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Monday, January 23, 2006

Making Our Food Less Safe
The Detroit Free Press reports on a new industry-led effort to ban state and local governments from limiting genetically engineered products in their communities. In response to local initiatives in towns and counties in California and New England that ban raising genetically-engineered crops, state legislatures in18 states have put forward proposals "that would bar towns and counties from enacting local legislation to regulate genetically engineered seed." Initiatives have already passed in 14 of the 18 states.

Genetically-engineered foods pose a variety of known risks both to humans and to the security of the nation's food supply. Moreover, as a relatively new technological advancement, genetically-engineered products also pose many unknown risks as well. The legislation bars communities from enacting the precautionary principle, which would require new technologies be proven safe before being adopted.

Moreover, the situation exemplifies the problems facing state advocacy. Though states have often surpassed the federal government in achieving strong and responsive public protections, they have also presented an easy target for industry special interests whose legislative agendas may meet more resistance in the national arena. Just as state initiatives may present great opportunities for advancing social goods, they are also susceptible to the vast influence of corporate special interests.

More on the hazards of genetically-modified crops: Nanotech, Genetically Modified Crops Spotlights Regulatory Gaps (11/01/2005)

More on state progressive reform: States Present Opportunities and Pitfalls for Progressive Reform (8/22/2005)

Posted by Genevieve Smith, 11:26:07 AM

Saturday, January 21, 2006

W. Va. Mine Fire: From Crisis to Tragedy
The news reports are now coming in with a tragic ending to the West Virginia mine fire: according to a state spokesman, rescue teams found the bodies of the two miners who had been missing since a conveyor belt fire.

An earlier posting in this blog directs you to more information about the Bush administration's failures to protect the public with regard to mine safety and more. It includes a listing of previously identified priorities for protecting miner safety and health that the Bush administration MSHA abandoned. Add this one to the list: RIN 1219-AA92, Requirements for Approval of Flame-Resistant Conveyor Belts.

How many tragedies does it take before the Bush administration realizes that is must stop putting corporate special interests above the public interest?

Click through for more background on the special interest takeover that undermines public health, safety, and the environment and the Bush administration's pattern of failure to serve the public.

Posted by Robert Shull, 05:25:17 PM

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

West Virginia Mine Tragedy: In the Days to Come
The Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration will investigate the causes and circumstances of the West Virginia coal mine tragedy. Members of Congress are also calling for oversight hearings, which may be all too necessary, if MSHA's history is any guide. In the early days of the Bush administration, when a mining industry executive was placed in charge of the agency that regulates the mining industry, MSHA cut short an investigation into a mine safety accident: a breach of an impoundment that sent hundreds of millions of gallons of toxic coal slurry into the environment in Kentucky and West Virginia. The affected communities are still reeling from the health effects and inadequate public health response.

As press interest faded in the Martin County case, revived only by the sexiness of a whistleblower story, the ongoing aftermath of that failure has gone under the radar. Maybe this time things will be different.

Posted by Robert Shull, 03:38:40 PM

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

More on Coal Mine Safety
Many people are glued to their sets, watching CNN's coverage of the West Virginia coal mine accident and rescue efforts. At such times, it always makes sense to ask whether the federal government is doing enough to protect workers in this dangerous industry. Find out for yourself, with this compilation of items withdrawn from the Mine Safety and Health Administration's agenda for action.

Posted by Robert Shull, 05:07:16 PM

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