Christopher Gavigan
CEO / Executive Director
Christopher Gavigan is Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Child Healthy World. For more than a decade, he has dedicated himself to improving the lives of children and families. He holds degrees in environmental science and geography from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has extensive graduate training in child psychology and education. He has worked as an ecology and sciences teacher in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area, and as a child and family specialist. He is the founder of Pinnacle Expeditions, an outdoor leadership program for teenagers.
Since joining Healthy Child Healthy World, Gavigan has launched public awareness campaigns, strategic partnerships, and educational programs that have educated millions about daily choices and actions that impact our children’s health and our planet’s future. He is the best-selling author of "Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home".
Albert Meyerhoff
Attorney
Albert H. Meyerhoff has concentrated his practice for more than 30 years in labor, civil rights and environmental law. After graduating from Cornell Law School in 1972, he joined California Rural Legal Assistance representing farm workers and the rural poor. These efforts included the landmark case of CAAP v. Regents of the University of California, challenging the use of public research funds to promote agricultural mechanization. He also litigated a host of state and federal civil rights cases involving racial discrimination in employment, voting and public education, including Maria P. v. Riles, invalidating a California statute excluding undocumented children from California schools. In 1981, Mr. Meyerhoff joined the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a national environmental organization, as Director of their Public Health Program. His concentration is in litigation concerning toxic substances and occupational health. Brought successful challenges to the continued use of cancer-causing pesticides (Les v. Reilly), the exclusion of women of “child-bearing age” from the workplace (Love v. Thomas) and the California Governor’s failure to comply with Proposition 65, an anti-toxics law (AFL-CIO v. Deukmejian). During his 17 years with NRDC, Mr. Meyerhoff testified more than 50 times before the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
Mr. Meyerhoff has authored numerous articles for scholarly and general publications, including the Stanford Law Review, EPA Journal, Environmental Law Quarterly, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. He has appeared regularly on such programs as CBS News 60 Minutes, ABC 20/20, NBC Dateline, Good Morning America, The Today Show and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and has been an invited speaker at the Harvard Business School, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Sciences and the AFL-CIO. Since 1998, Mr. Meyerhoff has been lead counsel in several labor and environmental cases, including UNITE v. The Gap, contesting the sale of garments manufactured under sweatshop conditions in the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, and Public Citizen v. U.S. D.O.T., challenging cross border trucking from Mexico to conform to NAFTA but in violation of United States environmental laws. Mr. Meyerhoff recently was selected “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by Trial Lawyers for Public Justice and a lifetime achievement award from the ACLU.
Alicia Seiger
Vice President of Corporate Sales and Business Development, TerraPass
Alicia Seiger is Vice President of Corporate Sales and Business Development at TerraPass. Prior to joining TerraPass, Alicia was Director of Business Development and General Manager of Wine Clubs at Wine.com, the country’s largest online wine retailer.
Alicia is a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was co-president of the Environmental Management club. After earning her MBA, Alicia spent two years as a research assistant and case writer for the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Stanford GSB.
Alicia has also held Senior Manager positions in sales and business development at online marketing firms Engage Technologies and Flycast Communications. Alicia hopes that TerraPass will let her harmonize her business skills with her environmental passions. She spends her free time running, biking, playing soccer, practicing yoga, and pursuing the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Alicia holds a BA in Environmental Science and Policy and Cultural Anthropology from Duke University.
Alicia Voorhies - Guest Blogger
Alicia Voorhies is a recently retired RN, wife, mother of three and founder of The Soft Landing. With her own family, she searches for BPA, PVC, phthalate and melamine-free options in feeding gear for the whole family, bringing them together in the first store of its kind. Alicia also publishes The Soft Landing Blog, featuring product reviews, toxic plastic research and quick reference shopping guides. Her research has been cited by ABC News, Newsweek, the New York Times, the Kansas City Star and health-conscious websites such as The Green Guide, Enviroblog and Safe Mama.
Amy Brenneman
Actress, Activist and Mother of Charlotte and Bodhi
"I became involved with Healthy Child Healthy World because of my dad’s work (he's part of something called Environment and Human Health out of Yale University) and because, of course, I became a mom myself. We started cleaning with Method products, we stopped chemical pest and weed control, we started eating more organic. The first day our pest guy came and used organic methods was so moving to me. I expected to have to clear out of my office for the requisite four hours, but he, maskless, said, no. That wasn’t necessary since no harsh chemicals were being used. A light bulb went on. “Oh my god,” I said. “This is so much better for you guys, too!” He beamed. Of course: Imagine being around that stuff all day?"
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Amy and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Amy Brenneman
Actress, Activist and Mother of Charlotte and Bodhi
Amy Brenneman is one of the most talented and respected actresses of her time. Additionally, she spends her time working with two organizations dear to her, Healthy Child Healthy World and The Feminist Majority. Amy is a champion messenger for Healthy Child and has gone on numerous television and radio shows to help educate the public about children’s health.
Anna Getty
Green Living and Holistic Lifestyle Expert, Mother to India
Anna Getty is a certified Kundalini Yoga and Prenatal Yoga teacher, a specialist in organic cooking and cuisine, the founder of Pregnancy Awareness Month, and a consultant for her positive lifestyle brand, PureStyle Living. She has a series of best-selling yoga DVDs and is releasing two organic cookbooks in 2009. Anna sits on the board of Healthy Child Healthy World and the Environmental Media Awards, and works closely with The Organic Center.
"The question I like to ask myself is, How green can I get? I pose it without getting completely insane about it, also trying to keep it lighthearted and easy. It’s about taking baby steps; doing what you can when you can.
I’m always doing research. It makes buying things complicated—I’m on the lookout for what’s fair trade, organic, sustainable or nontoxic. But it also makes me ask myself how badly I need something. I have to admit that sometimes all the searching and worrying turns me into a neurotic mess—I’ve found myself getting down on my husband for not recycling—but then I have to remember that he too is learning and taking small steps as well.
Right now I’m doing great on the garbage front—our trash guy only collects it every two weeks. We just started a compost system. I try to avoid gigantic packaging, and I buy more used and vintage pieces. My current project is trying to recycle of all the plastic I’ve collected over the years: baby bottles, toys sippy cups, etc. It’s a cool challenge to look in the garbage and ask, How do I make this even less?"
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Anna and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Anne Robertson
Environmental Philanthropist
- motivated by the loss of many relatives who died of cancer-related diseases, and in particular, her uncle, Lt. Governor of VA, is a dedicated advocate of environmentally conscious organizations. She is on the board of several other nonprofits that use the arts to enhance and transform lives. Among these include Arts for Healing and the American Performing Arts Collaborative, a Harlem-based theatrical nonprofit. She is very interested in connecting other like-minded organizations that can work together to solve the enormous problems facing children right now and in generations to come. She is inspired by her four wonderful children and by the Reynolds family of Virginia who implemented the first recycling program in the aluminum industry. [email protected].
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Singer and Songwriter
Recording artist and songwriter, pens songs for other artists and her own albums, including the groundbreaking Sand & Water, written and recorded following the death of her husband from cancer in 1994. This record is often used as a tool for healing through grief. A survivor of breast cancer, Beth often interlaces her music with information on wellness and moving through grief to joy, providing inspiration through song.
Betty Ann Gaynor, M.A., M.A.T.
Betty Ann Gaynor has served as a public relations/media professional for more than a decade, primarily in health and children-related campaigns. Experience and education in communications, as well as an eclectic and curiosity-driven intellect and spiritual commitment to promoting wellness, are the driving forces behind her effective and creative programs.
Her background includes national, regional, and local public relations for Everett Clay Associates Inc., an award winning Miami-based and New York-affiliated public relations firm. Since 1990, she has been an independent consultant, and has done promotion for books, such as Raising Children Toxic Free: How to Eliminate Toxins in Your Home and Environment (Avon 1995), medical/surgical physician practices, and general and hospitals specializing in cardiology, orthopedics, and eating disorders.. Additionally, in corporate promotion, she has nationally showcased captivating, wholesome and educational play systems for children and their families.
An ardent health advocate, she has served as the national publicist/media advisor for The Children's Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC) since 1994 and spear-headed the public relations media strategy for CHEC's Environmental Childproofing Campaign, launched in January. 2001.
Gaynor's results-oriented campaigns have produced national hard news and feature placements with Associated Press, United Press International, Gannett and Scripps Howard syndicated wire services, national magazines, and daily newspapers with a circulation range from 120,000 to over a million. Her broadcasting coverage includes international placements as well as stories on network-affiliated television and radio stations.
In addition to her skills in media-related public relations, Gaynor is a published free-lance writer and veteran junior high school teacher, having worked in both the public and private school systems.
Gaynor holds two master of arts degrees, one in Journalism and the second in teaching Spanish. She is a graduate of The University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California.
Bianca Nepales
Marketing Intern
As a Marketing Intern for Healthy Child Healthy World, Bianca promotes outreach to local communities and national connectivity via the world wide web. She works on spreading the news on the organization's latest book and educating parents about recent environmental health findings through blogs. Bianca loves good food, newspapers, and is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology at UC Berkeley.
Bill Acevedo
Lawyer, Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean
Bill is a partner with the Oakland, California-based law firm Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean. Bill represents clients in a variety of matters such as general business disputes, environmental contamination claims, product liability, toxic tort, and personal injury actions. In addition to his litigation practice, William leads the firm's Green Business Practice Group - an experienced group of attorneys who advise and support companies that value health, the environment, and a sustainable economy. He advises clients on various business issues and participates in organizations committed to promoting the development of sustainable business practices. Bill's green business clients are media-based companies that focus on sustainability issues. They typically require legal services pertaining to entity formation, general business advice, contract negotiation/drafting, trademark and licensing issues, and employment counseling. Bill regularly speaks on green business issues, and he has been quoted on green business and sustainability matters in various periodicals, including the San Francisco Business Times, the East Bay Business Times, Law360.com, and GreenBiz.com.
When not servicing his clients needs, Bill recharges his batteries by surfing and cycling along the California coast.
Bill Benjamin
Strategic Partnerships Director
As Strategic Partnerships Director at Healthy Child, Bill Benjamin is a “packager” of business assets and an evangelist for Healthy Child's programs, connecting with like-minded companies who value the additive power of connection when objectives are aligned and brands are compatible.
Bill is a consummate brand-builder, having launched several properties and events in the entertainment and media industries. At Universal Studios, Benjamin launched “Holiday Wonderland” supported by partners including Macy’s and the “Giving Tree” cause marketing program. Additional successes include growing the Los Angeles Times “Festival of Books” into a world-class event, attracting over 140,000 guests per year and raising the broad appeal of this literary festival to brands including Toyota and Sprint.
A recent father to son Tate, Benjamin sees the importance of raising children in a healthy, non-toxic environment. He holds a BA from Brown University and an MBA from UCLA, and loves to garden, bike and develop his yoga practice.
Brenda Eskenazi, Ph.D.
Professor of Maternal & Child Health & Epidemiology, Director, Center for Children’s Environmental Health Research School of Public Health
Brooke Shields
Actress, Model, Mother of Rowan and Grier
"As I learn more and think further down the road, I find myself doing more. I realize that just because I can't go all the way and in every area, I still can make a sizable difference. In my mind, I may still lament that I haven't gone even farther, and sometimes at night I can't sleep thinking about all the things I haven't changed in my life and in the lives of my children. In my actions, though, I try always to be forward-moving, to focus on the change I am making. I'm thrilled that my children began with organic food and therefore won't have to make that switch to it, as I did. It feels good to know that once I adapt in certain areas (say, eating and cleaning), I'm better armed to attack areas that previously seemed out of reach."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Brooke and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Carolyn Murphy
Model, Activist, Mother to Dylan
"As I got older, and especially after I had my daughter Dylan in 2000, I realized I couldn't manage every single thing. It was hard enough to maintain my own household and, most important, to be a good mother. Part of the challenge of living a healthy life is knowing what to be wary of, but it's also knowing when and how to be realistic. After that foray in my 20s, I’ve opted not to get on a soapbox. In my home, though, I do what I can—choosing only certain toys for my daughter, purifying my water, using nontoxic cleaning products and finishing my floors naturally. I’ve carried my own reusable grocery bags for years. To me, being a realist doesn't mean giving in but starting small, writing out a list, and naming your top priority (mine was eating healthy). From there, you branch out."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Carolyn and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Carrie Cook Platt
Television / Literary Producer
Carrie Cook Platt is a communications and marketing consultant in Providence, Rhode Island. A senior producer at ABC News for 12 years, she is the recipient of 5 National Emmys, a Peabody Award and a George Polk Award. She was also the VP of Branded Content at Hill Holliday.
CJ Kettler
Media Industry Leader
C.J. Kettler is a media industry leader with broad operating and investment experience. Since January 2008, C.J. has resumed her role as a Partner at Propeller Partners, LLC and has been engaged as a consultant for large media companies and private equity investors in the digital sector. In January 2007, Kettler assumed the newly created role of President, NA for Travelzoo (NASDAQ:TZOO), a publicly held internet media company with approximately $80 million in revenues. At Travelzoo, she oversaw the North American business unit which accounts for ninety percent of the company’s revenues and reaches 11 million unduplicated newsletter subscribers.
In 2005, she created and launched LIME, the first and leading multiplatform “green living” brand, having secured funding from Steve Case’s Revolution, LLC. Under her leadership, the LIME brand was introduced simultaneously across multiple platforms including broadband television, radio, mobile, online, podcasting and home entertainment. LIME is considered the trusted resource for consumers seeking a healthy and green lifestyle, and for advertisers looking to reach this desirable audience segment.
Beginning in 2001, Ms. Kettler served as Managing Director and Operating Executive at Solera Capital, a private equity firm with $250 million under management. She was Co-President of Latina Magazine, one of Solera’s portfolio companies, and was instrumental in evaluating investment opportunities in the media industry. In 2003, Ms. Kettler co-founded Propeller Partners LLC, a boutique strategic advisory firm serving a wide range of media and entertainment companies.
Prior to Propeller, Ms. Kettler was a founding member of the Oxygen Media management team, serving as President of Sales and Marketing where she managed all cross platform integrated marketing relationships, as well as sponsorship sales, cable affiliate sales and research. From 1987 – 1999, Ms. Kettler was a Founding Partner at Sunbow Entertainment, a top ranked independent program supplier, where, as President and CEO, she negotiated the sale of the company to Sony Music Entertainment.
Ms. Kettler has amassed more than 20 years of operating experience in a wide range of leadership roles straddling digital and traditional media as well as domestic and international content development and production. Earlier senior operating roles include four years at Vestron, where she created and developed the Children’s Video Library. She also held executive positions at MTV Networks, McCann-Erickson Inc., and CBS, Inc.
Kettler holds a B.A. degree in Sociology from Smith College, and is a member of CTAM, WICT, and other industry organizations. She lives with her husband William Hitzig and their three daughters in NYC.
Claire Moss
Executive Administration and Programs Assistant
As the Executive Administration and Programs Assistant, Claire helps in the daily running of the office, and provides support for the executive staff. Claire studied History and Political Science at UCLA. She is excited to pursue her interests in environmental awareness and children's advocacy. In addition to her duties at Healthy Child, Claire enjoys spending time with her family, singing in the car, and keeping up with international news.
David Carpenter, MD
Professor of Environmental Health & Toxicology University of New York at Albany
He is the host of a 30 minute public health information show called "The Public Radio Health Show", which is carried on more than 170 stations nationwide including the Armed Forces Radio Network and Voice of America. Prior to joining the University at Albany, Dr. Carpenter was a Research Physician at the Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research.
Dr. Carpenter's research interests are in the following areas:
* Synaptic transmission
* Neuronal thermosensitivity
* Excitotoxicity and neuronal cell death
* Neural basis of human disease especially the Dementias and ALS
* Neurotoxicology
* Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation biology
* Public health education
Dr. Carpenter received his M.D. at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Carpenter is the author of more than 240 peer-reviewed publications, four books and over 40 book chapters and reviews. .
Dr. Carpenter was appointed to the board of the Pacific Basin Consortium in January 2000.
David Orr
Professor of Environmental Studies, Oberlin College, Author of The Nature of Design: Ecology, Culture and Human Intention
"What can we do to improve parenting? Most important, we must protect children and childhood, which means changing our priorities. As a society, that means such things as fewer shopping malls and more parks; less television and more family time; fewer roads and more trails. It means no child left behind...in every way.
That goal requires that we, parents and teachers, foster a sense of hope along with the competence to act faithfully. Hope and competence include old and durable standards of decency, compassion, and foresight but now extended to all life for as far out as we can imagine. But hope grows out of the practical necessities to:
1. love our children thoughtfully and consistently.
2. slow the velocity of life by eating together, playing together, reading together, working together.
3. eat well, which means mostly local, organic, and unprocessed foods.
4. engage the natural world—more accurately, to enjoy a love affair with it. The natural world is not an abstraction...yet."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
Devra Davis, PhD, MPH
Director, Center for Environmental Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute; author, The Secret History of the War on Cancer
Bio: Devra Davis's career has spanned all areas of academia, public policy, and scientific research. President Clinton appointed Dr. Davis to the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, (1994-99) an independent executive branch agency that investigates, prevents, and mitigates chemical accidents. As the former Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, she has counseled leading officials in the United Nations, World Health Organization, and World Bank. She also served as a Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—the group awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with Al Gore. She is the recipient of a Women’s Leadership Exchange Compass Award, for breaking the paradigms of how women are perceived, and the first Lisa Zhang Environmental Award from the United Nations in January 2008. She is the author of more than 190 scientific publications, the editor of 11 books, and has written two best-selling books.
Book Quote "What concerns me most is the insidious repackaging of information—the distorting, revising, concealing, and ignoring by corporations and the government. Thomas Jefferson said that democracy rests on an informed public that freely consents to be governed—but that assumes we're getting the proper information. And we're simply not. How can we consent when we don't even know they put toxic stuff in a product that we then rub on our babies' bottoms? People often ask me if I think the facts I report are just too alarming. I don't. We all have natural repair processes that keep us healthy much of the time. Getting informed about hazards we can avoid is critical to our health and that of our children and grandchildren. What I do find alarming is the volume of information that's been withheld from us...That's what people should be alarmed about, and what has to change."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
Dina Goda
Program Intern
Dina has been helping Healthy Child Healthy World in researching and writing blogs, program assitance and web contents.
She has earned a BA degree from UC Berkeley in Spanish Literature and another Molecular and Cellular Biology with Genetics Emphasis. She will be attending the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, medical school in January of 2009.
Dr. Alan Greene
Founder of DrGreene.com, Author of Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care
Dr. Greene is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, an Attending Pediatrician at Packard Children's Hospital, and a Senior Fellow at the University California San Francisco Center for the Health Professions. He is the Past President of The Organic Center, on the Advisory Board of Healthy Child, a founding partner of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment, and a consultant for the Environmental Working Group. In 1995, he launched DrGreene.com, cited by the AMA as “the pioneer physician Web site” on the Internet. His award-winning site receives over 440,000 Unique Users a month from parents, concerned family members, students, and healthcare professionals.
"Though a doctor may not provide the "greenest" answers to your questions, how he or she answers is often just as illuminating. Willingness to engage in a dialogue may be the real hallmark of a green pediatrician. When choosing a doctor, you of course want someone steeped in science, and aware of recent literature and controversies. But you also want someone who both articulates a point of view and desires to hear yours. I believe that teaching and inspiring one's patients, along with their families, about the value of nutrition, exercise, and overall attentiveness to environment may be of greater importance than the ability to write a prescription."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Dr. Greene and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Dr. Alan Greene is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, the President of the Society for Participatory Medicine, on the board of directors of Healthy Child Healthy World and the Organic Center. He is the author of many popular health and parenting books including Raising Baby Green and Feeding Baby Green.
He has been featured in the New York Times and has appeared on CNN, The TODAY Show, Good Morning America - NOW, and NBC Evening News. Dr. Greene was honored as one of “the 100 most creative and influential innovators working in health care today” and was named the Children’s Health Hero of the Internet by Intel. He is the Founder of the pioneering consumer health Website DrGreene.com that has touched millions of lives since its inception in 1995.
Dr. Andrea Rudominer M.D., M.P.H.
Pediatrician
Dr. Rudominer is a practicing pediatrician with Kaiser Permanante in San Jose, California and a passionate advocate for children’s health.
Throughout a ten-year career in healthcare, she has demonstrated a commitment to educating others and recently organized seminars on dental health, environmental health, and diabetes self-management. She is currently designing a program that will provide group doctor’s visits by conference call to parents with children of similar ages or diseases. The goal is improve healthcare by encouraging parents to share knowledge and support each other.
Dr. Rudominer is a graduate of UC Davis Medical school and UC Berkeley’s school of public health where she received an MPH in Maternal and Child Health. She trained as a resident at Stanford University’s Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Harvey Karp
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine, Author of The Happiest Baby on the Block
Harvey Karp has been a practicing pediatrician and child development specialist for 30 years and is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles. He has been a spokesperson on children’s environmental health for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Physicians for Social Responsibility, the California Department of Health Services, and the California Medical Association. He is author of “The Happiest Baby on the Block” and "The Happiest Toddler on the Block", and has committed his full-time efforts to writing, lecturing and education.
"John Muir, the great American naturalist, said that if you reach out and tug on a tiny piece of nature, you’ll discover that everything is connected to everything else. And because of this great connection, we often blunder into doing harm. “Oops, we’re sorry we polluted your river for the next 100 years!”…“Oops, we didn’t know the chemical we were using caused cancer!” These unintended consequences are especially worrisome for our children because early life experiences and exposures influence whether or not they will grow up to have healthy and happy lives.We've changed the world before and now, for the sake of our children, it’s time to do it again. This book lays out many ideas to boost health, shrink risks, and stack the deck in favor of your child’s well-being. And, as a bonus, your thoughtful example will nurture in your children your deep values, respect for nature, and the desire to make the world better."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Harvey and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Dr. Philippe Grandjean
Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health
Dr. Grandjean has served as Vice-Dean and Institute Chairman at Odense University and as member of the Danish Medical Research Council. He is founding editor of the web-based journal Environmental Health and has served as European Editor of the Archives of Environmental Health and is currently a member of editorial boards of ten scientific journals. He has been elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was elected to the Board of Collegium Ramazzini in 2005. Past committee memberships include the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency SAB/SAP Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Subcommittee, the Danish Committee on Scientific Dishonesty, the Panel on Contaminants of the European Food Safety Authority, and the chair of the Commission on Toxicology of IUPAC, and the Danish Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Research, as well as advisory tasks for several international organizations.
https://myprofile.cos.com/PGrand
Duke Stump
Architect
Duke is currently Principal and Chief Architect of The Northstar Manifesto. Informed by a collective of progressive individuals and new thinkers, The Northstar Manifesto is a dynamic brand strategy studio focused on cultivating and nurturing responsible ideas in the world of sustainability.
Prior to creating The Northstar Manifesto, Duke was Chief Marketing Officer for Seventh Generation - a pioneering brand in the world of corporate responsibility. In this role Duke was responsible for leading a gifted team focused on Brand- Product Innovation - Design - Communications - Corporate Responsibility and Consumer Insights. During his tenure they launched the most effective brand launch in the company’s 20 year history.
During his 15 plus years with NIKE, Duke reveled in the profound journey and enjoyed a variety of senior executive roles in Brand (VP NIKE Brand - Subsidiary], Product [VP Product Marketing] and Sales [Key Accounts]. Always one to seek out the path less taken, he experienced a vast array of business models and thrived on optimizing untapped opportunities. His leadership experience at NIKE was instrumental in framing his core beliefs and principles around brand building, the power of the human spirit and the artistry of insights.
Duke currently lives in an idyllic community in the seacoast of New Hampshire with his wonderful wife, two amazing daughters, horses, chickens and Caballito the wonder dog.
Elaine Faustman, Ph.D.
Professor and Director Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication Department of Environmental Health University of Washington
The long range objective of Dr. Faustman's research is two-fold: to identify biochemical mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity and to develop new approaches for the evaluation and characterization of health risks from environmental agents. Because 70% of human birth defects have an unknown etiology, the identification of additional preventable causes of birth defects is extremely important for improving public health. One key aim of her research is to understand molecular pathways that control normal brain cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
Faustman’s group is working to understand the biochemical, molecular, and exposure mechanisms that define children’s susceptibility to pesticides and to assess pesticide risks to normal childhood development and learning. Research investigations in her laboratory include understanding the potential for impacts of neurodevelopmental toxicants such as metals (methylmercury and arsenic), pesticides (organophosphates, and benomyl), and N-nitroso compounds on brain development. Faustman’s laboratory is also evaluating genomically conserved cell signaling pathways (such as P53 and P21 cell cycle check point pathways) in animal models to better understand the critical role they play in normal human brain development. This research will also help us to understand how such pathways may be altered by the environment resulting in abnormal neurodevelopment.
Elena Moroz
Research and Writing Intern
Elena is starting her fourth undergraduate year at UCLA, majoring in Neuroscience and International Development Studies, with a minor in French. Besides her studies, she researches Epilepsy at UCLA, and hopes to pursue graduate studies in International Public Health. Her future plans also include learning Arabic and Portuguese fluently and joining the Peace Corps to work with indigenous tribes in the Amazon. Elena loves dancing salsa and tango, doing yoga, and travelling. She is excited to intern at Healthy Child Healthy World, where she is learning so much about a subject that she is interested in and passionate about.
Emily Lynne Ion
Communications and Outreach Associate
As Director of Communications and Outreach at Healthy Child Healthy World, Emily fuses her interest in media, marketing, and outreach with her passion for improving the health and well-being of children. She holds a degree in International Communications from the American University of Paris, and has extensive work experience as a mentor and tutor for children of various ages. She is committed to lifetime learning and exploring all sides of creativity through words, music and design. Her other passions include romance languages, travel, doing yoga, and listening to Stevie Wonder.
Erin Brockovich
President of Brockovich Research & Consulting, Environmental Advocate
"To bring about change, the most important thing is information. The Freedom of Information Act gives you access to records. I know it sounds like a lot, but there’s always one angry mom in the group who’s willing to do the research. It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with public agencies, Congress, neighbors: If you go into a tirade without facts, it will fall on deaf ears. (If you don’t like to speak publicly, work with someone who can; none of us is ever a lone warrior.) But when you have documents, when you can say, This is poison being sprayed…Look at how often they’re spraying…people are masters at making connections. Oh, my god, my daughter has been acting like that, too. As soon as it hits home, as soon as it’s about parent and child and neighborhood, people spring into action."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Erin and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Erin Brockovich
President of Brockovich Research & Consulting, Environmental Advocate
Erin Brockovich is President of the consulting firm Brockovich Research & Consulting and was the Director of Environmental Research at Masry and Vititoe law firm until 2008. She is credited for spearheading the 1996 environmental lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Company on behalf of 600 members of the Hinkley, California community. Her tireless efforts resulted in a $333 million compensation package, the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit. Erin’s Healthy Child Healthy World message advocating for children’s health appeared on over 22 million Organic Valley milk cartons in 2003.
Gigi Lee Chang
Plum Organics Founder
Inspired by his joy of eating and hearing my mommy friends talk about the lack of fresh baby food options, Plum Organics was born. To give parents more choices and to provide babies with better more nutritious baby food.
Using baby-approved recipes and the finest organic ingredients, our products are cooked to perfection and then flash frozen to lock in freshness and nutrients. That's why our foods retain more of their rich flavors, vibrant colors and textures.
From one parent to another, I know you will feel good about Plum Organics when you see the smile on your baby's face!
https://www.plumorganics.com/
Gwyneth Paltrow
Actress, Mother to Apple and Moses
"Food was the beginning of my awareness of the toxic substances we ingest. Now we do other things to protect our family's health, from installing a water filtration system to sleeping on organic mattresses and using nontoxic shampoos. I try to open the windows in the day—an old-fashioned airing out—even in winter, because the air inside the house is often more polluted than the air outside. I read a lot—moms email each other links to studies and health alerts, the kind that keep you up at night. But I try not to get hysterical about it. I'm not doing all this to turn my kids into freaks--I just want them to be as healthy as they possibly can. I don't want to fill them with anxiety. I keep the anxiety part to myself.
An ancient Chinese proverb says something like, 'Food and medicine have the same root.' The more I learn about food, the more amazed I am at how their properties can basically fix anything."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Gwyneth and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Herbert L. Needleman, MD
Professor of Pediatrics & Child Psychiatry University of Pittsburgh
Holly Robinson Peete
Actress, Mother to Rodney Jackson (“RJ”), Ryan, Robinson, and Roman
"When my twins were born 10 years ago they were both asthmatic. We used nebulizers; we tried aromatherapy, acupressure, acupuncture. They both ended up growing out of it, thank God. But now I’m dealing with my 5- and 2-year-old, and you never know when something is going to trigger an attack.
Sometimes I wonder why this is happening to us. (I should mention that my oldest son, Rodney, is on the autistic spectrum, and there’s lots of discussion in the scientific community about environmental causes for that, too.) I’ve noticed that strong chemical smells can trigger the twins’ asthma, and you never know when it will kick in. They’re also both allergic to wheat and sometimes that causes it. To deal with their illness, we’ve had to make our home as healthy as possible, but it’s been a steep learning curve."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Holly and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
James Chuda
Co-Founder & Environmental Architect
is a dedicated environmentalist, and co-founder of Healthy Child. He is an independent, nationally board-certified, architect specializing in the creation of non-toxic living and working environments that welcome healthful lifestyles. Along with his wife Nancy, Jim received the 1996 "Environmental Leadership Award" from the California League of Conservation Voters.
Janelle Sorensen
Senior Editor and Outreach Strategist
Janelle joined Healthy Child's team as Senior Editor and Outreach Strategist after years of working with a variety of environmental organizations, government offices, schools and parent groups across the country. Janelle also takes care of her sweet little girls, cooks, cleans, gardens, reads, bikes, hikes, crafts, laughs, speaks using silly voices and accents, drafts environmental policies, works on a Master's Degree, and tries to keep up with social media. Well, typically not all at the same time.
Jason Graham-Nye
Kimberley (wife of me) and I (Jason) had this grand plan...to move to America from Australia and launch a new and very unique kind of baby diaper: gDiapers. They are flushable and compostable and have been in Australia since 1991. We were just happy customers who loved it so much, we bought the rights to the rest of the world and headed to Portland, Oregon with child and dog in tow.
We launched the product 11 months ago and are now available nationally through Whole Foods & Wild Oats and 300 or so natural supermarkets.
We are the very first consumer good with William McDonough’s "Cradle to Cradle" product accreditation - something we are very proud of. We also give a percentage of revenue to CHEC - we love those guys and gals.
Jay Feldman
Executive Director, Beyond Pesticides
, co-founder and executive director of Beyond Pesticides, has dedicated himself to finding solutions to pesticide problems after working with farm workers through an EPA grant to the national advocacy organization, Rural America. Since 1981 he has helped to build Beyond Pesticides’ capacity to assist local groups and impact national policy.
[email protected]
Jeffrey Hollender
President, Seventh Generation, Inc., Father of Meika, Alexander, and Chiara
President and Chief Inspired Protagonist of Seventh Generation, Jeffrey Hollender is a well-respected leader in the socially and environmentally responsible communities. Jeffrey has led Seventh Generation from its humble beginnings to its current position as the leading and fastest-growing brand of natural products for the home. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors of Greenpeace USA, Healthy Child Healthy World, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, and Alloy Inc., a publicly traded company.
"We know how to create that healthy home the doctor spoke about, and we have. What I want is for everyone else to know, too. Because so many people simply don't. People just don't realize that many of the things surrounding them are turning their homes into toxic sinks in which the air is two to five times more polluted than the air just outside. Most of all, they don't realize what all these things can do to the most vulnerable and defenseless among us. I don’t want anyone else to feel what I felt on that scary summer day. I don't want another child to suffer. From where I sit, I can see the place where those things never happen. I can see a world that's safe, clean, and healthy, one that nurtures life instead of harming it, and we're going to get there."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Jeffrey and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Jena King
Environmental Activist
Jena King is a founding member of C.O.A.C.H for Kids, an organization that provides medical assistance to underprivileged children. She is also on the Boards of University Elementary School (UES) and the Environmental Media Association. Jena is a philanthropist who oversees the Jena and Michael King Foundation, helping support numerous causes championing children and the environment. Jena and her husband Michael King live in Los Angeles with their two children Audrey and Teddy.
Jenna Elfman
Actor, Mother of Story
"I start with little things I can face easily. Right now I’m about to research what plastics to use (and not) for food storage. I just need twenty minutes on Google every so often. I also have organic food delivered and I switched to Seventh Generation cleaning products. (I’ve never liked the smell of cleaning products; but when I was pregnant, I really hated it.) I also use phthalate-free nail polish (that was pregnancy, too—one whiff of the regular stuff and I nearly passed out, plus it’s bad for you when you’re expecting). I’ve bought lots of organic products for the baby—crib mattress, fitted sheets, towels, sleeping gowns, clothes. I even stopped using deodorant and switched to The Rock. Seriously. See, there’s that gradient scale again. Suddenly it all made sense. I was willing to change. "
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
Jennifer Banawa
Programs and Administration Intern
As an intern, Jennifer provides research for current and future projects, and assists the staff in any way she can. Currently attending the University of California, Los Angeles and working to complete degrees in Sociology and Classical Civilizations, she aims to become a family services social worker. Under the direction of the Healthy Child Healthy World staff, she hopes to expand her resources by gaining in-depth knowledge about the structures, functions, and interactions of organizational systems in order to inform and improve the lives of families in the future. Jennifer
is also a researcher for the Sustainability and Strategic Sourcing group under UCLA Campus
Purchasing, a member of the UCLA Symphony, super-glued to her iPod, and is constantly seen
whipping up experiments in the kitchen.
Jennifer Taggart
Educational Programs Specialist
Jennifer Taggart is a passionate advocate for children’s environmental health. She is the mother of two - a 3 and 1/2 year old boy and a 1 and 1/2 year old girl. She is committed to eliminating or reducing toxins from their environment in today’s busy word, focusing on simple and practical solutions. Outside the home, Jennifer is a partner with Demetriou, Del Guercio, Springer and Francis, LLP, a Los Angeles boutique law firm where she practices environmental law, focusing on consumer product labeling and Proposition 65 compliance and litigation.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Jennifer worked as an environmental engineer for an aerospace company. She has a B.S. in Engineering Science. This technical background helps her understand the complex chemistry of today’s consumer products.
Jennifer also teaches a course entitled Smart Mama’s Green Guide: Reducing Toxins in Your Baby’s Environment. She focuses on practical advice to busy parents to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals. She recognizes that in today’s busy world, deciphering product labels and researching product ingredients can be daunting. She focuses on easy steps that can eliminate or reduce toxic chemical exposures. Her forthcoming book is designed for parents who want to reduce toxins, but need easy to implement ideas. In other words, it will educate, inform and encourage parents and caregivers to hug a tree without getting dirty.
Jenny Brady
Green Educational Consultant
Jenny has been working with Healthy Child, Healthy World (HCHW) since 1999. Ms. Brady brings a wide range of professional experience in project coordination, business management, and client service. In addition to a BA from UCLA in Ecosystem Analysis, she received an MA from Antioch University in Environmental Advocacy. She is passionate about educating people about the pervasive toxic substances that affect our health and environment. A Certified Green Build Professional, she founded Going Green Consulting, a HCHW partner business devoted to non-toxic solutions for living environments. She is married with two children living in Southern California.
Jeremiah McNichols
Jeremiah McNichols
Jeremiah McNichols is a blogger, author, industry consultant, and consumer advocate. With his wife Jennifer, Jeremiah publishes Z Recommends, a daily parenting blog featuring product reviews, consumer research, industry reports, and information, with an emphasis on safe, educational, and entertaining toys, activities, and projects to help kids grow into intelligent consumers with sustainable lifestyles. Z Recommends' research and reviews have been cited by such sources as the Washington Post, the Environmental Working Group, the Sierra Club, U.S. News and World Report, Grist, and a wide variety of blogs and websites.
In addition to publishing Z Recommends, the blog's parent company, ZRecs, publishes the blog giveaway hub PRIZEY and the group gardening blog and garden planning tool, Gardenaut. Jeremiah is a frequent guest on the parenting podcast Jumping Monkeys and a contributor to the Wired.com blog GeekDad. Current projects include a series of audio stories for children, a novel for young adults, and a book for toddlers about vegetarianism. Jeremiah and Jennifer are also the proud parents of Z, who started it all.
Jessica Capshaw
Actress, Mother of Luke, Wife of Healthy Child Executive Director, Christopher Gavigan
What I so appreciate about Healthy Child's book is the way the information is delivered. It offers the most credible parenting advice, passed through a trusted filter that makes it understandable and doable. Every parent out there can feel personally empowered to prioritize what they should do today. It shows me the best products, affordable and inexpensive alternatives, and supports my instincts to do all I can for my child and family's health.
Jessica Webb
PR/Communications Intern
As a PR/Communications Intern at Healthy Child, Jessica assists with marketing and media strategies as well as general research and writing. Jessica recently graduated from Wheaton College (MA) in January, after the completion of independent research on the long-term effects of drug therapies used to treat children with ADHD. As a Psychology major with a clear enthusiasm for the neurosciences, she hopes to continue her education in domestic and global health and plans to obtain a Masters in Public Health in years to come. She has worked closely with children both domestically and internationally which has undoubtedly contributed to her concern for children’s health and welfare worldwide.
Joe Henry
Poet & Lyricist
is a writer whose Emmy-nominated lyrics have been performed in nearly eighty recordings, in films and television specials and series, and provided the text for One World/One Child, a book of international photography. His works for the stage were devised from his novel-in-progress, Lime Creek, and his poetry and lyrics performed by distinguished actor Anthony Zerbe. In 1992, Henry received a Creative Fellowship Award in Fiction from the Colorado Council on the Arts; in 1993, the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts; and in 1994, a National Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation, for "the celebration of the natural world in his work."
Joel Schwartz, Ph.D.
Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health
John Peters, M.D.
Professor and Director of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine
John Wargo, PhD
Director, Center for Children’s Environmental Health, Yale University
Jonathan Weiss
Healthy Child Board Treasurer
Jonathan is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Eagle Group LLC; an owner, manager, and developer of commercial real estate based in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Eagle Group, Jonathan acted as the CFO and COO of Los Angeles Rose Apparel, Inc. – a Los Angeles based designer and manufacturer of nursing apparel. Jonathan is Certified Public Accountant having spent time in the accounting, consulting, and mergers and acquisitions practices at KPMG Peat Marwick and Price WaterhouseCoopers. Jonathan received his Masters in Business Administration and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles and now lives just a few miles from Healthy Child’s headquarters with his beautiful wife, active daughter, and sweet golden retriever Emma.
Josie Maran
Model, Founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics, Mother to Rumi
"I wanted to get the word out, and I wanted to find out what other products you could make that would be free of synthetic chemicals. So I took some of my favorite ones to a lab and asked if they could make natural versions. That’s how my company was born.
Now that I have a daughter, I use 100% organic products as much we can. Sometimes that means going without deodorant, but I’ve tried to make it cool to stink. I’ve embraced it and I’ve gotten my friends to do it as well.
During my years of pursuing my career, my family said, Come on Josie, do something. I always knew I wanted to affect change--my grandmother teaches human rights activism at UC Berkeley, and my dad’s a green builder, after all--but I didn’t have any direction. Finally something just clicked, and it was easy to act."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Josie and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Kate Hudson
Actress, Entrepreneur, Mother of Ryder
"Food is another area where I try to exert control. Cooking is one of my favorite things to do; when I'm away on a set and can’t cook for Ryder, it drives me crazy. I like to get as inventive as possible--Jessica Seinfeld beat me to the punch with her book because I hide good things in Ryder's food all the time. He doesn't like veggies so I boil them, puree them, then hide them in anything so he doesn't say, "Mommy, I see something green..." It's all about taking charge. You can't stop your child from what they're going to do outside the home. But I can do something—quite a lot, actually—about the products in my home. That requires my being as conscious about things as possible—what you put in and on your body. Plus, I believe in constantly finding new ways to do things, myself."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
Keri Russell
Actress, Mother of River
"Last summer I was sitting with a couple of friends, watching our naked babies on the grass. We were in Martha’s Vineyard, where my husband was raised; my son River and the others were lying and rolling around without diapers, happily flapping their little arms and legs.
My friends and I were saying that we wish our babies could always just run around without clothes and that we wouldn’t have to worry about what’s in the grass, or about other kinds of outdoor pollution
Recently I took River for a walk in Fort Greene Park early in the morning. There are always families with strollers and babies toddling around this little green oasis. If you squint your eyes you wouldn’t know you’re in New York City. And I can’t help but think that if we keep cleaning up our acts, maybe someday our babies will be able to roll around naked on the grass here, too."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Keri and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Kiersten Alton, Rph.
Nutritionist
After graduating from the University of Montana with a Pre-Med Zoology degree, I then attended pharmacy school at the University of Texas where I obtained a bachelors degree in Pharmacy.
I currently work for a holistic, wellness Pharmacy called Peoples Pharmacy. We specialize in helping patients get back their health by changing diet and lifestyle first. When needed, we use supplements, herbs, vitamins and diagnostic testing to help manage all types of conditions. I have over 500 additional hours of training in other modalities of healing. I love working with infants, toddlers and older children.
My true passion lies in changing the way we feed our children. I firmly believe many of the childhood diseases and conditions such as asthma, ADD, and eczema could be reduced if we gave those little growing bodies the building blocks to develop a healthy system. As a pharmacist I feel that the overuse of antibiotics has greatly contributed to many of these conditions. I work with many Autistic and special needs children. This is the most rewarding work anyone can do. These children desperately need our help. Their bodies are extremely toxic from the environment, the food and modern medicine. My future goals are to start a structured nutrition program in schools, which engages the parents, teachers and children to develop healthy eating habits. Good eating habits begin with that first bite of food at 6 months of age.
I love what I do, but more importantly I love being a mother even more! My toddler has taught me more about life in the last 4 years than any school or class ever will. He has helped me develop toddler friendly programs and tests all of my recipes and natural remedies!
Larry Eason
Board Chair/Web and New Media Strategist
brings to the Healthy Child board a lifelong commitment to the environment and to improving the lives of children. Larry is Healthy Child Healthy World's Board Chair and Senior Vice President for Virilion - a communications firm that specializes in new media and the web. Prior to joining Virilion, he spent nearly two decades working with nonprofit organizations and political campaigns where he brought his innovative problem solving to organizational strategy, staff training and staff management. Larry has always had a passion for preserving the environment, leading campaigns on climate change, banning dangerous pesticides, reducing pollution and preserving wilderness.
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Laura Dern
Actress, Activist, Mom to Ellery and Jaya
Laura Dern has emerged as one of the great actresses of her generation proving that she is capable of great depth and range, touching audiences and critics alike with her moving and heartfelt performances. The recipient of countless awards, Laura is recognized for her ability to portray a wide range of characters. Not only is she a wonderful actress, but she is a dedicated environmentalist and mother. Her decision to join the Healthy Child Healthy World Advisory Board and become their spokesperson is a testament to her commitment to the cause.
"We hear the news that we're having a baby and we want to be really healthy and careful. So we eat organically, avoid mercury in fish, don’t drink, don’t smoke; we don’t use hair color or paint our nails. We spend all this energy and time creating a really healthy environment--and then we totally switch gears. We stop thinking about health and somehow lead ourselves to believe that the most important thing for the baby when it comes home from the hospital is…a pretty room. And so we choose the coolest crib design, instead of the safest or healthiest crib. We pick the absolute cutest linens, even if they’re covered in flame-retardants and other chemicals (never mind that a baby can hardly see at first). Unwittingly, we put loads of toxic chemicals into the room as we strive to make it look just right."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Laura and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
View all Voices For Change
Lenore Breslauer
Colette Chuda’s grandmother and founding member of Another Mother for Peace
“We who have given life must be dedicated to preserving it.”
Another Mother for Peace, January 1970
Lenore Breslauer, was Colette Chuda’s grandmother. She was a founding member of the citizens antiwar group, Another Mother for Peace (AMP. Her work opposing the Vietnam war helped shape the conscience of a nation.
She was born and raised in New York City. She attended Hunter College and began work assisting William Morris of the William Morris Agency. Married, she moved to Los Angeles and began to raise her family, working over the next two decades for the prominent business management agency, Breslauer, Jacobson and Rutman.
She was an active participant in West Hollywood's City Council-- and was the first restaurant owner in the cities history, to earmark into law, the public use of outdoor seating for eating and dining. Sunset Plaza O Lenore, along with her son, Jon Gould owned and operated Pasta Etc., located on Sunset Plaza Drive which was one of the first, authentic northern Italian cuisine eateries in Los Angeles. Hailed by food critics as "better than Italy," her homemade pasta, sauces,and salad dressings were distributed throughout southern California in places like Mrs. Gooch (now Whole Foods). Her devotion to food segued to her "roots," as an activist.
When the HIV Aids epidemic began, she opened her kitchen and assisted Project Angel Food, an organization her son helped to create along with author Marianne Williamson get started by serving homemade meals to patients who could not have access to public places do to the threat of their illness.
During the 1960s, with the Vietnam War as catalyst, Lenore became an activist. With six like minded friends from diverse backgrounds, she founded Another Mother for Peace (AMP), a non-profit, non-partisan association whose goal was to eliminate war as a means of settling disputes between nations, peoples and ideologies. This enormously active association grew to more than 80,000 strong and was recognized nationally and internationally. AMP sought to educate women to take an active role in creating peace by re-establishing the dialogue between individuals and their elected representatives. Their efforts set a standard for all-volunteer, grassroots activism. Their logo is familiar to many and has become emblematic of the peace effort. Their slogan, "we who have given life must be dedicated to preserving it. . ." lives on.
Lenore's daughter, Nancy, now carries forward the legacy of grassroots activism, turning toward protecting children's environmental health: "by putting our children's environmental health first, we protect our future."
My mother’s legacy will always inspire friends of Healthy Child Healthy World.
Throughout the years her activism provided a platform for others to emulate. Another Mother For Peace (AMP) membership grew to 450,000 people, and today their logo remains an internationally recognized symbol of peace, a sunflower bearing the message: “War is not healthy for children and other living things.”
Lenore’s leadership and selfless efforts continue to inspire us. In 1991, thanks to her support, she helped Jim and I establish (CHEC) the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition to respond to another threat to children and other living things. The threat of toxic chemicals. Using her motto at AMP, we adopted a template of our own. “Toxins are not healthy for children and other living things.”
Throughout the years, Lenore served on many committee’s, volunteered her home as a base for campaigns and fundraising efforts, and petitioned her friends for support. She attended the very first meeting in Jackson Hole Wyoming and contributed tirelessly, hours, days, months and years to the building of a grass roots base using her experience, wisdom, and expertise as an advocate for world peace.
In 2002, at a Special Mother’s Day celebration held in her honor, Erin Brockovich bestowed Lenore with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to protect, defend and preserve human life.
In 2003, to honor her memory, we established a Special Mother’s Day fund. “Another Mother for a Toxic Free America,” mission helped to empower citizens to change government and industry policies to protect children from toxic chemical threats.
Over $75,000 was raised to support educational outreach for California state legislation protective of childrens health and a parents right to know.
Leonardo Trasande, M.D.
Assistant Director, Center for Children's Health and Environment, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Dr. Trasande earned a Master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He completed a pediatrics residency at Boston Children's Hospital. During this residency, he noticed that residents rarely learned how to influence the policy-making process to improve the lives of children. As a result, he developed and established an advocacy training program for residents.
In his current work at CCHE, Dr. Trasande uses his previous advocacy experiences to influence local, state and national policy. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and he continues to practice clinically both in New York and in Boston.
Leslie Robison, Ph.D
Professor of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota
Luanna Lindsey
Senior Vice President – Wells Fargo Bank
Lynn Goldman, MD
John Hopkins School of Public Health
Mandy Geisler
Programs Director
As Programs Director at Healthy Child Healthy World, Mandy oversees and coordinates programs, projects, operations and events. Mandy holds a Master's Degree in Economics and Education. When not working, she loves to travel above all else, dance, and ride her bike all over the inhospitable streets of Los Angeles.
Marion Nestle
New York University
Marion Nestle; author of "Food Politics," "What to Eat," and three other books; is Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health and Professor of Sociology at New York University. Her degrees include a Ph.D. in molecular biology and an M.P.H. in public health nutrition.
Mary Martin Gant
Chair / National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences / Program Analyst National Institutes of Health
Matthew C. Parker
Environmental Health Program Intern
Matthew is a recent alumnus from the University of Southern California, graduating with honors with Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies. Matthew became interested in Healthy Child Healthy World as a result of his exposure to the nonprofit last year while working in Washington, D.C. As the Environmental Health Programs Intern, Matthew has the opportunity to utilize his passion for health and writing through contributing to the daily BLOG posts. Matthew has extensive background experience as a student researcher at USC, and, last spring, Matthew split his time between volunteering as a student researcher at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and working as a Children’s Health Intern at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). He has decided that he wants to pursue a possible career in either health writing and marketing or continue his schooling and earn his M.D. He is currently pursuing his Master’s of Science degree in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. In his free time, Matthew enjoys attending concerts around Los Angeles and finding every opportunity to escape the LA smog and experience the outdoors with his friends.
Melina Kanakaredes
Actress, Mother to Zoe and Karina
"When you become a parent, it offers a chance to do things in a new way, to be more conscious about the decisions you make because each one affects more than just you. You want to give your children the greatest parts of what your parents gave you and then maybe take it even a step further. From my family I learned a respect for using and not abusing the land, not taking it for granted. Now I'm trying to convey to my girls the value in simple things, especially given the opulence of LA and big-city life: eating fresh food from the farmer’s market; looking for fairies or lightning bugs in the woods rather than sitting in front of the TV; observing how the flowers and trees change with the seasons. We love watching things grow. In our yard we have some amazing fruit trees—grapefruit, lemons, figs—which remind me so much of Greece."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Melina and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Meryl Streep
Actress, Environmentalist Activist, and Mother
Meryl Streep is a world famous film and stage actress, mother, and environmental activist. She has dedicated much of her time, talent and good will to many worthy causes and is especially concerned about preserving and protecting the environment. She graciously penned the forward to the book "Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home".
"Healthy Child Healthy World came into existence not just to inform the public, but to energize it by focusing on what parents can do right now as individuals. So much that’s out there now is about what you should not do; Healthy Child tries to emphasize the healthful solutions you can follow, the positive things you can do for your family, your home, yourself.
Of course, the steps we take at home have larger ramifications, because the choices we make every day at the grocery store and the hardware store count. With each purchase we make (and don't make), we're all voting for a more healthful (or safer) environment.
Why is the truth like organic food? Because it’s a little harder to find, and a little more expensive than the alternative, but as demand for it grows, the price you have to pay for it comes down."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Meryl and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today
Michelle Obama
First Lady of the United States, Mother of Malia and Sasha
"The number of children with asthma has more than doubled since 1980, and this epidemic disproportionately affects minority communities. As a society, we need to help parents in the inner city live in clean environments that aren’t dangerous to their children’s health. There are both genetic and environmental factors to asthma, but genetics change too slowly to explain the spike in cases we’ve seen recently. Clearly we’re not doing a good enough job addressing the environmental causes.
From my experience in health care, I know that a lot of what contributes to the crisis is people not taking adequate care of themselves on the front end. In addition to living in unhealthy communities, our children eat poorly and exercise less. They spend more time indoors, in front of the TV, where so many other asthma triggers reside. All of this together weakens their immune systems. So we need to make our children’s environments healthier."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from the First Lady and many more, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Myra Goodman
Earthbound Farm
Myra Goodman is the co-founder, with her husband Drew, of Earthbound Farm. She currently serves as executive vice-president and chief creative officer. Originally from New York City, Earthbound Farm started in 1984 when Myra and Drew began farming organically on their 2 -acre backyard garden in Carmel Valley, California. Today, their organic produce is farmed by more than 150 farmers on 30,000 acres and is available in 76% of American supermarkets. Annually, Earthbound Farm's organic farming avoids the use of more than 10 million pounds of conventional agricultural chemicals.
“Starting our family brought the value of eating organic food into even sharper focus. Children are more vulnerable to developmental damage from pesticide residues on food; their bodies are still growing, their metabolisms are faster, and because of their smaller size, they eat more fruits and vegetables per pound of body weight than adults do.
When we first started farming, Drew and I knew instinctively that we didn’t want conventional agricultural chemicals in our backyard or on our food. We wanted to grow food we’d feel good about, and so we taught ourselves to farm organically.
It’s my personal passion to bring the benefits of organic food to as many people as possible and serve as a catalyst for positive change. We’re trying to change how America farms and how Americans eat, because we believe organic food is the healthiest choice for people and the planet."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Myra and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Myra Goodman is the author of Food to Live By: The Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook (Workman, 2006), and the co-founder, with her husband Drew, of Earthbound Farm. Over 25 years ago, the two city kids from New York taught themselves to farm their 2.5-acre backyard garden organically so they could feel good about the food they were growing. Today, Earthbound Farm is joined by 150 dedicated farmers using sustainable organic methods on more than 33,000 acres; in 2009 alone, Earthbound Farm’s organic farming operations will keep more than 10 million pounds of synthetic agricultural chemicals out of the environment and out of the food supply.
Nancy Gould Chuda
Co-Founder & Chair of Honorary Board, Author & Environmental Activist
is the founder of Healthy Child Healthy World. Healthy Child Healthy World was established to honor the Chuda’s only child, Colette, who died in 1991 at the age of five due to a rare, non-genetic, form of cancer. Since launching both the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund and Healthy Child Healthy World, Nancy has won numerous awards for her advocacy. The California League of Conservation Voter's Environmental Leadership Award, The Healthy Schools Heroes Award, presented to both her and her husband James Chuda by Governor Gray Davis for their legislative efforts in securing The Healthy Schools Act which was signed into law in January, 2000.
She serves as an associate of the Director's Council of Public Representatives of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was appointed by President Clinton’s Health and Human Services Secretary, Donna Shalala, to serve as a member of the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council for the National Institutes of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) a position she held for four years.
Nancy Greenspan
Writer
Nancy Greenspan is a founding board member of Healthy Child Healthy World. Her commitment to environmental issues grew from witnessing the effects of toxins on children’s health. As an environmental activist, she has worked on pesticide regulations, recycling initiatives, and energy conservation programs. Ms. Greenspan is a writer. Her latest book is the End of the Certain World, a biography of Nobel physicist Max Born, who is also the grandfather of board member Olivia Newton-John.
Nell Newman
Cofounder of Newman’s Own Organics, Author of The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life
"Kids like to be part of the decision-making process. Next time you go to the store, have them help you read the labels to see what's in things, answer your questions about what the foods are, help you find foods with the "certified organic" label. If there's a nearby farmers' market, it's a much more interesting experience than the grocery store. Kids can pick their favorite produce and ask the farmers about how they grew it. Kids love meeting farmers.
Things are different today from when I grew up, and it's a lot harder to get kids who are entrenched in their habits to go outside their comfort zones. But I really believe it's just a matter of exposing them early to where food comes from: a field, not a box; a tree, not a jar; a fish, not a stick."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Nell and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Nicole Meadow
MPN, RD, and a Registered Dietitian
She specializes in working with infants, children and young adults who have a variety of nutritional concerns such as overweight/obesity, failure to thrive, food allergies, celiac disease, selective eating, eating disorders and many others. Nicole works with typically developing children and children with developmental disabilities. She works with clients and their families privately in her offices in Encino, Valencia or Beverly Hills and teaches classes in the community. Prior to opening her private practice, NutritionWise, she worked at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Nicole has developed innovative and unique techniques to assist children and families with nutritional concerns. Nicole is also a mom, her son Andrew is 4 ½ years old. Visit www.nicolemeadow.com for additional information.
Nina Montée
Activist & Environmentalist
is a diligent and accomplished fundraiser who is passionate about children's causes. In addition, she is an entrepreneur, producer, and owner of the celebrated Nina Montée Spa. Ms. Montée resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband, Dr. Harvey Karp. She is the mother of one adult daughter, Lexi.
Noah Wyle
Actor, Dad to Owen and Auden
"My wife Tracy and I were both raised by quasi-hippie parents; our instinct is to do things in a pretty green and natural way. Soon after having kids ourselves, we went through everything in our house to see if we could do better. My wife was a champion breast-feeder, but occasionally we’d augment with a bottle. Then we found out that if you leave a bottle of water in the car and the temperature of the car heats up, chemicals from the plastic leach into the liquid. It makes perfect rational sense but why we didn’t think of it before I couldn’t tell you. Soon we were researching bottles that don’t do that, and that’s what we now use. Throughout this, Tracy has become something of a budding toxicologist, and has dragged me to baby expos and health fairs. But her passion has become mine."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Noah and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Olivia Newton-John
Singer, Actress, Environmentalist
"Healthy Child - Healthy World!!
The 2 are so intricately intertwined, a reflection of each other, and this has been our goal since this organization was started 16 years ago.
Nancy and Jim Chuda, my dear friends and founders of Healthy Child Healthy World, were visionaries and saw the need then for these guidelines to inform parents on how to protect their children from environmental hazards. I am proud to be a part of this green team!"
Olivia Newton-John helped launch Healthy Child Healthy World in 1992, and served as national spokesperson for a decade. Her steadfast devotion has enabled Healthy Child to receive global attention and international support. Her contributions of time and talent have been significant and far-reaching. She also collaborated on the creation and production of Healthy Child’s first educational video, “Not Under My Roof: Protecting Your Baby From Toxins At Home."
Peter L. Pfeiffer
Green Architect, FAIA
https://www.barleypfeiffer.com/
Peter L. Pfeiffer
Principal of Barley & Pfeiffer Architects
"The room attached to your home—the garage—harbors a variety of chemicals and substances that you want to keep out of children's reach (that’s why you store them there). Half-open cans of paint, bags of fertilizers, spilled oil, car grease—these all off-gas significantly, more so as it gets hotter or more humid. And don’t forget your car, which is full of chemicals and plastics and off-gasses for hours after you pull in. When you open the door to your home, these airborne chemicals and hydrocarbons come rushing in—especially when air ducts from A/C and heating units aren’t sealed tightly. When the door opens, there’s a vacuum effect.
Do an air-duct seal test to ensure the duct system is functioning efficiently and this vacuum scenario doesn’t occur. Ensure that the doors and access areas to the garage are well sealed with proper weather stripping.”
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Peter and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Philip J. Landrigan, MD MSc
Ethel H. Wise Professor of Pediatrics, Chair of Community and Preventative Medicine, Director of the Children's Environmental Health Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., M.Sc., is a pediatrician, epidemiologist, and internationally recognized leader in public health and preventive medicine. Dr. Landrigan is known for his many decades of work in protecting children against environmental threats to health, most notably lead and pesticides. His pioneering research on lead toxicity at low levels persuaded the US government to mandate removal of lead from gasoline and paint, actions that have produced a 90% decline in incidence of childhood lead poisoning over the past 25 years. He has been a leader in developing the National Children's Study, the largest study of children's health and the environment ever launched in the United States. He has been centrally involved in the medical and epidemiologic studies that followed the destruction of the World Trade Center on January 11, 2001. He has consulted extensively to the World Health Organization, and has published more than 500 scientific papers and five books.
"I’ve seen some terrible cases of lead exposure during pregnancy. In these situations, pregnant moms and their partners decided to sand down old paint on window frames and doors because they wanted to make their homes safe and beautiful for their baby. Tragically, they didn’t realize that the paint they were sanding was lead paint with very high lead content. The sanding produced lead-contaminated dust, and the moms inhaled the dust. In one family, the mom developed a blood lead level of 45 mg/DL, an extremely toxic level. Lead passes easily across the placenta from mother to baby, and her baby was severely brain-damaged. The tragedy is that with proper information, this could have been completely avoided."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Dr. Landrigan and many others, pick up a copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Rebecca Foster
Green Educational Consultant
Rebecca Foster is one of the original members of Healthy Child, Healthy World. Being a mother of three girls made it a priority to stay closely involved for the last 17 years. From co-chairing many Healthy Child annual events, to launching The Green House, her experience and knowledge has been invaluable. She found her passion blending her sense of style, love of great design and enthusiasm for green interior design into assisting Healthy Child with it's goal of being a leader in children' environmental health. A Certified Green Building Professional she co-founded Going Green Consulting.
Rene Jones
Director, UTA Foundation
René Jones is the founding Director of the UTA Foundation, the private, non-profit charitable arm of United Talent Agency, one of the entertainment industry's leading talent and literary agencies. As Director, Jones has established and oversees all charitable programs for the foundation and works closely with UTA's clients and employees on their philanthropic activity. Ms. Jones began her career in the U.S. Senate working for Sen. Barbara Boxer, then she went on to serve as Finance Director and Consultant for many high-profile U.S. Senate and Governor campaigns around the country. She also served as Development Director for several non-profits including; Do Something, The White House Project, and The Museum of Television & Radio in Los Angeles. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband Roy and their adorable son Chase.
Robyn O’Brien
Founder of Allergy Kids, Mother of four
"I was completely clueless about food allergies, which is what my pediatrician diagnosed when I called him. And that’s when my education began. That night I sat down at the computer and started researching, and I was stunned at how prevalent the problem had become in the last ten years and how little information there really was about it. I thought, it’s tough enough to protect my child in my own home; how will I protect her when she’s old enough to be at school? Or at friends’ houses? It dawned on me that there had to be a universal symbol for food allergies the way there’s a pink ribbon for breast cancer, so allergy kids could be identified. And so that night I sat down and sketched out that symbol, which became the bright green “stop sign” shape stickers I’ve been trying to get into the hands of parents of the millions of children with allergies."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
Roger and Sloan Barnett
Chairman and CEO of Shaklee Corporation, Author of Green Goes with Everything
"Many people do not realize that the environment in which we live is just as important to our health as the nutrients we consume. We all want to make our homes the safest place in the world for our families. Many of us think about the potential impact of climate change, but very few think about the chemicals we are exposing ourselves to in our homes. Thanks to the efforts of Healthy Child Healthy World, moms, dads, and caregivers are gaining the knowledge they need to make smart choices and keep their families safe. It is our greatest hope that we make the world a healthier place for future generations by inspiring change in one person, one life at a time."
Roger Barnett
Chairman and CEO of Shaklee Corporation
Roger Barnett is the Chairman and CEO of Shaklee Corporation, the leading provider of premium quality, natural nutrition and personal care products, environmentally-friendly household cleaning products, and state-of-the-art air and water treatment systems. Founded in 1956, Shaklee is the number one natural nutrition company in the U.S., with more than 750,000 members and distributors in the U.S., Japan, Mexico, Malaysia, Canada and Taiwan.
https://www.shaklee.com
Ruth Etzel, MD, Ph.D.
Research Director South Central Foundation
Sandra Steingraber, PhD
Biologist, Author, Professor, Expert on Environmental Links to Cancer and Reproductive Human Health
"It's often said that children, pound for pound, eat more food, drink more water, and breathe more air than adults. That's all true. Biologically speaking, our growing children are more ecological than we are: they are more vigorous participants in the food chain; they are more integrally involved with the world's water cycle; they are more deeply dependent on planetary oxygen supplies. Other than the chromosomes we bequeathed them at conception, our children ARE rearranged molecules of air, food and water. Their bodies and minds are knitted together from the environment. What we need now are public policies that reflect these scientific realities. It is right that we should say "Healthy Child Healthy World" in the same breath. It's a banner under which I'm pleased to labor."
Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. is a biologist, award-winning author, mother of two, and cancer survivor. Formerly on faculty at Cornell University, she is currently Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. She is author of the classic, highly influential books, Living Downstream: An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and Environment, and Having Faith: An Ecologist's Journey to Motherhood. Hailed by the Sierra Club as "the new Rachel Carson," Steingraber is presently at work on a book about the environmental life of children. She has addressed many environmental health conferences, testified at Congressional briefings, and appeared frequently on national media.
Sheryl Crow
Musician, Mother of Wyatt
"I sometimes think the thing that keeps adults from acting is cynicism, a belief that we can't really change things; we desensitize ourselves to the news; apathy puts us to sleep. And once you're asleep, you can't do anything.
Kids aren't like that. They don't have that cynicism in them, not yet anyway. They're awake to what's around them, so they can actually do something about it. We teach our kids all these ideals: Let's leave the Earth a better place than we found it; If you see something wrong, you can change it through action or education. Yet as we get older, we stop believing what we're saying. Kids, on the other hand, are motivated not just by what's in their head but by what they actually see, like a baby polar bear. Kids are so acutely aware and smart, they will be the ones to motivate us, their parents, to change."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Sheryl and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
Stanley Greenspan, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics & Child Psychiatry George Washington University
Suzanne Wright
Co-Founder – Autism Speaks
Suzanne Wright is the co-founder, with her husband, Bob, of Autism Speaks. After their grandson was diagnosed with autism in 2004, Suzanne and Bob sought answers to the myriad questions generated by the disorder. Since its launch, Autism Speaks has raised over $45 million and completed mergers with the Autism Coalition for Research and Education, the National Alliance for Autism Research, and Cure Autism Now, three of the nation’s most successful autism advocacy organizations. With her husband, Suzanne played a leadership role in urging Congress to pass the landmark Combating Autism Act, which was signed into law in January 2006. The Wrights live in Connecticut. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Tanya Murphy
Environmental & Human Health Activist
Tanya Murphy is a concerned mother of two children who lives in Westport, Connecticut. She serves on several local boards in her community. Her entrée into the subject of human health and the environment came when a close family member was diagnosed with an environmental illness. After having worked closely with her family’s environmental health physician while pregnant with her first child, it became clear that the positive changes being made for the family member would no doubt be very positive for her unborn fetus, as it initially proved to be for their pets. Shortly after the birth of her first child and a move to the Northeast, she learned about Healthy Child Healthy World and immediately became an advocate our message.
"In the last several years, hundreds of synthetic turf athletic fields have been installed around the country for our children to play on. You've probably seen them—roughly a three-inch thick carpet of ground-up recycled tires over Astroturf. I'd read online about how two professors had taken samples from one such field in New York City and identified worrisome levels of irritants, heavy metals and known carcinogens.
One day, while driving through the Connecticut town next to ours, I noticed one of these fields. I got out of my car, walked toward the field and right away noticed the smell of tires. I knelt down, scooped up a handful of little granules and they left a stain on my hands. Kids are playing on this? I thought. But now, thinking about the new fields, I couldn't help but ask: How might something like ground-up tires affect human beings, especially children?"
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
Tara DelloIacono-Thies
RD Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Strategist
Tara DelloIacono-Thies is a registered dietitian and nutrition strategist for Clif Bar & Company, the nation’s leading maker of all-natural, organic energy and nutrition foods and drinks. As the Company’s in-house nutrition expert, Tara provides strategic guidance on nutrition related questions, translates cutting edge scientific research into product development and ensures the nutritional integrity for all Clif Bar & Company brands. Skilled at explaining nutrition to the public, Tara also answers consumer questions, presents seminars and writes the Eat Well article on LUNABAR.COM, a nutrition column in Bay Area Parent, and Parenting.com .
Aware that proper diet and fitness are essential for optimal health, Tara participates in a variety of sports which inform her knowledge of sports nutrition, weight management and wellness. An avid runner and two-time marathon finisher, she also mountain bikes and practices yoga on a regular basis. As a mother, Tara is also both personally and professionally informed about the nutritional needs of mothers, children, and families.
Before joining Clif Bar & Company, Tara served as a clinical dietitian for Catholic Healthcare West. She is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Dietetic Association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Montana State University and became registered dietitian after completing an internship in San Francisco.
Tara resides in Alameda, California with her husband and son.
Tessa Hill
Board Member, President of Kids for Saving Earth
Motivated by the loss of her 11 year-old son and her husband to cancer, Tessa Hill founded and serves as President of Kids for Saving Earth. A founding board member of Healthy Child Healthy World, she has worked to protect the Earth and its children. Tessa is also is a board member of Beyond Pesticides, a Community Partner with The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and served on federal advisory board for the EPA's Children's Health Office.
"Clinton was 11 when he died. I don't know for sure if pesticides caused his death. Many scientific studies suggest a link between pesticides and brain cancer. I do know that it isn't worth taking a chance with toxic bug control methods. There are many safe ways to eradicate pests, including lice. I used boric acid to beat back a roach infestation at our beach house; it worked beautifully and didn't contaminate the property. I refuse to use standard mosquito sprays or flea treatments that contain cancer-causing chemicals.
Before he died, Clint wanted to start a club to teach kids and parents about environmental issues. Kids for Saving Earth (kidsforsavingearth.org), which provides materials to educate and empower children, parents, and instructors about ways to protect the Earth and children's environmental health, is Clint’s legacy."
From HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.
To read more from Tessa and many others, pick up your copy of our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, today.
