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Tenet Healthcare Corporation, the second-largest U.S. health care company (120 hospitals) has agreed to give preference when purchasing supplies to those made without PVC provided they are reasonably priced and of equal quality. This directive also applies to BuyPower, a group purchasing operation owned by Tenet, which purchases about $3 billion in medical products a year. Tenet agreed to work with suppliers to develop PVC-free disposable medical products. Earlier this year we reported that Baxter International, the largest U.S. IV bag manufacturer, committed to phase out use of PVC. Universal Health Services, Kaiser Permanente and Catholic Healthcare West are shifting away from vinyl too. PVC is used in 25 percent of plastic medical products, alternatives to which are readily available at competitive prices. The decision was spurred by a shareholder proposal from three institutional investors – Sisters of Saint Francis, Medical Mission Sisters, and the Service Employees International Union Master Trust. They asked Tenet to consider eliminating PVC because of its health and environmental threats; dioxin, a known carcinogen and reproductive toxin, is a byproduct of the manufacturing process and of incineration PVC waste. Research indicates that phthalates, a softener in PVC products, leach from medical products, notably IV bags, […]
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Leave it to Berkeley, CA. to be the first school district in the U.S. to offer organic, locally grown food to its 10,000 students. In August, the Berkeley United School District’s Board voted unanimously to implement a program that incorporates whole-foods principles and organic gardening into the school’s curriculum and the food it serves. Food Systems Project coordinator Jered Lawson states, “We want to purchase organic to ensure that it’s GMO-free, BGH-free and irradiation-free. Our emphasis is fresh and local, and to build responsible relationships with local food manufacturers and growers of organic and natural foods.” The district phased out sugar-based soft drinks and snacks and phased in organic substitutes like fruit from San Francisco-based Veritable Vegetable, whole wheat bread from a local bakery, and organic rice cakes and tortilla chips from companies like Newman’s Own and Barbara’s Bakery. The USDA is funding the project with a three-year grant as part of Berkeley’s Center for Ecoliteracy. The Center’s mission is to improve community health by teaching families how to establish and maintain lifelong healthy eating habits. The USDA has made Berkeley a pilot project linking farms to schools. Source: Natural Foods Merchandiser
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You know what book: the subtitles are different in the U.S. and abroad, but it’s Natural Capitalism (:The Next Industrial Revolution [in Europe]; :Creating the Next Industrial Revolution [in the U.S.]). The long awaited call to arms by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins launched September 30. The American edition sold out before the publication date and has gone into a second printing. The book will be translated into German and published by Bertelsmann in early 2000 and translations into French and Mandarin Chinese are in negotiation. One of the promising developments noted in GEO 2000 is the realization by the global business community that environment and commerce go hand in hand. Natural Capitalism offers a foundation for the next industrial revolution, through which we may solve many pressing environmental problems. You can download excerpts and chapters at the Natural Capitalism website. We will be publishing excerpts from the book shortly. Outside the U.S., order through Earthscan Publications and in the U.S. order the book directly through Rocky Mountain Institute. Discounts available for more than 5 copies.
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The National Environmental Trust, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Physicians for Social Responsibility begin an international $11 million media and grass roots global warming campaign this week. It starts with TV spots on 200-plus stations nationwide and a movie trailer, “A Perfect Balance,” later this month. Narrated by celebrities, the trailer illustrates how global warming is caused, and how it can be reduced. Translated into at least 10 languages and broadcast in 60 countries until Earth Day 2000, it is expected to reach more than a billion people world-wide. An associated website, http://www.hotearth.com serves as an information source on global warming and practical solutions. A “Pollution Solutions Tour” will visit 36 cities in the next two months, displaying readily available environmental products.
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Citizen’s Bank of Canada, launched in 1997, operates entirely by telephone, automated tellers and the Internet. Its mission is to be a socially responsible bank. “We are a bank that believes we are, in fact, stewards of the funds we hold,” says their recently released Ethical Policy. “We demonstrate our leadership by being responsible and conscientious about where our money comes from and what we do with it.” The company committed to subject itself to annual third-party audits to ensure compliance with the policy. The bank was formed to take the VanCity (Vancouver City Savings Credit Union) model across Canada. VanCity is one of the best known financial institutions in Western Canada and the largest credit union in Canada. Its operating belief is that it isn’t just possible to “do good while doing well”, it makes excellent business sense to do so. Citizens is the only Canadian bank that bases its investment decisions on an Ethical Policy. The policy was developed through consultation with Citizens Bank members, employees, and non-profit organizations working for positive social change. The bank does not invest in or do business with companies that violate human or animal rights, produce nuclear energy or tobacco products, harm […]
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The release of the UN Environment Programme report on the state of the planet, Global Environment Outlook 2000, received massive European coverage as the lead story in all the broadcast news and current affairs media. The book presents a region-by-region analysis of the state of the world’s environment; it highlights key global concerns and makes recommendations for policy action. UN agencies, 850 individuals and more than 30 environmental institutes contributed to the book. In essence, UNEP concludes, “The global system of environmental policy and management is moving in the right direction but much too slowly. Postponing action to solve global environmental problems is no longer an option, and time is running out fast.” GEO-2000’s recommendations emphasize that the environment must be integrated into peoples’ daily lives. “The environment remains largely outside the mainstream of everyday human consciousness and is still considered an add-on to the fabric of life. Integration of environmental thinking into the mainstream of decision-making relating to agriculture, trade, investment, research and development, infrastructure and finance is now the best chance for effective action.” They point a number of environmental accomplishments, including: – protection and recovery of the ozone layer – first international steps on climate change – […]
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In one of the most significant U.S. government land conservation actions in history, President Clinton announced steps to permanently preserve 40 million acres of national forest. He said, “National forests are more than a source of timber. They are places of renewal of the human spirit and our natural environment.” The plan can go forward without congressional action, as it relies only on regulations to be developed by the U.S. Forest Service with public approval. He also directed the Forest Service to determine whether an additional undeveloped 15 million acres should be protected. The proposal, under immediate Republican attack, designates 20 percent of national forests as wilderness, preventing road-building in two-thirds of remaining undeveloped forests. Only Jimmy Carter who preserved 103 million acres in Alaska and Teddy Roosevelt, who created five national parks and 120 million acres in national forests, safeguarded larger tracts of land. Road-building, the precursor to extractive activities, is presently prohibited in a mere 18 percent of the 192 million acre national forest system. “This initiative should have almost no effect on timber supply,” Clinton explained. “Only five percent of our country’s timber comes from national forests and less than five percent of this timber is being […]
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In a ground-breaking agreement among a broad coalition of stakeholders, Great Britain adopted a national forest certification standard, the UK Woodlands Assurance Scheme. The Forestry Commission is implementing the new national standard this year, certifying its entire 800,000 hectares. The scheme is congruent with, and based on, international Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards and all timber taken from certified UK forests will be permitted to carry the FSC label. With this move, the volume of UK timber carrying the FSC label is expected to jump from 1 percent to 75 percent of total national timber production – the highest percentage of FSC-certified timber of any country in the world. According to Hannah Scrase, policy director for FSC in Great Britain, “Signing this document is an immense achievement. All the interested parties have worked very hard over the last 18 months to see things from one another’s point of view. Every group has had to make compromises along the way, but this has not resulted in a weak or ineffective standard.” FSC-UK: fsc-uk@fsc-uk.demon.co.uk [sorry this link is no longer available] FROM Understory
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Schumacher College, based in southwest England, runs short residential courses attended by people from all over the world, from all ages and backgrounds. The courses offer an opportunity to learn from leading activists, thinkers and writers, and to network with the international participant group, to share ideas and work for a sustainable future. Thanks to the Educational Foundation of America, U.S. citizens may receive scholarships for these courses: October 10-29. Global Power, Local Promise: Justice and Sustainability in a Global Economy Teachers: Vandana Shiva, Mathis Wackernagel, Wolfgang Sachs November 7-26. A Sense of Wilderness Teachers: David Brower, Val Plumwood, Ian Player January 9-28, 2000. Complexity, Chaos, & Creativity Teachers: Ian Stewart, David Peat, Brian Goodwin Visit the Schumacher College website for more information and an application form.
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Associated with the July 2000 International Society for Ecological Economics conference (in Australia) is a 12-month electronic conference, which you can sign up for now. It is especially aimed at business people involved in strategic planning, business development, product development, R&D and training who wish to participate in creating an ecologically sustainable economy through the redesign of commerce. Greenleaf Publishing (UK) will be publishing a book on the subject of Business, economy and sustainability and material presented during the conference may be included. Learn about the ISEE Online Conference. Find out about the physical conference: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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