Author: Nika Beauchamp
First-in-the-Nation Bill Bans Toxic Chemicals from Food Packaging
Thanks to you, we had a major win for public health this week. The Maine Legislature unanimously passed a first-in the-nation bill banning two toxic industrial chemicals from food packaging. When signed into law, it will also clear the way for restricting additional harmful chemicals from food packaging. The bill is now on Maine Governor… Read more »
Progress for Toxic-Free Food
In our home state of Maine this week, LD 1433, the Safe Food Packaging Act, which would phase out toxic PFAS chemicals and phthalates from food packaging, passed the Maine Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee with a strong bipartisan vote of 9-2. “Beautiful Maine, the state where my wife and I spent our honeymoon… Read more »
When Toxic Sludge Hits the Fan
New PFAS Pollution Concern Spurs Ask for Senate Committee Investigation In their classic critique of the public relations industry, Toxic Sludge is Good For You!, authors John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton take apart propaganda-for-hire tactics. In one chapter, they detail how a devilish euphemism transformed the dumping of sewage sludge into the beneficial reuse of… Read more »
PFAS, Healthy Farms, Safe Food
Last week was a busy one at the Strategy Center. On Tuesday, we stood with Maine dairy farmer Fred Stone and one of his cows, Lida Rose, on a farmland ridge along the Kennebunk River in Arundel, Maine. Mr. Stone testified to the media about the devastating chemical contamination discovered more than two years ago that has… Read more »
Sharing My Own Story
I’m Nika Beauchamp, and I manage communications at the Environmental Health Strategy Center. My coworkers and I work hard—and you make our work possible. To do my job well, I closely follow and share news about toxic chemicals and the people whose health and lives they wreck. I feel strongly about keeping you up-to-date on… Read more »
Opportunity in the Year Ahead
The voters have spoken! The recent election results were a vote of confidence in government leadership to ensure that all Americans are healthy and thriving. We know that investment in public health protections—including a safe, toxic-free environment—is the best way to keep health care affordable and to prevent diseases, disabilities, and early death. The electorate… Read more »
Restaurant Chains Lag on Toxic Chemicals
We need the food industry as a whole to take action to eliminate any and all sources of toxic phthalates in food. But even with rising consumer concern, restaurants and food retailers are failing to take public action to help eliminate these toxic chemicals in their food and supply chains! That’s the alarming finding from… Read more »
Charlotte Mace Wins Maine Development Foundation Award
Congratulations to Charlotte Mace, executive director of our partner Biobased Maine and sustainable economy program director at the Strategy Center, for winning the Maine Development Foundation’s 2018 Champion for Economic Development for Innovation award! With this award, the Maine Development Foundation recognized Charlotte’s work and leadership at Biobased Maine in bringing the emerging bioeconomy to… Read more »
Announcing our 2018 Award Winners
We are proud to announce the winners of our 2018 Environmental Health Leadership Awards! Please click each name to read our award winners’ inspiring stories. Ginger Jordan-Hillier is receiving the Frank Hatch Environmental Health Leadership Award in recognition of her legacy in Maine and nationally as an organizer and advocate for environmental health. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, M.D.,… Read more »
Recognizing Ginger Jordan-Hillier, Organizer for Change
The Environmental Health Strategy Center this year recognizes organizer and advocate for change Ginger Jordan-Hillier as the winner of our 2018 Frank Hatch Environmental Health Leadership Award. “Ginger Jordan-Hillier was the best organizer inside of state government that I’ve ever known, bar none,” said Mike Belliveau, executive director of Environmental Health Strategy Center. “In Maine, Ginger raised awareness and… Read more »