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A victory for our health! Mass. House votes to ban toxic flame retardants
Late Friday afternoon the Massachusetts House voted to ban 10 toxic flame retardants in children’s products and household furniture! This will be a huge step forward to protect the health of children and firefighters – but first the Massachusetts Senate has to approve the bill and send it to the Governor’s desk before the clock strikes midnight on Monday.
Leaders of the future are here now
You know that Clean Water Action fights for clean air, clean water and healthy communities, but did you know we are also helping to train and mentor the next generation of environmental leaders? Our Youth Action Council offers opportunities for Boston area students to raise their voices in the movement and our internship program gives an in depth experience to two rising leaders each semester.
A Message of Reinvigoration and Strength: Jeremy Shenk
Interview by Nina Frame
This is the third in a series of interviews with Clean Water Action Massachusetts Advisory Board Members.
Jeremy Shenk is a proud father of three looking to better the world for Generation Z with the help of Millennials. He formerly coordinated the Green Justice Coalition while working at Community Labor United. Now, he works on the American Federation of Teachers. With a background working with both the labor and environmental movements, Jeremy brings an aspect of unity to the Advisory Board.
How long have you been working with Clean Water Action?
I’ve been working
I am part of a generation that is not protected from mercury exposure
When legislators and government agencies make decisions, we request they consider my generation’s future and the potential of our lives, and those that will come after. A life riddled and intertwined with the threats of this heavy metal was not what our parents had in mind, yet it is what we face. We urge state and federal governments to protect us from these dangers and allow us to live our lives free of the effects of mercury and we call upon them to make decisions to ensure that our children are the first generation that is truly protected from mercury exposure.
Important victories in Massachusetts, but much more work ahead of us.
The Massachusetts legislative session ended on July 31st. Overall, it was a controversial session that has been characterized as much by what didn’t happen as by what did. The two environmental actions taken by the legislature this session were environmental justice funding in the state budget, and a compromise clean energy bill. They also passed an environmental bond bill, but it is not clear how much it will raise and what impacts it will have.
The environmental justice language in the budget is a huge win in Massachusetts. The budget requires Baker’s environmental office to hire a full time