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the focus is on the cure, with little talk of preventing cancer in the first place.
Despite coming out with the President's Cancer Panel Report in 2010 which discussed the need to decrease chemical exposure, there is absolutely no mention of that in this proclamation. Approximately 80% of cancer is caused by environmental factors, not genetics. That means 80% of the families suffering because their child has cancer wouldn't be if we as a nation gave a higher priority to prevention...to preventing corporations from being able to poison our food, homes, bodies and environment for profit.
My fear is that, like Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month will become yet another opportunity for companies to slap a ribbon on a product and exploit people who are hurting all for a profit.
So, in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and all the families who are hurting, I'd like to share some of my favorite organizations that are working hard to protect children from toxic chemicals that cause cancer, whether in personal care products, food, cleaning products, our homes, playgrounds or our environment. These are organizations that are working hard to make sure no more children get cancer in the first place so no other child will need a cure (and no corporation will make money both by giving our children cancer and then treating them for it).
Safer Chemicals Healthy Families
Center for Environmental Health
Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)
These organizations are worthy of your support. Be sure to follow them on twitter and join their facebook pages to keep up on how to protect your family and opportunities to come together with other families to pressure our government to make protecting our children a priority.
Is there an organization you love that I've missed? Please share it with us in the comments.
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