The First National Conference on the Precautionary Principle brought together over 300 activists and organizations working on diverse environmental issues to achieve greater integration of our work to protect our health and environment.  The conference affirmed that the precautionary principle is a powerful unifying force with a growing movement that is changing the way environmental policy is made in America.  The precautionary approach shifts the questions we ask about environmental hazards from "what level of harm is acceptable?" to "how can we prevent harm?" 

This was the first national conversation across issue movements dedicated to advocating for a paradigm shift in society—taking precautionary action.  It marks the beginning of building a national collaborative campaign to promote precaution.  This successful and positive event focused on sharing model policies and programs, cutting-edge strategies, tactics and tools, and started conversations on building our movement and cross-fertilizing among toxic, nuclear, pesticide, labor, water, conservation, emerging technologies, children's environmental heath and more.

The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ), Science & Environmental Health Network (SEHN) and Environmental Research Foundation (ERF) sponsored the conference, as well as over 60 local, state and national organizations.  For more information, contact CHEJ's BE SAFE Campaign for Precaution at anne@besafenet.com or 518-732-4538.

These Conference Proceedings include over 40 power point presentations, speeches and educational handouts, as well as a brief summary of each session.

Friday, June 9, 2006

Welcome Speech
Lois Gibbs, Executive Director, Center for Health, Environment & Justice. 
Lois talked about the "kaleidoscope" precautionary movement and outlined how our grassroots initiative can achieve deep and fundamental change to achieve the goal of precaution and prevention.  Download Lois Gibb's speech (pdf file).

Carolyn Raffensperger, Executive Director, Science & Environmental Health Network and Ilene Evans, Voices from the Earth, gave a multi-media presentation on taking precautionary action.     

Plenary Session: Historical Landscape of Precaution
Facilitator: Lois Gibbs, Executive Director, Center for Health, Environment & Justice

Indigenous Perspective on Precaution & Seventh Generation
Oren Lyons, Faith Keeper of Turtle Clan, Member Onondaga Council, Chiefs of Six Nations, Iroquois Confederacy 
Oren described the Indigenous Seventh Generation concept from the standpoint of precaution. For more information, visit www.ienearth.org

Europe's Precautionary Movement & Chemical REACH Policy
Per Rosander, Director, International Chemicals Secretariat (ChemSec)
Per described important milestones of precautionary legislation in Sweden and Europe, the fundamentals of precautionary laws including the substitution principle, and the REACH precautionary chemical legislation.
Download Per Rosander's power point presentation (pdf file).

Precaution in 'Old Europe' and New America
Ken Geiser, Co-Director, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Ken explained why the Precautionary Principle has been so well accepted in the European Union and so fiercely opposed in the United States.
Download Ken Geiser's presentation (pdf file).

Skills Training Workshops

Effective Community Organizing & Fundraising
Facilitator: Ralph Montefusco, Alliance@IBM, Communications Workers of America Local 1701

Community Organizing
Alyssa Schuren, Executive Director, Toxics Action Center
Alyssa outlined the basics of effective community organizing, including the principles of group building, ideas for recruiting new members, developing a message and materials, media events and fundraising tactics and strategies.
Download Alyssa Schuren's presentation (pdf file).

Fundraising Planning for Community Groups
Liza Draper, Manager of Individual Giving, Center for Health, Environment & Justice
Liza described the key aspects of successful fundraising, building relationships, asking for donations, online auctions, walkathons and house parties.
Download Liza Draper's powerpoint presentation (pdf file).
Download a Donation Planning Sheet (pdf file).
Download a Sample Fundraising Calendar (Individual Giving) (pdf file).

Foundation Fundraising
Anita Nager, Director of Programs, Beldon Fund
Anita Nager provided an overview of foundation fundraising, including researching foundations and submitting letters of inquiry and grant proposals. 

Planning a Successful Strategic Campaign
Facilitator: Lynn Thorp, National Campaigns Coordinator, Clean Water Action

Strategic Campaign Planning
Harris Parnell, Maine State Director, Toxics Action Center (TAC)
Harris outlined the principles and steps in developing successful strategic campaigns, including planning, tactics and strategies, as well as developing facilitation skills.
Download TAC's Campaign Planning Memo (pdf file)
Download TAC's Sample Tactics Memo (pdf file).
Download TAC's Facilitation Skills Memo (pdf file).
Download TAC's Facilitator Toolbox Memo (pdf file).

Campaign Organizing & Tactics
Ed Sabol, Senior Director, Organizing, Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO
Ed described union organizing, corporate campaigns, the transactional vs. the relationship model of organizing, the key components of an effective campaign, and provided resources.
Download Ed Sabol's presentation (pdf file).

We Make the Road by Walking: Creative Approaches for Long-Term Campaigns
Facilitators & Speakers:
Doyle Canning, smartMeme Strategy and Training Project
Patrick Reinsborough, smartMeme Strategy and Training Project
Doyle and Patrick facilitated an interactive session to share stories, strategies, and the common obstacles we face, exploring models of long term campaigning and strategies for winning fundamental change.
Download Points of Intervention Worksheet (pdf file). For more information, visit www.smartmeme.com

Lessons Learned From Winning Policy Campaigns
Facilitator: Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator, Center for Health, Environment & Justice

Making History: Precautionary Principle Law in San Francisco Bay Area
Joan Reinhardt Reiss, M. S., Breast Cancer Fund, Bay Area Working Group
Joan outlined the history, tactics and strategies of their successful campaign to pass the Precautionary Principle law and Purchasing Ordinance, as well as other Bay area precautionary policies.
Download Joan Reinhardt Reiss's power point presentation (pdf file).
Download Article on San Francisco's Recent Ban on Certain Plastics (San Francisco Chronicle, June 2006) (pdf file).

Portland and Multnomah County Toxic Reduction Strategy
Neha Patel, Program Director, Oregon Center for Environmental Health
Neha described their overall campaign strategy, key components leading to success, challenges, implementation and next steps on the city and county strategy.
Download Neha Patel's power point presentation (pdf file).

Phasing Out Toxic Chemicals in Maine
Mike Belliveau, Director, Environmental Health Strategies Center
Mike outlined their campaign plan, including an environmental health alliance, seizing chemical specific opportunities with laws banning brominated flame retardants and other chemicals, and working towards broad policy reform with the Safer Chemical Policy, chemical action pyramid and green chemistry. 
Download Mike Belliveau's power point presentation (pdf file).

Massachusetts Safer Alternatives Legislation & State Funded Alternatives Study
Tina Clarke, Campaign Director, Clean Water Action MA and CT
Tina described the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow MA state coalition, state substitution legislation, and a successful funded study to replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives.
Download Tina Clarke's power point presentation (pdf file)

International Persistent Organic Pollutants Treaty
Jack Weinberg, Director, Global Chemical Safety Program, Environmental Health Fund
Jack described the international campaign to pass the Stockholm Convention treaty banning targeted persistent organic pollutants (POPs).  For more information, visit the International POPs Elimination Network at http://ipen.ecn.cz/

Electoral Advocacy: Running For Political Office
Facilitator: Karen Pierce, President, Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates

Politics, Scientists & Environmental Advocacy in the State Legislature
Dr. Peter DeFur, Environmental Stewardship Concepts
Peter described the lessons learned from his campaign to represent Virginia's 56th Legislative District, including demographics, issues, strategies, planning suggestions, timeline and why people should consider running for political office.
Download Peter DeFur's power point presentation (pdf file).

Winning Alderman Campaign in Shelton, Connecticut
Randy Ann York, Citizens United Party
Randy provided "how to" tips on running a grassroots political campaign, including developing name recognition, networking, recruiting volunteers, developing campaign strategy, doorknocking and publicity.
Download Randy Ann York's power point presentation (pdf file).

Martha Dine Arguello, PSR – LA
Martha described a successful environmental justice political campaign by Felipe Aguirre, who is Mayor Pro Tem and City Councilman of Maywood, California.

Partnering With Tribes
Hosts: Oren Lyons of the Onondaga Council of Chiefs of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, Tom Goldtooth who is Dine’ and Mdewakanton Dakota as well as the Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), and Shawna Larson who is Ahtna Athabascan from Chickaloon Alaska and works as the Environmental Justice Program Director for both Alaska Community Action on Toxics and IEN.

This session was a mix of U.S. and Tribal history, story telling and tips on how to work with Tribes. Information was provided on Tribal structure as well as the special legal trust relationship between Tribes and the federal government. There were also some current examples on how environmental organizations are partnering with Tribes successfully which included Tribes suing the Department of Defense and Tribes getting lands cleaned up. Information was also provided on who to contact within a Tribe to begin dialogs. For more information, visit www.ienearth.org/

Plenary Session: Precaution in Action
Facilitator: Carolyn Raffensperger, Executive Director, Science and Environmental Health Network

San Francisco Precautionary Principle Ordinance: A Municipal Policy Framework
Deanna Simon, Toxics Reduction Specialist, San Francisco Dept. of the Environment
Deanna outlined the nation's first ordinance on the precautionary principle.
Deanna's presentation will be added soon. For more information, go to www.sfgov.org/sfenvironment

Multnomah County Toxic Reduction Strategy: Government & Community Partnership
Molly Chidsey, Pollution Prevention Specialist, Multnomah County Sustainability Initiative
Neha Patel, Program Director, Oregon Center for Environmental Health
Molly and Neha outlined how the government and community partnership worked, including expert assistance, Working Group, White Paper, collecting stakeholder feedback, and developing, adopting and implementing the city and county Toxic Reduction Strategy.
Download Molly Chidsey & Neha Patel's power point presentation (pdf file).

California's Environmental Justice Policy: Applying Precaution to Injustices
Diane Takvorian, Executive Director, Environmental Health Coalition
Diane described how an environmental justice coalition organized for and helped to develop the state agency's Environmental Justice Policy with a precautionary component.  For more information, go to www.environmentalhealth.org

International Chemical Policies: Great Lakes, Persistent Organic Pollutants and more 
Jack Weinberg, Director, Global Chemical Safety Program, Environmental Health Fund
Jack spoke about the Great Lakes Zero Discharge Campaign and its impact on the International Joint Commission, a US/Canada regulatory body which issued precautionary-based reports in the mid-1990s that helped inspire the present movement.
Download Jack Weinberg's presentation summary (pdf file).

Music
Ilene Evans, Voices From the Earth. For more information, visit www.voicesfromtheearth.org/

Activist "Wikipedia" Websites: Resource Tools Documenting Industry & Congressional Actions
Facilitator & Speaker: Diane Farsetta, Senior Researcher, Center for Media & Democracy
Diane described two Wikipedia-style Web sites that document the efforts of industry to spin away the health dangers created by pollution and the money they contribute to politicians to relax the regulation of that pollution.  Both are based on the "wiki" format that allows citizen journalists to contribute their own research to the site in the spirit of "many hands make light work."  
www.SourceWatch.org  - Focuses on documenting public relations firms, think tanks, industry-funded organizations and industry-friendly experts that work to influence public opinion and public policy on behalf of corporations, governments and special interests.
www.Congresspedia.org  - Documents the campaign contributions to and actions taken by every member of Congress.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Information-Sharing Workshops

Municipal Toxic Precautionary Policies
Facilitator: Stacey Gonzalez, CHEJ Childproofing Our Communities Coordinator

LA School District Precautionary Pesticide Policy: First Precautionary Principle Policy in USA
Robina Suwol, Executive Director, California Safe Schools
Robina provided an overview of the policy and its creation, best practices and lessons learned.
Download Robina Suwol's presentation (pdf file).

San Francisco Precautionary Principle Law
Joan Reinhardt Reiss, M. S., Breast Cancer Fund, Bay Area Working Group
Joan described the San Francisco Precautionary Principle law, Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance, and other Bay area precautionary policies.
Download Joan Reinhardt Reiss's power point presentation (pdf file).

Buffalo & NYC Persistent, Bioaccumulative Toxic Chemicals-Free Procurement Policies
Kathleen Curtis, Executive Director, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition
Kathy explained two municipal policies in Buffalo and New York City which aim to phase out the use persistent, bioaccumulative toxic chemicals (PBT). For more information, visit http://www.cec.toxic.org/

South Coast Air Quality Management District Perc (PCE) Phase out Policy
Peter Sinsheimer, Director, Pollution Prevention Center, Occidental College
Peter outlined the campaign and development of the first regional policy to phase out the use of the toxic chemical perc (PCE) in California.  For more information, visit http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/ppc/index.htm

Eliminating Chemical Hazards Posed to Cities by Chemical Facilities & HazMat Trains
Rick Hind, Legislative Director, Greenpeace Toxics Campaign
Rick described how inherently safer technologies can eliminate catastrophic risks and deadly accidents from chemical facilities, and outlined needed regulatory and legislative action.
Download Rick Hind's presentation and references (pdf file).
Download an Alert on the Chemical Safety & Security Act (pdf file).

Multnomah County Toxic Reduction Strategy: Government & Community Partnership
Molly Chidsey, Pollution Prevention Specialist, Multnomah County Sustainability Initiative
Molly explained how the plan to minimize use of toxic substances in government operations was created and the 40 proposed actions to implement it.
Download Molly Chidsey's power point presentation (pdf file).

Municipal Multi-issue Precautionary Policies
Facilitator: Susana Almanza, Co-Director, PODER

Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Policies
Dr. Gabino Aguirre, Santa Paula City Councilmember, Atomic Mirror Bd Member, Mayors for Peace
Gabino described the history of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation policies, and the campaign for areas where states commit to maintain a zone wholly free of military weapons and nuclear waste. 
Download Gabino Aguirre's power point presentation (pdf file).

Radioactive Waste Transportation Bans
Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Specialist, Nuclear Information and Resource Service
Kevin outlined a number of local and regional bans on radioactive waste transportation.  For more information, visit www.nirs.org

San Francisco Extended Producer Responsibility Resolution
Bill Sheehan, Director, Product Policy Institute
Bill explained how extended producer responsibility (EPR) implements the precautionary principle by reversing the burden of responsiblity and encouraging safer alternatives, and outlined how local governments are taking action on EPR.
Download Bill Sheehan's power point presentation (pdf file).

Liberty Township Corporate Chemical Trespass Ordinance
Peter Montague, Director, Environmental Research Foundation
Peter described the growing national campaign and a recent PA ordinance prohibiting "chemical trespass—toxicants entering our bodies without our consent.  For more information, go to http://www.precaution.org/lib/06/celdf_bb_ordinances.060420.htm

Proposed Mendocino County Precautionary Principle Policy
Linda Helland, Health Educator, Mendocino County Depts. of Public Health & Planning & Building
Linda described a policy to apply precautionary decision-making to country processes and products, including toxic substances, planning and building, which will be voted on June 27th.
Download Linda Helland's presentation (pdf file)
Download News Release on County Policy Adopted (pdf file)

Zero Waste Initiatives
Monica Wilson, Community Organizer, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
Monica outlined the key problems with incineration and waste gasification, and described the implementation of Zero Waste Resolutions in the U.S. and around the world.
Download Monica Wilson's power point presentation (pdf file).

State Toxic Precautionary Policies
Facilitator: Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Executive Director, Children's Environmental Health Network

Washington Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic (PBT) Chemicals Phase out Policy
Pam Tazioli, Washington State Coordinator, Breast Cancer Fund
Pam described the development and implementation of the state PBT policy which first focused on phasing out flame retardants, and campaign activities and lessons learned.
Download Pam Tazioli's power point presentation (pdf file).

Phasing Out Persistent Toxic Chemicals in Maine
Mike Belliveau, Director, Environmental Health Strategies Center
Mike outlined the precautionary elements of their campaign on mercury, arsenic wood, brominated flame retardants and lead, the overall strategy, key components to victory, key allies, challenges and next steps to establish safer chemicals policies in Maine.
Download Mike Belliveau's power point presentation (pdf file).

Massachusetts Safer Alternatives Legislation & State Funded Alternatives Study Leise Jones, Toxics Campaign Organizer, Clean Water Action, Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow Leise described their campaign for a state substitution program to replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives and detailed their strategy and keys to success.
Download Leise Jones's presentation (pdf file).

Massachusetts Toxic Use Reduction Act and TUR Institute
Rachel Massey, Policy Analyst, Toxics Use Reduction Institute
Rachel described the MA state law and the Toxic Use Reduction Institute's activities and accomplishments.  For more information, visit www.turi.org

UC Berkeley California Chemicals Policy Report
Michael Wilson, Assistant Research Scientist, Center for Occupational & Environmental Health, U. C. Berkeley
Mike described the UC Berkeley report, "Green Chemistry in California: A Framework for Leadership in Chemicals Policy and Innovation" available at http://coeh.berkeley.edu/news/06_wilson_policy.htm.
Download Michael Wilson's power point presentation (pdf file).

State Multi-issue Precautionary Policies
Facilitator: Kizzy Charles-Guzman, Env. Policy Coordinator, West Harlem Environmental Action

California Environmental Justice Policy
Diane Takvorian, Executive Director, Environmental Health Coalition
Diane described the state agency's Environmental Justice Policy and its precautionary components.  For more information, go to www.environmentalhealth.org

Preventing Toxic Catastrophes in New Jersey
Rick Engler, Director, New Jersey Work Environment Council
Rick described the new Chemical Katrina NJ law.  For more information, go to www.njwec.org

Pre-emption by Congress of California's Proposition 65 & other State Laws
Joe Guth, Legal Director, Science and Environmental Health Network
Joe described how important state laws can be preempted under the Constitution's Supremacy Clause and through pending federal legislation such as the National Uniformity for Food Act and the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) legislation.
Download Joe Guth's power point presentation (pdf file).

Closing the Gap Between Environmental & Workplace Protections Against Toxics
Amanda Hawes, Toxics Chair, WorkSafe
Mandy described CA state legislation that would close the gap, by requiring workplace standards for toxics to use the same science-based health protective approach used for environmental standards.
Download Amanda Hawes's presentation summary (pdf file).

Precautionary Action to Protect Children's Health: A Statewide Citizens' Initiative in Alaska
Pamela Miller, Director, Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Pamela described a successful campaign to pass a local and statewide child-protective law on pesticides.
Download Pamela Miller's presentation (pdf file).

Trade Agreement Impacts on Precautionary Policies
Saerom Park, State & Local Program Coordinator, Public Citizen
Saerom outlined how trade agreements can undermine the ability of nations and states to go beyond international standards, and recommended a "bottom up" solution with states setting procurement choices, and a "top down" approach to replace Fast Track with a better alternative.
Download Saerom Park's power point presentation (pdf file).

National Precautionary Policies
Facilitator: Sampaguita Quijano, Project Officer, Pesticide Action Network Philippines

Precautionary Aspects of Endangered Species Act
Dr. Nicole J. Rosmarino, Conservation Director, Forest Guardians
Nicole outlined the precautionary portions of the federal Endangered Species Act. For more information, go to http://www.fguardians.org

Process Rights Fundamental to Precautionary Government
Mr. Lalanath de Silva, World Resources Institute
Lalanath outlined a campaign to implement international commitments on the "participation principle" with agreements in Mexico, Uganda and elsewhere, and plans to promote access to information and participation in national environmental decisionmaking in the U.S.
Download Lalanath de Silva's power point presentation (pdf file).

Precautionary Proposal on Disaster Response Post 9/11 & Katrina
Suzanne Mattei, Executive, Sierra Club New York City Field Office
Suzanne outlined the problems of 9/11 and Katrina disaster response, and the Congressional and federal agency reforms needed to establish a precautionary program.
Download Suzanne Mattei's presentation (pdf file).

Preventing Cancer: A Campaign for Workers & Communities 
Bill Chedore, National Coordinator, Health Safety & Environment, Canadian Labour Congress
Bill described how labor-community campaigns are addressing local problems of carcinogens in the environment, and plans to generate a national cancer prevention network to advocate for reform.
Download Bill Chedore's power point presentation (pdf file).

Corporate Crime & Punishment: Canada's "Westray" Law
Charlie Cray, Director, The Center for Corporate Policy
Charlie outlined why strong criminal penalties are an important component in implementing precaution, and described Canda's law establishing criminal sanctions for occupational manslaughter.
Download Charlie Cray's power point presentation (pdf file).
Download Charlie Cray's presentation summary (pdf file).

International Precautionary Policies
Facilitator: Daryl Ditz, Senior Policy Advisor, Chemicals Program, Center for International Environmental Law

Copenhagen Charter, Maastricht Treaty & European Union Chemical REACH Proposal
Per Rosander, Director, International Chemicals Secretariat, Sweden
Per outlined the fundamentals of precautionary laws including the substitution principle, and the development and status of the REACH precautionary chemical legislation.
Download Per Rosander's power point presentation (pdf file).

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs Treaty)
Tom Goldtooth, Director, Indigenous Environmental Network
Tom described the international campaign to pass the Stockholm Convention treaty banning targeted persistent organic pollutants (POPs).  For more information, visit the International POPs Elimination Network at http://ipen.ecn.cz/

Nuclear Non-Proliferation International Treaty
Carah Ong, Washington DC Office Director, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Carah outlined how the Treaty is a 36-year old precautionary policy to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons, and described Congressional efforts to strengthen the policy.
Download Carah Ong's presentation summary and resources (pdf file).

European's Mercury Strategy & Phase Out of Amalgam in Sweden
Michael Bender, Director, Mercury Policy Project
Michael outlined the global problem of mercury pollution, Europe's strategy for mercury reduction and Sweden's pioneering dental amalgam law.
Download Michael Bender's power point presentation (pdf file).
 
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Doreen Stabinsky, Genetic Engineering Campaigner, Greenpeace International
Doreen described the global rules for international trade in genetically modified organisms (GMOs) based on an explicitly broad definition of precaution.
Download Doreen Stabinsky's power point presentation (pdf file).

Industry Chemical Precautionary Programs
Facilitator: Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator, Center for Health, Environment & Justice

Consorta Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program
Jean Livingston, Senior Director, Consorta, Inc.
Jean outlined Consorta's Draft Chemical Policy and the health care group purchasing company's precautionary practices.
Download Jean Livingston's power point presentation (pdf file).

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Precautionary Industry Agreements
Lisa Archer, Senior Health and Environment Campaigner, Friends of the Earth
Lisa described their campaign calling on body care products industry to phase out use of chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other health harms which 350 companies have endorsed.
Download Lisa Archer's power point presentation (pdf file).

Health Care Industry Precautionary Programs
Barbara Sattler, Health Care Without Harm
Barbara described the goals and activities of the international campaign to transform the health care industry, highlighting sustainable practices on plastics, mercury, waste reduction and food, as well as the Hospitals for a Healthy Environment initiative.
Download Barbara Sattler's power point presentation (pdf file).

Industry PVC Phase Out Initiatives
Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator, CHEJ
Mike discussed the PVC poison plastic campaign, and precautionary actions to phase out PVC by automobile manufacturers, athletic shoemakers, retailers and the electronic industry.
Download Mike Schade's power point presentation (pdf file).

Industry Multi-issue Precautionary Programs
Facilitator: Niaz Dorry, Director, Clean Catch

Investor Companies Climate Risk Sustainable Environmental Policies
Rachel Harold, Program Associate, Investor Programs, Ceres
Rachel described how investor companies are practicing precaution on climate change issues. For more information, visit www.ceres.org

Computer Take Back Campaign Industry Agreements
Sheila Davis, Executive Director, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
Shelia outlined the campaign on Dell Computers and described how they built on shareholder resolutions and partnered with socially responsible investment firms to make the business case for sustainable practices. For more information, visit www.computertakeback.com

Warning Consumers About Mercury in Fish: Wild Oats Success Story & More
Jackie Savitz, Director, Campaign to Stop Seafood Contamination, Oceana
Jackie described Wild Oats and Safeway's point of sale advisories and a green list guide to grocery stores that provide consumers with mercury warnings.
Download Jackie Savitz's power point presentation (pdf file).

Local Living Economies
Tim Montague, Environmental Research Foundation
Tim described a growing movement to support precautionary economic development with local living economies.  For more information, visit www.livingeconomies.org

Issue Strategy Sessions

Emerging Technologies & the Precautionary Principle

General Considerations when Evaluating Emerging Technologies
Ted Schettler, Science Director, Science and Environmental Health Network
Ted outlined characteristics of concern, such as toxicity, and general principles and questions to apply when assessing emerging technologies.
Download Ted Schettler's power point presentation (pdf file).

Nanotechnology & Biology
Jen Sass, Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council  
Jen described how nanotechnology can be toxic due to large surface-area-to-mass ratio, ability to penetrate biological tissues and biopersistence; outlined some animal studies showing brain damage and fibrosis; and listed recommendations for precautionary action, including independent safety testing.
Download Jen Sass's power point presentation (pdf file).

Biotechnology
Doreen Stabinsky, Genetic Engineering Campaigner, Greenpeace International
Doreen outlined the characteristics of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that make a strong precautionary approach appropriate in the face of enormous uncertainty, including persistence, possibility of global distribution and irreversibility, and potential for human and ecological harm.
Download Doreen Stabinsky's power point presentation (pdf file).

Applying Precaution to Drinking Water & Competing Demands
Facilitators: Boyce Thorne Miller, Science Director, Ocean Advocates, Biodiversity Consultant and Lynn Thorp, Clean Water Action.

The purpose of this session was to examine problems related to drinking water quality and quantity and discuss how precautionary action on those issues might intersect with precautionary strategies for related environmental issues such as ecological impacts of pollution and water withdrawal in lakes, rivers, and estuaries.  The presentations and discussion quickly revealed additional intersecting issues—sewage treatment, urban storm water, and agriculture, as well as environmental justice.   It became clear that natural ecosystems and human health would benefit from holistic precautionary action with respect to drinking water.

Not unlike the “cradle to grave” accounting for clean production, a precautionary approach for drinking water would address quantity and quality of drinking water sources; replenishment of water sources—both ground and surface waters; quality of water at the tap and its human health effects; and quality of water downstream of discharges of ‘used’ water, e.g. sewage and agricultural discharges.

Federal and State drinking water standards are a good starting point for precautionary action, but they do not necessarily dictate that compliance methods are precautionary.  Treatment of poor quality waters to achieve drinkability is expensive and does nothing to address the cause of degraded quality or to conserve water quantities.  It is precautionary to protect source waters through conservation of aquatic ecosystems and preventing contamination of ground water and enhancing its recharge.

An outstanding example of drainage basin protection is the New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement, which provides for the protection of the drainage basin natural environment for the NYC water source in the Catskill Mountains. It provides a useful and economically justifiable model for any municipal water authority that relies on undeveloped watersheds for clean water.  There are obvious ancillary benefits to natural ecosystems and wildife.  (See Chris Wilde presentation.)

The contamination of groundwater is of concern in areas that rely on wells to supply communities and municipalities.  Rural areas in North Carolina, for instance, have major concerns regarding the contamination of groundwater by industrial hog farms.  Regulations governing the quality of drinking water sources and the industrial activities, agricultural runoff, and storm water discharge is precautionary and of common interest to a wide range of environmental organizations. (See Hope Taylor- Guevera presentation.)

The quantity of water drawn from natural systems and the water table for multiple human uses, including drinking water, is increasingly an issue for aquatic ecosystems. As was shown for the Charles River aquifer supplying areas around and in the city of Boston, much can be done to reduce if not eliminate the problem by paying closer attention to where and how the water is withdrawn and encouraging natural recharge, by reducing impervious groundcover and using smaller scale, more chemically benign sewage treatment plants for example.  Proper well siting and enhanced ground absorption can prevent dry streambeds. (See David Kaplan's presentation).  City parks take on new meaning with yet another reason to maintain and enlarge them—increased pervious ground.  In poor neighborhoods where open ground is so often confiscated for polluting industry or noxious sewage plants, arguments for increasing park areas would be welcome.

Concerns over drinking water quality and quantity should be of great interest to environmental organizations that focus on wildlife and wild-places and vice versa. Pollution and water loss in estuaries, rivers and lakes often reflect problems in municipal drinking water supplies and regulations of either one can work upstream or downstream to help the other.  For example, organizations trying to stem and reverse the failing health of Chesapeake Bay ecosystem could benefit from alliances with drinking water organizations in the Bay’s drainage basin. Holistic approaches to water are most likely to promote precautionary actions.

Drinking Water: More Than a Sip of Caution
Hope Taylor-Guevara, Executive Director, Clean Water for North Carolina
Download Hope Taylor-Guevara's power point presentation (pdf file).

In Progress: Restoring the Urban Water Environment
David Kaplan, Charles River Watershed Association
Download David Kaplan's power point presentation (pdf file).

New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement
Chris Wilde, Director, Riverkeeper Watershed Program
Download Chris Wilde's power point presentation (pdf file).

Cross-Fertilization on Toxics, Pesticides, Nuclear & Labor Campaigns
Facilitator: Elizabeth Crowe, Organizer, Chemical Weapons Working Group, Co-Coordinator, Coming Clean collaborative.
A panel of organizational leaders working on toxic chemicals, pesticides, nuclear power, nuclear weapons, nuclear waste, worker safety and health, and military toxic issues described ten local, state and national precautionary campaigns and discussed lessons learned, campaign soundbites and opportunities for collaboration and information-sharing.  A memo was handed out summarizing each campaign's strategies, targets, barriers and successes. 
Download Cross-Fertilization 10 Campaigns Memo (pdf file).

Toxic Chemicals
Safer Chemicals Policy: A Precautionary Approach to Toxic Chemical State Regulation
Mike Belliveau, Director, Environmental Health Strategies Center & SAFER Alliance
The Global Toxics Treaty and the Campaign for U.S. Ratification
Daryl Ditz, Senior Policy Advisor, Chemicals Program, Center for International Environmental Law

Pesticides
Precautionary State Campaign on Pesticides
David Chatfield, Executive Director, Californians for Pesticide Reform
Fumigants National Campaign
Kathyrn Gilje, Campaigns Director, Pesticide Action Network North America
Precautionary Pesticide Campaigns on Healthy Lawns, Schools and other issues.
Aviva Glaser, Beyond Pesticides 

Nuclear
Radiation Standards: Nuclear Site Cleanups & Tritium Releases
Cindy Folkers, Health & Env. Specialist, Nuclear Information and Resource Service
Applying Precaution Action to Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab's Environmental Problems
Loulena Miles, Tri-Valley Cares
Replacing Nuclear Power With Renewables & Preventing New Reactors, Dumps, Enrichment Facilities, Reprocessing, Deregulation and Dumping into Landfills and Consumer Goods
Diane D'Arrigo, Radioactive Waste Project Director, Nuclear Information and Resource Service

Labor
Toxics Mitigation on the Job
Amanda Hawes, Toxics Chair, WorkSafe

Military Toxic Chemicals
Precautionary Principle & Technology Options: Approaches to Destruction of Chemical Weapons & other Historic Military & Industrial Wastes
Elizabeth Crowe, Organizer, Chemical Weapons Working Group  

Applying Precaution to Land Use & Ecosystem Issues
This session looked at how precaution is being applied to wilderness protection, biodiversity, land use planning and other ecosystem issues.   Speakers discussed the Wilderness Act, Endangered Species Act and Hawaii's Public Trust Doctrine, and the shared goals of environmental justice and biodiversity groups.  This was followed by an audience discussion of other examples of how precaution is being applied, or could be applied, to decisions on land use and the ecosystem, and ideas on how environmental justice, environmental health and biodiversity groups can work more closely together on shared goals.

The Precautionary Principle: Building a Better Society Through Shared Values
Frank Peterman, Director, Public & Political Awareness, Eastern Forest Program, The Wilderness Society
Frank described the shared goals of environmental justice and biodiversity groups and the importance of collaborative precautionary work among these groups.
Download Frank Peterman's presentation (pdf file)

Precautionary Aspects of Endangered Species Act & Implications for Human Well-Being
Nicole Rosmarino, Forest Guardians
Nicole outlined the precautionary portions of the federal Endangered Species Act, including burden of proof on those proposing harmful projects and adaptive management, and described ESA's human benefits and the federal administration's sabotage of the Act.
Download Nicole Rosmarino's power point presentation (pdf file)

Hawaii Precautionary Public Trust Doctrine
Denise Antolini, Associate Professor of Law, Wm. S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii
Denise described the development and implementation of Hawaii's precautionary-based Public Trust Doctrine.
Denise Antolini's power point presentation will be added soon.

School & Children’s Environmental Health Session
Facilitators: Stacey Gonzalez, Center for Health, Environment & Justice and Billie Karel, PestEd Program of NC
Panelists: Guillermo Gomez, Healthy Schools Campaign; Deborah Moore, Green Schools Initiative;
and Anja Caldwell, Montgomery County Schools and Green Schools Focus

This session included information sharing on successful programs, policies and resources, and discussions on the key points of effective organizing with recommendations for groups working on school and children's environmental health issues to collaborate on developing resources.

Key Points for Effective Organizing

• To mobilize parents and affect school-level change on an issue, it is important to begin by educating them, so that you can speak a common language, promote the same ideas, and build a base of people reaching out to decision makers.
• It is important to seek unusual allies to build your base. Some ideas mentioned were: architecture students engaged in a green design contest; private schools and faith based schools; gym teachers; and school nurses.
• The messenger is key. A community leader should bring the will of his/her partners to decision makers, not an outside organization.
• Educate all stakeholders in what your vision is, and ask them for theirs—this includes school boards, facility managers, parent-teacher organizations, school nurses, etc.
• Have a common vision of what success would look like at your school. Seek other schools that have successful programs and visit them with your stakeholders
• Organize for the long haul. Building a base of trust and developing a strong community group is the most important key to effective organizing.  It doesn’t matter what the issue you work on is at first, it is more important to work on the issue most important to the group first, and, after a victory, continue to work on other issues. For instance, if you think the group should work on asthma reduction, but their primary concern is kids having recess, work on recess first and when you win, move on to another issue.
• Work with your partners to build a program that fits your situation and community. There are some good models of success out there, but they are not one-size-fits-all.
• Be creative about your networking—seek allies.
• Develop a comprehensive vision—your goals—as a group. That way you’ll know when you’ve won!
• Find better alternatives (i.e. “green” portable classrooms, as opposed to traditional trailers). 
• Share information and community Right to Know with your family, neighbors, and community at large.  This can be the first step to building a base of activism in your backyard.
• Certification labels, such as LEED: www.usgbc.org, Green Seal, www.greenseal.org, and Consumer reports www.greenerchoices.org, are helpful in standardizing healthy alternatives

Resource Needs of Children’s Environmental Health Advocates
Audits and Assessment Tools
Research on Kid’s Health and Environmental Exposures
Economic Analyses of Children’s Health and environmental exposure links
Health Case Studies
Sample Legislation/Policies/Resolutions
Programs to Incentivize Schools to be Healthy

Next Steps
1) Distribution of resources recommended by everyone at the session.
Download Recommended Resource List on Children's Environmental Health (pdf file)
2) Conference call to discuss possible collaboration around resource development.

Key Lessons Learned from Precautionary Marketplace Campaigns & Upcoming Opportunities
Facilitators: Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator, Center for Health, Environment
and Justice and Niaz Dorry, Clean Catch

At this strategy session, participants shared lessons learned and challenges faced from launching successful market campaigns to transform company practices.  Some new collaborative markets work was identified which will move forward over the next year.  This was a very useful and productive discussion for both new and veteran market campaigners that joined the session.  For more information, contact Mike Schade, CHEJ's PVC Campaign Coordinator, at mike@besafenet.com

Plenary Session: Building a Movement for a Precautionary World
Facilitator: Skip Spitzer, Root Action
Break Out Group Facilitators: Martha Dine Arguello, PSR-LA; Rochelle Becker, Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility; Steven Gilbert, Institute of Neurotoxicology & Neurological Disorders; Barbara Sattler, Health Care Without Harm; David Mickey, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League; Karen Pierce, Bayview Hunters Pt. Katie Silberman, SEHN; and Lynn Thorp, Clean Water Action.
Music by Lou Zeller, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League

Speakers presented a broad vision of what a precautionary society would look like and discussed the underlying structural barriers to precaution with recommendations on overcoming such barriers to build the precautionary movement. This was followed by facilitated breakout groups where everyone discussed innovations, initiatives and steps to build our movement. The breakout groups and larger audience discussion provided a wealth of ideas on actions to overcome barriers and build the movement post-conference. 

A Vision of the Future
Carolyn Raffensperger, Executive Director, Science and Environmental Health Network 
Carolyn outlined some vibrant visions of a precautionary society with ideas on how we could "craft a future that is whole, beautiful and worthy of turning over to future generations."
Download Carolyn Raffensperger's presentation (pdf file).

Getting to Precaution & Prevention: A Few Ideas about Building a Movement
Peter Montague, Director, Environmental Research Foundation
Peter described the systemic problem of our current "structure of harm," and outlined how we need to work together to seek fundamental change, and find allies in the natural, build and social environment to develop a common vision and agenda.
Download Peter Montague's power point presentation (pdf file).

Pioneers of Precaution Award Ceremony
Presenters & Facilitators: Stephen Lester, Science Director, Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) and Anne Rabe, BE SAFE Campaign Coordinator, CHEJ
Supporters: Lois Gibbs, Director, Center for Health, Environment & Justice; Peter Montague, Director, Environmental Research Foundation; Carolyn Raffensperger, Director, Science and Environmental Health Network
Photographer: Libby Sinback

Pioneers of Precaution Awards were given out to individuals and organizations for the following categories: Community Group, State Group, National Group, Government Leader, Pioneer Leader, Academic Leader, Industry Leader and Journalist.  A memo listing the award winners and presentations provides information on the important work of these pioneers of precaution.
Download List of Award Winners and Descriptions (pdf file).

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Plenary Session: The Ethics & Values of Precaution

Ethics & Values of Precaution
Ted Schettler, Science Director, Science and Environmental Health Network
Steven Gilbert, Director, Seattle Precautionary Principle Working Group, Institute of Neurotoxicology & Neurological Disorders
Ted and Steven described leaders who laid the foundation of precautionary ethics and values, including leaders of bioethics and "the commons".
Download Ted Schettler & Steven Gilbert's power point presentation (pdf file).

Indigenous Perspective: Precaution & Seventh Generation Iroquois Concept
Oren Lyons, Faith Keeper of Turtle Clan, Member Onondaga Council, Chiefs of Six Nations, Iroquois Confederacy 
Oren described the ethics and values of the precautionary Indigenous Seventh Generation concept.  For more information, visit www.ienearth.org

Shared Ethics & Values of Environmental Justice & Conservation
Frank Peterman, Director, Public & Political Awareness, Eastern Forest Program, The Wilderness Society
Frank described the shared goals of environmental justice and biodiversity groups and the importance of collaborative precautionary work among these groups.
Download Frank Peterman's presentation (pdf file)

Precautionary Action Workshops 

The Strategic Value of Health Studies
Facilitator: Stephen Lester, Science Director, Center for Health, Environment & Justice

Dr. Richard Clapp, D.Sc Epidemiology, Environmental Health Professor, Boston University School of Public Health, Adj. Professor, U. Mass Lowell School of Health & Environment

Madeleine Kangsen Scammell, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health. Manager of "Community-Based Environmental Health Research: Finding Meaning", a project funded by National Institute of Environmental Health Science.

Richard and Madeleine detailed the strategic value of health studies and described a precautionary health study checklist. They discussed the pros and cons of various study designs, case studies, the perspectives of community residents affected by study results, and what to look out for when conducting a study.
Download Dr. Clapp and Madeleine Scammell's power point presentation (pdf file).

Getting Out of the Risk Assessment Box:
Precautionary Approaches to Protect Health
Critical Analysis of Risk Assessment & Alternative Approaches
Peter Montague, Environmental Research Foundation
Peter described the seven scientific critiques of quantitative risk assessment, and outlined alternative approaches, including identifying hazards, the Delphi technique, citizen juries, consensus conferences, the overarching precautionary approach and zero waste.
Download Peter Montague's presentation (pdf file).

Applying a Precautionary Approach
Steven Gilbert, Seattle PP Working Group, Institute of Neurotoxicology & Neurological Disorders
Steven described risk assessment and its weaknesses using mercury and lead as case studies.  He then outlined a "precautionary assessment," a new approach to evaluate the scientific, safety, community, ethical and social issues related to a compound or procedure.
Download Steven Gilbert's power point presentation (pdf file).

The Economics of Precaution
Facilitator: Rachel Massey, Research Associate, Global Development & Environment Institute, Tufts University

An Economic Framework for Precaution
Frank Ackerman, Director, Research & Policy Program Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University
Frank outlined what the market does well and what it does badly, and three rigid assumptions of free-market theory and how they fail.  He then described four areas of environmental economics: market prices, life-cycle costs and easily monetized externalities, "priceless" externalities, and uncertainty, complexity and synergy—the realm of precaution where it is important to act.
Download Frank Ackerman's presentation (pdf file).

A Precautionary Approach to Economic Analysis
Nancy Myers, Communications Director, Science and Environmental Health Network
Nancy outlined the benefits of precautionary economic analysis and described a case study, "Easy Money, Hidden Costs: Precautionary Economic Analysis of Coalbed Methane Development in Power River Basin."
Download Nancy Myers's presentation (pdf file).
Download Nancy Myers's Coalbed Study power point presentation (pdf file).

Costs of Toxic Exposure
Kate Davies, Core Faculty, Environment & Community, Antioch University Seattle
Kate outlined three types of studies on the cost of exposure to toxic chemicals, costs of air pollution and costs of multiple disease outcomes.  She then described the "Costs of Diseases & Disabilities due to Environmental Contamination: Washington State Case Study."
Download Kate Davies's power point presentation (pdf file).

Messaging Precaution: Story Based Strategies for the Precautionary Principle
Facilitators and Speakers:
Doyle Canning, smartMeme Strategy and Training Project
Patrick Reinsborough, smartMeme Strategy and Training Project
Doyle and Patrick described effective ways to reach the public with messages about precautionary action using a “story-based strategy” that links organizing with values based messaging to create compelling narratives to advocate for precautionary action.
Download Battle of the Story Worksheet (pdf file).
Download Mapping Avenues of Influence Worksheet (pdf file).
For more information, visit www.smartmeme.com

Answering the Critics of Precaution
Carolyn Raffensperger, Executive Director, Science and Environmental Health Network
James John Bell, smartMeme Strategy and Training Project
J Cookson, smartMeme Strategy and Training Project
Carolyn, James and J described how to answer the critics of precaution through a deeper understanding of the oppositions’ story and explored effective strategies for winning the debate around precaution.

Their powerpoint presentation is coming soon. For more information, visit www.smartmeme.com

Alternatives Assessment:
A Proactive Tool for Implementation of Precaution in Practice

Framing Alternative Assessments: The Lowell Center Approach
Joel Tickner, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
Joel described the rationale for alternatives assessments, provided examples and a history of substitution and alternatives assessment policies, and detailed assessment steps and its precautionary decisionmaking framework.
Download Joel Tickner's power point presentation (pdf file).

Challenges of Alternatives Assessment at the Municipal Level
Deanna Simon, Toxic Reduction Specialist, San Francisco Department of the Environment
Deanna described the development and implementation of their municipal precautionary purchasing program.
Deanna's presentation will be added soon. For more information, go to www.sfgov.org/sfenvironment

Defining What We Want: The Green Screen for Safer Chemicals
Mark Rossi, Research Director, Clean Production Action
Mark outlined the green screen approach for safer chemicals. For more information, visit www.cleanproduction.org

Creating the Greenest Shade of Clean: Substitution of PCE Dry Cleaning in the LA Region
Peter Sinsheimer, Director, Pollution Prevention Center, Occidental College
Peter outlined the campaign and development of the first regional policy to phase out the use of the toxic chemical perc (PCE) in California.  For more information, visit http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/ppc/index.htm

Media Outreach Training
Sarah Massey, Media Consultant, Placing Progressives in the Press.
Sarah provided a participatory training with exercises on developing 10 second sound-bites and conducting TV interviews, plus lots of tips on how to stay on message, communicate effectively, organize media events and write op/ed articles.
Download Sarah Massey's training overview memo (pdf file).
Download Sarah Massey's Media “How To” Guide, Op Eds & Helpful Web Sites (pdf file).

Moving Forward Session
Facilitator: Skip Spitzer, Root Action

Taking Precautionary Action: Going Forward
Anne Rabe, BE SAFE Campaign Coordinator, Center for Health, Environment & Justice
Anne summarized some of the lessons learned from the conference, and highlighted ideas on future activities to build the movement for precautionary action.
Download Anne Rabe's presentation (pdf file).

Closing Song: Keep Your Eyes on the (Precautionary) Prize
Lou Zeller, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
Lou sang a Traditional Freedom Riders Song with new lyrics on taking precautionary action.
Download Lyrics to Keep Your Eyes on the (Precautionary) Prize (pdf file).

Thanks to Supporters
Many thanks to the following funders for their critical support of the conference and their work to promote precaution: Anonymous, Beldon Fund, CS Fund, French American Charitable Trust, Mitchell Kapor Foundation, Marisla Foundation, John Merck Fund, and Boston University College of Public Health.  In addition, we would like to thank the Educational Foundation of America, the Kendeda Fund, New York Community Trust, Park Foundation, Patagonia, Inc., Underdog Fund and the Alki Fund of Tides Foundation for their support of the BE SAFE Initiative.

Many thanks to the University of Maryland School of Nursing for hosting the conference, and special thanks to the staff for their support and assistance: Barbara Sattler, Tom Fahey, Brenda Afzul, Gail Doer, Barbara Covington, David Drebing and Arthur Talbert.

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