We teach our children to write letters to Santa Claus (to be good consumers), but we don't teach our children to write letters to elected officials (to be concerned, engaged citizens).

Click on "Be heard."

Top health and governmental officials will receive the letter and signatures with a copy of "The Idiot Cycle."

Charities help polluting companies in three major ways:

1) With tax credits and tax breaks;

2) To improve their images, and create good "public relations;"

3) Help divert attention from their contamination, the lack of health testing of their products, and the carcinogens they continue to produce.

If companies are really serious about cancer, they will:

1) stop emitting carcinogenic chemicals during the production of their products;

2) stop using carcinogenic chemicals in their products;

3) and test all products for toxicity and carcinogenic potential before they arrive in your store. And make these health studies public.

Here are some examples of cancer charities with conflicts of interest:

*Breast Cancer Awareness Month (trademarked, controlled and owned by Astrazeneca)

*Komen Foundation (largely funded by the Chlorine Chemical Council. An internal Chlorine Chemical Council newsletter dated Oct. 17th, 1994, announced CCC as a major Komen underwriter. The foundation also lobbied against a bill to enact anticancer environmental legislation. The foundation has owned stock in a number of pharmaceutical companies including G&E, that makes most of the world's mammography machines. The foundation's sponsors include: BMW, American Airlines, Ford, OxyChem.)

*American Cancer Society (Two documented cases found that the ACS suppressed evidence for the benefit of the chemical industry. Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrances Association (CTFA) gives $10 million annually to ACS’s 'Look Good, Feel Better' makeup program for cancer patients. ACS did not support California's 2005 Safe Cosmetics Act. The ACS issued a statement with the Chlorine Institute in support of continued organochlorine pesticides, even though it was linked to breast cancer).

Revlon Run (products contain carcinogens).

Avon 3-day run (products contain parabens and phthalates)

Estée Lauder Foundation (products contain parabens)

Look to see who sponsors your favorite 'cure for cancer' association.

Every time you go shopping, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?"

This great little film outlines the impact of consumption: The Story of Stuff.

Buy used and second hand stuff. Rent stuff. Share. Trade.

This may seems easy and logical, but everyday millions of North Americans and Europeans have the bad habit of wasting a lot of food and water. How does this cause cancer?

For every half eaten burger or dumped bottle of water, energy, transport and resources were used. By wasting, we create more garbage unnecessarily and more cancer causing chemicals (from transport to waste).

Over half the food produced today is wasted or discarded! We don't need Monsanto to "feed the world," we need to stop wasting food.

In America, 40-50% of food is wasted. In Australia wasted food is thought to make up a half of the landfill space. Almost 30% of all food bought in the UK every year is thrown out.

About 30 million tons of fish are discarded at sea each year.

Over 30% of the world’s cereals are used as animal feed. (mostly for North America and Europe). Do you need to eat meat at every meal?

I think you got the point. This is an easy step that requires changing some bad habits.

Water?

Install Rainwater Collectors. It's a free way to water your garden. Or install with your toilets. Or washing machine. Watch the water bill go down!

"Greenwashing" is a term used to describe businesses, politicians or any individual who makes claims of "environmentally friendliness" without any independent verification or with gaping evidence of hypocrisy.

For example, PVC window makers will label their products "environmentally friendly" because they improve insulation, which in turn helps reduce your fossil fuel consumption when heating or cooling your home. The problem is, PVC plastics are made with toxic carcinogens, something not mentioned in brochures or ads. So is this product really "environmentally friendly?"

Whenever you see an example of greenwashing:

-mention it to your salesperson;

-write a funny comment on the ad, leave the magazine where someone else can read it ;

-write an email to the company to point out their greenwashing.

Other greenwashers include:

a) POLITICIANS: If politicians talk about "green solutions" or a "green economy" and are then escorted to their helicopter/private jet or chauffeured car.....they are greenwashing. Putting the word "green" before something you are trying to sell, doesn't make it so. Daily actions are more telling then "photo ops," "speeches" and "symbolic gestures."

b) ADVERTISERS: A car racing through a pristine forested landscape? Green (the forest) by association (including the car in the photo) is greenwashing. Naming the chemicals that were used, included and emitted during the making of the car = honest.

c) PUBLIC RELATIONS OR COMMUNICATION EXPERTS: Spin, spin, spin until your head falls off. These individuals specialize in confusion, half truths and doing the "look over there" dance. Many now specialize in "greenwashing" techniques. They will make vague statements, skirt the issue, and turn the subject on it's head so that the people who care and are concerned about pollution become the problem and nuisance. They're psychological magicians and we actually listen to them! More on their techniques in "PR and lobbying. (click on the company names on the "about the film" page)."

d) CELEBRITIES: Ever see a celebrity at a "green" event and then starring in a commercial for a product that contains carcinogens... once again - greenwashing!

Benzene is a known human carcinogen. It is found to be linked to leukemia.

Benzene is just one of many carcinogens that are produced during the manufacturing process of cars (and tires), the refining of gasoline and in car exhaust emissions.

Cars are responsible for cancer-causing emissions and, like cigarettes, increase our exposure to cancer-causing compounds. Because carcinogens are produced at all stages of a car's production, from resource extraction to emissions from gasoline the use of cars and trucks should be reduced.

Benzene is also an intermediary for the fabrication of plastics, detergents, pesticides, or in cigarette smoke.

Ready to ride a bike?

Excuses for not riding a bike:

Excuse: It's too cold! And it's dangerous!

Rebuttal: If there were protected, separate bike lanes, biking wouldn't be dangerous.

In Copenhagen half the population rides their bike in minus 15°C weather. Wear a warm jacket!

This is what bike lanes should look like.

Why isn't your mayor doing the same?

If one lane is going to be devoted to cars, shouldn't one lane be devoted to bikes and public transport? Make it fair. Make it equal.

Bikes take up less room (one car parking space = 14 bike parking spaces), emit no carcinogens, save a lot of money (for the rider and the health care system), reduce road rage, reduce noise pollution, reduce obesity, reduce smog and air pollution, etc.

Excuse: I have to wear a suit to work!

Rebuttal: No one is going to see your beautiful suit if you sit in your car! Ride your bike and show off the elegance! As H.G. Wells once stated, "when I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race."

Excuse: I live too far from work!

Rebuttal: Where's the public transport system?

Presidents bail out car companies with billions of our public money, instead of using that money to build efficient public transport systems and creating safe bike lanes.

Excuse: I love my car!

Rebuttal: I'm sure your car loves you back, that's why every time you turn on the motor.....it blows carcinogens in your face.

There is no such thing as a "green" car. No car today is made entirely from parts that are 100% reusable, recyclable and non toxic. No car today is made without emitting pollutants or extracting resources that can't be replaced. Refining gasoline alone emits enormous amounts of benzene, a potent carcinogen. Even electric cars (that run on electricity mainly generated from nuclear power plants or coal power plants) or cars that run on bio fuels (which use land that could feed citizens or preserve forests) are not "green." Refer back to #3 Stop the Bullshit, Stop the Greenwashing.

Just like there's no such thing as a "green filmmaker." We use electronics (which contain carcinogens), take the plane (emit toxic chemicals), energy (most of which comes from non-renewable resources and emit carcinogens), cassettes, chemicals to develop film, cell phones, laptops, etc. None of these are "green".

ORANGIC means no spraying of pesticides, insecticides (in some countries BT insecticides are allowed), fungicides, herbicides, no use of chemical fertilizers (compost used instead).

POLYCULTURAL means a variety of crops, plants, trees, are grown on each plot of land, instead of the miles and miles of monocultures (one crop variety) that we see in most 'industrialized' countries. No wonder one pest can wipe everything out!

LOCAL means within a 100 miles radius, or within your province/state.

We encourage everyone to buy locally, seasonally and organic.

Many local, organic farmers deliver a basket of healthy, seasonal produce directly to your local, independent grocery store each week for you to pick up.

Here's an example in Ontario, Canada:

*Flamborough, Canada, a program where city folks purchase 'shares' of the year's harvest so you can be part of the farm that grows your food.

Here's an example in Paris, France:

AMAP

Check out similar programs in your city or town.

Organic supermarket chains, like Whole Foods, buy most of their produce from a handful of industrial organic California farms. And their products are very expensive.

They also sell many non-environmentally friendly produce like farmed fish.

To bypass supermarket monopolies and help farmers directly in your area, a program like the one's mentioned above are the best way to support local, organic farmers and have access to healthy, fairly priced organic food.

Here is another type of local, organic agriculture:

*Perth, Australia's permaculture, organic city farm

What's permaculture? Check out this short film:

Want even cheaper, organic, local food?

*Remove your lawn and grow your own garden. It's also been found that children who help with family backyard gardens are more likely to eat more vegetables and fruit.

*Many cities, including Oregon have started organic school gardens.

**Please note: we do not know, donate, receive money from or have ties to any of the associations above, we just like their work.

A short list of alternatives:

Non-toxic alternatives.

Heating your home.

Bikes.

Refrigerators.

Diapers.

Cleaning products.

Green walls.

T-shirts.

Packaging.

Rainwater Collectors.

**Please note: we do not know, own , receive money from or have ties to any of the companies above, we just like their thinking.

Almost all materials that are recycled use less energy than virigin materials.

But...

There is currently no known methods to recycle certain plastics in an economically feasible way.

Paper has to be dry for it to be "recyclable." If you are dumping liquid from other containers with your paper recycling, wet paper can't be recycled.

Use organic cloth bags for shopping. Many countries have already banned plastic bags - India (state of Himachal Pradesh), Rwanada, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda...what are the rest of us waiting for?

The chemical industry has a small army (lobbyists, PR people, lawyers, representatives, spokespeople, communication directors, sponsored politicians, scientists, university professors and employees) that will try and discourage you from doing the things above.

Here's a "conversation" between Adult A and Adult B.

1) Chemical industry people get cancer too, as do their families, they'd stop making these cancer causing chemicals if there was a link!

Answer: You'd think so, wouldn't you. But we're all very good at justifying our actions, whatever they may be. Plus most of these people (since we buy so much of the things they make) believe they are making important contributions and that we want them to continue.

Here's a simple little formula that helps people justify their reason for continuing as before:

A good job/salary + doubt (created by ads, PR campaigns, front groups) = see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil.

2) It's such a hassle, I have too much to do already.

Well, let's take the car as an example.

In France, (but really this could be most 'industrialized' country) most people take their cars for trips of less than 1 km.

A recent study showed the amount of time it took to make the 1 km journey (from starting to parking):

4 minutes on a bike.

12 minutes on foot.

5 minutes by car.

So already, you've gained time.

Also, you'd save A LOT of money. Money that would NOT go to car, chemical and petrol companies, or to wage wars in petrol rich countries like Iraq, Sudan, Darfour, Nigeria, etc.

But, back to you.

Calculate how much you pay in car payments, gas, insurance, parking, speeding tickets, repairs, revisions, tires, stress, gym pass (you'd be getting exercise every day!), health costs, etc.

Have a number?

Now calculate the cost of a bike for a year. The bike (most used ones are 100 bucks).... unless you're Lance Armstrong, you probably don't need any fancy gear, so the total, let's say, is about 200 bucks a year (bike lock, air pump, helmet).

Now calculate how much you save. Wow! You can finally afford to send your kids to college!

(The total of car savings for a year (about 5,600 dollars/year x 18 years = 100,800 dollars). So if you have two cars, do you really need that second one, or the 108,000 dollars?

3) Why should I be the only one growing a garden or riding my bike, I'm not a hippie! And I ain't no environmentalist!

Well, we can all agree we like breathing (need air to do that, clean air is better), to eat (we need food to do that) and saving money. So if you are offended by being called a hippie or an environmentalist because you've started a garden, just yell back that you will not be sharing the apple pie you made from your apple tree or the wine you made from your grapes! Who's the sucker now?

P.S. An old wise man once said, if someone calls you a name, it's because they have no argument.

4) My local chemical company gives a lot of money to the community. Plus, there are nice people working for those companies.

Absolutely, there are nice people working for those companies. Some even become whistle-blowers like Priscilla Denney (Dow) or Glenn Evers (Dupont). Still it doesn't excuse what the company is doing.

As for the community money. Don't accept money from companies with terrible track records (refer back to #1). Money is a great way to silence criticism.

5) These companies have helped us progress and made important inventions we all use. Don't look down your nose at those contributions!

This is true. Thank you!

But contaminated sites that can't be used for generations because of persistent chemicals with half lives of 15 years or more DO NOT equal progress.

Also, this is not a good argument for NOT testing chemicals, GMOs and drugs for long term health impacts before we use them.

It's also not a reason for hiding health studies from the public or independent scientists.