The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT)
A broad coalition in Massachusetts working to pass laws and policies that prevent harm to our health from toxic chemicals. Our top priorities are to create a groundbreaking program in Massachusetts to systematically replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives that are better for workers and the environment, and to compel the Massachusetts Department of Health to use its authority to protect the health of children and vulnerable adults from the toxic chemical bisphenol A. Please join the effort.
Protect the men you love this Father's Day
Posted on Jun 11, 2014Let’s skip the cologne and after-shave this year, and give Dad the gift of health.
A recent European study tested 100 chemicals, a third of which were found to negatively affect male reproductive cells. In fact, these chemicals can obstruct sperm’s mobility and efficiency when searching for the female egg. Other chemicals were discovered to make the sperm cells less sensitive to female hormones, further hindering fertility. These findings are crucial as male fertility issues occur in almost 50% of cases involving couples finding it difficult to conceive.
Many of these same chemicals can increase a man’s risk of suffering from diseases like prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Read more...Proposed bill fails to protect public health
Posted on May 16, 2014This past February, U.S. Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chairman of the Environment and Economy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released a problematic draft bill titled the “Chemicals in Commerce Act”, which would replace the already limited toxic regulation currently existing under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
In late April, the subcommittee held a hearing of the revised bill, at which (not surprisingly) industry witnesses hailed it as making effective reforms, while advocates called it out for doing more damage than good in protecting public health.
As of late May, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to hold a bill mark-up session very soon.
This bill thinly disguises itself as a measure to protect public health, but in reality disregards years of work by scientists, environmental and health advocates, and state legislators to push for reform against the urgent toxic chemical crisis. “In essence, this draft bill has the potential to make a bad situation even worse”, reads a statement from the San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Fund.
Read more...Video Feature: Mind the Store's April 16th Day of Action
Posted on May 1, 2014On April 16th, AHT supporters gathered outside ten Walgreens locations across Massachusetts to urge the major retailer to phase out toxic products from their shelves. Concerned parents, student activists, health professionals, and leaders of environmental organizations visited Walgreens stores in downtown Boston, Dorchester, Lexington, Medway, the North Shore, Revere, and Yarmouth, as part of the national Mind the Store campaign. Nearly 50 events were held across the country on April 16th to call on Walgreens, the largest drugstore chain in the states.
Check out this video that features events organized at the downtown Boston flagship store and Dorchester locations. At the Boston location, students from Suffolk University were joined by representatives from the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, and Clean Water Action. In Dorchester, Rev. Bill Loesch led a group of B.O.L.D. (Breath of Life Dorchester) Teens, a youth group focused on environmental and social justice.
You can still join the action - add your voice to theirs by signing a petition to Walgreens.
Walgreens, Mind the Store!
Posted on Apr 18, 2014This week, as part of the national Mind the Store campaign’s day of action, concerned parents, youth activists, and health professionals gathered at Walgreens locations to call for stronger store policies regarding toxic products sold on their shelves. As the country’s largest drugstore chain, Walgreens has the responsibility to protect the health of their customers. However, it has been unresponsive to previous campaign efforts, having undertaken no major initiatives to address toxic chemicals in their supply chain and ignoring requests for meetings from environmental health organizations. Therefore, on April 16th, customers across the nation took it in their own hands to make their voices heard.
Joining forces with firefighters to Give Toxics the Boot!
Posted on Mar 27, 2014Firefighters risk their lives every day on the job, but flames aren’t the only danger they face. They are especially vulnerable to toxic chemical exposure, one of the main causes of chronic diseases like cancer and reproductive disabilities. You may be surprised to learn, for example, that the breast cancer rate in San Francisco female firefighters age 40-50 is six times the national average.
Here in Boston, the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, and the Boston Firefighters Union are teaming up to host a powerful event on Thursday, March 27th, 2014 as part of the nation-wide Give Toxics the Boot campaign.
Read more...Toxic Hot Seat Film Screening and panel discussion
When: 7:00 - 9:30 PM
