Posts Tagged With ‘ Environment ’

A bill banning the sale of cosmetic products that contain 26 toxic chemicals known to affect human health passed the California State Legislature Wednesday. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign it. The law would ban hazardous substances such as some borate compounds, lily aldehyde, cyclotetrasiloxane, trichloroacetic acid, styrene, and certain colors. “Personal care products and cosmetics should be non-toxic for everyone,” said Assemblymember Laura Friedman, author of the legislation. “If you consider that the European Union prohibits almost 2,500 chemicals in such products, a ban in California... Continue Reading

For vegetable gardeners, August and September are when harvest occurs and you see the fruits, or rather the vegetables, of your labors. The star of my gardening efforts this year is the raspberries. Years ago at my local co-op, I bought a pot of raspberries, one of my favorite foods. It grew into this wonderful patch. The record for raspberries has been 22 pints; this year my raspberry patch produced 25 pints. They’re all beautifully lined up in my refrigerator. The green beans also were outstanding. I just picked and cooked my third or fourth batch. The cucumbers were small and I only... Continue Reading

Photo: White House The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law a year ago, has many benefits for American consumers. It began making big corporations pay their fair share in taxes while investing more in items that help the middle class such as creating good-paying jobs, combating corporate price gouging, slashing the deficit, lowering prescription drug costs, and reducing carbon pollution. But while these efforts are helping everyday Americans, a new review from government watchdog Accountable.US shows several industries have never stopped trying to obstruct and weaken the Inflation Reduction... Continue Reading

Recently, I wrote about how private equity firms are buying health providers practices, including my gastroenterologist’s, and how they bleed money from the companies, then sell them for a big profit. In 2021, some of the top industries for private equity investment include healthcare, technology, and consumer products.  Now, a new report describes how private equity firms buying oil and gas wells is likely to be costly for taxpayers. Investments by private equity firms in nearly 2,700 oil and gas wells on federal and tribal lands across the western United States could leave taxpayers with... Continue Reading

Photo: Dwight Burdette Farmers Insurance began limiting the sale of new homeowners insurance policies in California on July 3, the company, a subsidiary of the Zurich Insurance Group, announced Friday. Farmers is the No. 2 homeowners insurer in California. Farmers’ action follows American International Group’s curbing homeowners insurance sales for owners at high risk of floods, storms, or wildfires in 200 U.S. zip codes; State Farm’s halting the sale of insurance coverage to all homeowners in California; and Allstate’s stopping the sale of new home, condominium, and commercial insurance... Continue Reading

It was almost comical when – on Dr. Phil’s program trashing cancel culture that included support for antivaxxers – at the end of the program, Dr. Phil and his wife suggested that people “talk to each other” in a divided America. America isn’t a divided country. What’s happening is that the far right is trying to take over the country and make everyone live according to its fundamentalist “values.” Before Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan, the political parties worked together to pass legislation to benefit the country. Remember, Richard Nixon signed the National Environmental... Continue Reading

Photo: Filip Maljković American International Group is planning to curb homeowners insurance sales for owners at high risk of floods, storms, or wildfires in 200 zip codes across the United States, according to a report in the Wall St Journal. AIG is the third major insurer in recently to announce cuts to homeowners insurance.  “AIG’s actions are shameful,” David Arkush, director of Public Citizen’s Climate program. “It is a top global insurer of oil and gas  — meaning that, more than most insurers on the planet, it is contributing to and profiting from the very climate harms that... Continue Reading

It’s been the second coldest April in history here in the Seattle area. And, then, there’s the rain, rain, rain. Even hail at times. Since I’m a photojournalist, I like to take photos of our state Capitol when the cherry blossoms are blooming. Many years it’s tricky to get a blue sky with the iconic building. This year, I tried three times to get some good photographs. I sell greeting cards with my photos at the Washington State Legislative Gift Center, so I’m always trying to get new, beautiful photos. One time I went about 6 p.m. and the light was fading with too many shadows. The... Continue Reading

Earth Day is a good reminder of what to do every day and throughout the year for the health of the planet. I spend a lot of time on it. I know many people do, too. The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Invest in Our Planet. What Americans are doing for planet health Three-quarters of Americans say that they’re particularly concerned with helping the environment as they go about their daily lives, while 24 percent say they aren’t particularly concerned, according to a Pew Research Center survey. However, only one-in-five say they try to live in ways that help the environment “all the... Continue Reading

For decades, the U.S. regulators have lagged behind other countries in banning dangerous chemicals. Last week, the California Assembly’s Health Committee approved a bill to ban five harmful chemicals from candy, cereals, and other processed food. If passed, California would be the first state to regulate food additives. The bill would end the use of brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propyl paraben, Red Dye No. 3, and titanium dioxide in food products sold in the state. The chemicals are linked to health problems such as a higher risk of cancer, nervous system damage, and hyperactivity. European... Continue Reading