Being a smart consumer is one of the best ways a woman can prevent environmental illness, says Tina Eshaghpour, women’s health researcher for the Women’s Foundation of California. "I always assumed if a product is on the shelf, someone has proven it to be safe," she says. "But that is not the case."
Many organizations address the intersection between women’s health and the environment. These resources can help you become more informed, practice prevention and lead a low-impact lifestyle.
Tampons have been around since the 1930s, and women have largely taken their safety for granted. But over the past three decades there has been a staggering increase in illnesses that were once thought of as rare, including endometriosis, fibroids (growths in the uterus), pelvic inflammatory disease, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), and cancer, causing some to take another look at those ubiquitous products.
Attorney June Zeitlin is the executive director of the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), an international advocacy group working to empower female policymakers around the world. Established in 1990 by the late U.S. Congresswoman Bella Abzug (D-NY) and veteran feminist activist and journalist Mim Kelber, WEDO works closely with the United Nations on women’s […]
Nothing beats the aroma and taste of homemade soup on chilly autumn evenings. These days, however, market leaders like Campbell’s are not seeing their customary growth and profits. The reason may be because people are becoming more aware of what they eat, and many no longer consider typical condensed soup—loaded with sodium, and filled with overcooked vegetables, limp noodles and some type of animal-based stock—to be part of a healthy diet.
It’s not easy being green, but does it also have to be expensive? It’s a question I’ve frequently pondered as my husband and I have balanced our commitment to the environment with the realities of paying for graduate school, working in lower-paying nonprofit jobs, and suffering through periodic bouts of unemployment. Over the years I’ve evolved some basic strategies to walk more lightly on the Earth without breaking our budget.
With the recent surge in faith-based environmentalism, it’s no wonder that religious entities are using their financial clout to push for green changes…
Traveling can be a challenge for those trying to lead an eco-friendly life. From room deodorizers and potpourri to non-organic breakfasts and sheets that reek of bleach, the typical overnight stay can seem so toxic you’d almost rather stay home. But no more. Over the past decade, there’s been a welcome rise in eco-friendly bed-and-breakfasts.
In 2001, American catalog companies sent out 17 billion catalogs, Environmental Defense reports. That’s 59 for every man, woman and child in the U.S., comprising 12 percent of all printing and writing paper last year. And most of them contain no recycled content. "The catalog industry is one of the most destructive and wasteful sectors of the paper industry," says Todd Paglia of Forest Ethics. A little recycled content could make a big impact, paper activists say.
There’s hardly an issue where Bush’s rhetoric isn’t diametrically opposite to his actual policies. This is especially true in his doublespeak on women’s issues. While Bush proclaims, "the advance of liberty and the advance of women’s rights are ultimately inseparable," he pursues an ideologically motivated anti-choice agenda at the expense of women’s lives and the planet.
