Author: Nika Beauchamp
Opportunity to Double Your Impact
I am so pleased to share this news: We’ve just learned that Patagonia will match all gifts to our work, when you give through this link, through the end of the year. The match is dollar-for-dollar, for gifts up to $10,000. Just make sure you make your gift on this page, for us to receive the match. Patagonia… Read more »
Honoring Sustainable Business Leadership: Biofine Developments Northeast Inc.
With a mission of establishing a renewable liquid fuels industry, Biofine Developments Northeast (BDNE) is at the forefront of the emerging sustainable bioeconomy in Maine. The company seeks to use cellulosic waste materials including forest residues and municipal solid waste to make 100% renewable, CO2 negative heating fuel and chemicals using underutilized infrastructure in rural Maine—replacing toxic, polluting fossil… Read more »
Honoring Representative Ryan Fecteau for Legislative Leadership
Representative Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford), represents House District 11 and serves as Assistant House Majority Leader. Rep. Fecteau showed great legislative leadership and initiative as lead sponsor of LD 1698, a renewable chemicals tax credit, currently awaiting Governor Janet Mills’ signature, which will revitalize Maine communities with the creation of high-paying jobs manufacturing climate-friendly products. “If we… Read more »
Honoring Senator Robert Foley for Legislative Leadership
Senator Robert Foley, R-York, represents Senate District 34. Sen. Foley demonstrated great leadership for the health of Maine children and families as lead Senate co-sponsor of LD 1433, the Safe Food Packaging Act, which will protect Mainers from toxic PFAS and phthalates by phasing out these dangerous chemicals from food packaging in Maine. “Several years… Read more »
Honoring Representative Jessica Fay for Legislative Leadership
Representative Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, represents House District 66. Rep. Fay demonstrated exceptional leadership for the health of Maine children and families as the lead sponsor of LD 1433, the Safe Food Packaging Act, which will protect Mainers from toxic PFAS and phthalates by phasing out these dangerous chemicals from food packaging in Maine. “Keeping toxic… Read more »
Recognizing Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, International Leader for Environmental Justice
The Environmental Health Strategy Center this year recognizes international environmental justice leader Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali as the winner of our 2019 Frank Hatch Environmental Health Leadership Award. “Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali has passionately championed environmental justice for decades,” said Mike Belliveau, executive director of the Strategy Center. “The most vulnerable in our society—infants and children, poor people, communities… Read more »
Honoring Fred Stone for Grassroots Leadership
Fred Stone is the third generation of the Stone family to own and operate Stoneridge Farm, a dairy farm in Arundel, Maine. Until recently, the daily rhythm of raising, feeding, and milking cows defined Fred’s life. And then, one fateful day in November of 2016, Fred received life-altering bad news. On that day, Fred received… Read more »
Honoring Dr. Lani Graham, an Outstanding Health Professional
A family physician, Dr. Lani Graham, MD, MPH, has devoted her career to fighting not only for the health of her patients, but also for the health of the wider human community—here in Maine, and across the nation. “I am deeply touched to be receiving this award from an organization like the Environmental Health Strategy… Read more »
Tell McDonald’s: Time to Take off the Toxic Gloves
We’ve just released a new report—the largest study of its kind, to date—that found one out of seven vinyl or PVC food service gloves contained toxic chemicals called phthalates (THAL-eights) that can leach into food. Worse? Two-thirds of the popular fast food restaurants we visited were using vinyl gloves to handle and serve food. Some PVC gloves from… Read more »
Success! Home Improvement Retailers Follow Through on Commitments to Remove Phthalates from Flooring
By Gillian Miller, Mike Belliveau, Mike Schade, and Bill Walsh Tens of millions of pounds of phthalates annually eliminated from vinyl flooring: That’s the victory our collaborative Mind the Store campaign scored in 2015 after we secured commitments by leading retailers to eliminate phthalates from flooring. We did this by first testing dozens of floor… Read more »