Cancer is the second
leading cause of death in Michigan, contributing to significant economic and social cost. About 10,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer in 2015.
Our society is dependent on the petrochemicals linked to cancer and are largely derived from petroleum and coal to make pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, cleaning products, plastics, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and much more. We already know from the scientific evidence that many of these chemicals are cancer causing – benzene, PCPs, formaldehyde, atrazine, TCE, PCE, toluene and others. The corporations that produce these products would have us believe that it is necessary to use them to maintain the style of living we have grown accustomed to.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) web site, there are 1322 Superfund sites in the U.S., with 60 in Michigan and one in Allegan County. These toxic chemicals don’t just go away, even with “cleanups” they are just moved or change forms.
We have grown accustomed to the fish advisories cautioning about the consumption of fish in our waterways. We’ve grown accustomed to “ozone action days.” We’ve grown accustomed to pipeline leaks that contaminate our water, the most recent being in the Yellowstone River in Montana, affecting the drinking water for two communities.
Ignoring the scientific evidence is knowingly permitting the unnecessary illnesses and deaths of MANY. We have the right to breathe, drink water and eat our food without fear of getting ill.
We have the knowledge to stop this insanity, we just need the will. Get involved. Buy local. Plant a garden. Buy organic. Bring your own bags to the store. Call and write your local and state representatives. Demand “clean energy” and “green” technology.
Karen Fifelski, Hopkins
Excellent post!