Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Stand Up For What You Believe

Campbell’s soups made my day. Not because I use mushroom soup for tuna casserole or particularly enjoy a cup of hot chicken noodle, but rather for a reason that should put some oumph into everyone’s step. Campbell’s has agreed to phase out BPA in can linings. Supposedly this effort has already started. The article by Amy Westervelt in Forbes explains that the FDA will establish new “acceptable” levels by March 31. France voted to uphold a ban on BPA last month, which hopefully will influence greedy food manufacturers in the USA, hoping to sell products in Europe. Westervelt explains that pressure from consumer groups also played a role in this turnaround, magnificent news for future children raised in America. Less risk of the chemical in their body burden!

For three years Cape Codders have urged NStar to refrain from spraying herbicides under the power lines because the toxic chemicals will filter into our sole-source aquifer. Who wants to drink water that contains traces of endocrine disruptors? Not I. Perhaps the recent decision to leave the 15 Cape towns off the YOP is evidence the executives at the utility company have been influenced by the outcry?

If you feel encouraged by these two unexpected developments and would like to add your voice to the outcry regarding another issue of critical importance to Cape Cod, join the nuclear safety rally on Sunday, March 11, anniversary of the disaster in Japan. The march starts at 1 pm at Lobster Pound, 252 Manomet Point Road in Plymouth. Should you be unable to come demonstrate but desire to protect Cape Cod from an accident similar to Fukushima all the same, take the time to write your senators after reading the Natural Resources Defense Council press release. Wellfleet is directly opposite Plymouth, and the woman in the above photo could be looking out, thinking of the nuclear reactor on the other side of Cape Cod Bay. The prevailing winds blow from the west. The owners will not close down this forty-year old plant by choice. We must make them, so please sign the NRDC letter. Thanks to movement at Campbell’s soups and possible movement at NStar, I like to think closing down Pilgrim is possible.

Protest of this type is new to me, although I was a member of the generation that stopped the war in Vietnam. Is protest a part of your regular agenda? Do you stand up for what you believe? What's your take on the petitions that are circulated? Do they make a difference?

Comments (10)

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Good news on the BPA. It's about time! It's scary to learn, as time goes on, about all the health dangers that are being discovered.
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What good news- and it is just another reminder that our voices ARE heard- and we should not give up fighting for what needs to be done.
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That's good news about the soup cans.
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Living Large's avatar

Living Large · 676 weeks ago

Very good news on the BPA! Yes, I do believe peitions matter. Just look what's happening with Rush and the women's movement!
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glad to hear that about Campbell's and BPA, especially because Camobell's ,makes I think, a a lot of store brand soups as well -- not to mention is sold widely abroad.

as to protest and how it is done -- I think we each have our own callings on what issues move us and where to put our energy. it's good to choose such actions by committment *to* something, as you do here, Alexandra, rather than just anger. anger might start the fire, but connection and reason and justice and hope must sustain it.

off my soap box on that now...
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alisa bowman · 676 weeks ago

I am encouraged by these developments! But a long way to go still, too!
It's always good to know that someone is paying attention--I didn't see any comment on the YOP link, what has been the reaction of the community?
1 reply · active 675 weeks ago
Overjoyed. But, I keep reminding friends that the battle is not won, not by a long-shot. NStar has no intention of giving up.
First, woohoo for Campbell's Soups! Good for them.

I do stand up for things I believe in, but my time and energy is fairly limited, so they have to be something I *really believe in for me to carve out time for it. But I also think we can make small changes in our lives that ultimately result in standing up for what we believe in a small way. And if our children also glom onto that and take it into *their lives, then it has a snowball effect.
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I'm happy to read a bit of good news on the environmental front. Today was one of those frustrating days for me, when it seems like no good change will ever come in time. But as Jane says above, even the little things count so I continue to plug on with those and encourage others to do the same. Because in truth, would Campbell's be doing this if people hadn't made their desires known? I think not.
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