Nurses take action on rBGH in dairy products
(From the Health Care Without Harm website) Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), also known as recombinant Bovine Somatotropin, (rBST) is used in 10 – 15% of US dairy cows to increase milk production. Use of rBGH creates the potential for human and ecological health risks. Nurses have an opportunity to help eliminate this practice by encouraging their institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, schools) to purchase dairy products from companies that do not use rBGH.
We are calling upon the nursing profession to help eliminate the use or rBGH in the US by appealing to those who make purchasing decisions within the institutions where we work to purchase dairy products that have been produced without the use of rBGH. To this end, we have created a virtual toolkit of information, flyers, postcards and other tools for you to use to educate yourselves, your fellow nurses, your patients and your health care institutions, in particular your food service departments and hospital administrators that establish the food purchasing policies for your hospital or health care facility.
Nurse recieves $14 million as part of the National Children's Study to evaluate environmental health risks to children
The University of Minnesota has been named a lead study center in the National Children's Study, which will assess the effects of environmental and genetic factors on health in the United States. Along with that designation will come $14 million over five years to support the research.
The study, a collaboration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is the largest and most comprehensive study of child and human health in the nation's history.
"What we learn will help not only children and families in Minnesota but also children across the country," says Patricia McGovern, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., principal investigator for the University's part of the study and a professor in the School of Public Health. "Findings from the study will provide critically important information for children's health researchers, health-care providers, public health practitioners, and policymakers working to improve health and quality of life for children nationwide."
The National Children's Study eventually will follow a representative sample of 100,000 children from before birth to age 21, seeking information to prevent and treat some of the country's most pressing health problems, including asthma, autism, birth defects, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
For its part of the study, the University will follow 1,000 Ramsey County children from before birth through their 21st birthdays.
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Big news about Bisphenol A
(From The Breast Cancer Fund's website) Under fire from parents and following Canadian and U.S. announcements that bisphenol A may be harmful, Wal-Mart, Toys 'R' Us and CVS have agreed to stop selling baby bottles that contain the chemical, and Playtex will stop manufacturing them. BPA is an estrogenic compound that has been found to be toxic at low doses and is linked to breast cancer, early onset of puberty, obesity and prostate cancer.
Recent lab tests showed that baby bottles made by leading manufacturers leached BPA when heated. Despite health concerns, these manufacturers have yet to announce phase-outs. A petition effort is underway to convince them that BPA doesn't belong in baby bottles—and your voice can make a difference!
Sign the petition for BPA-free baby bottles here.
Learn about BPA and breast cancer risk here.
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Position announcement: Pediatric Environmental Health Nurse; Alberta, Canada
Misericordia Community Hospital is searching for a permanent, full-time pediatric environmental health nurse. View the job announcement here.
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Position announcement: Communications Director; California League of Conservation Voters, CA
Description: The Communications Director is responsible for devising, implementing, and managing internal and external communications in support of CLCV's mission and goals. This seasoned professional will serve as CLCV's primary media liaison and on-the-record spokesperson. S/he will develop strategies to advance organizational objectives and support CLCV campaigns using a range of earned media including print, radio, television and online outlets, and marketing tools (member newsletters, action alerts, and other such publications). The Communications Director will ensure that all communications produced by CLCV are professional, engaging, well written and appropriate for the target audience. The Communications Director is a senior position that reports to the Director of Development. This individual should possess excellent written and verbal skills, the ability to manage multiple projects, and a keen sense of California's political landscape and top-tier environmental issues.
Learn more about CLCV and the position at www.ecovote.org.
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Position announcement: Climate Action Coordinator; Ecology Center, Berkeley, CA
The Climate Action Coordinator will expand the Ecology Center’s climate change educational activities and integrate our existing programs with other carbon-reduction projects, such as the City of Berkeley’s Measure G efforts and the UC Climate Action Plan.
View the announcement here.
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Position announcement: Program Services Specialist; Stopwaste.Org, Alameda County, CA
Stopwaste.Org has an opening for a Program Services Specialist (PSS) II/III within the Schools Program. This position is responsible for supervising the environmental education programs of the irecycle@school Education Center in San Leandro and oversees field trips with the theme of waste reduction for 4th and 5th grade classes at the Davis Street
Transfer Station during the school year.
Learn more here.
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Position announcement: Florida Children's Health Community Organizer; Center for Health, Environment and Justice, FL
CHEJ is seeking a highly motivated, full-time Florida Children’s Health Community Organizer for its Florida Green Cleaning campaign. This is a full-time position, located in the state of Florida.
Click here for more information.
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Position announcement: Environment Program Officer; Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh, PA
The Heinz Foundation seeks a leader with demonstrated and sustained commitment to work in the environmental field. This experience may come from the nonprofit, private or public sectors. A breadth of experience is preferred over a narrow, specialist role. Targeted work experience in environmental health is expected. A strong interest in and grasp of public policy is important, as is an understanding of the role of the nonprofit community in driving social change. The core responsibility of the Program Officer for the Environment is to work constructively with applicants and grantees to ensure that the program's grant-making has a significant, measurable, and replicable impact that is aligned with the Endowments' priorities. While the Program Officer for the Environment will work on the broad range of issues and topics related to the goals of the Environment Program, his or her primary responsibility will be a special focus on
environmental health.
For more information, visit www.heinz.org.
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YouTube video by Greenpeace targets Unilever's destruction of rainforests
Increasingly environmentalists and consumers are using the power of their purse to get companies to do the right thing - environmentally speaking. An article in the Wall Street Journal noted the success that Greenpeace has had in getting Unilever to use palm oil that is obtained from more sustainable forests. See their clever uTube video.
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Funding for Healthy Homes activities is available
The 2008 SuperNOFA is available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. View funding opportunities here.
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