Portland babies to participate in Million Baby Crawl to demand stronger protection from toxic chemicals in their homes

PORTLAND, Ore.—Nov. 12, 2009—Hundreds of moms and their babies, including local dignitaries are taking part in Portland's "Crawl to Action" event as part of a national initiative called the Million Baby Crawl to encourage Congress to overhaul our nation's toxics policy.

Babies in Portland will begin to rattle Washington and take a step, or crawl, in an effort to have their voices heard as they demand stronger laws against toxics. They will all simultaneously crawl towards a replica Capitol, along with thousands of babies in cities across the country, as part of this national "Crawl to Action" Day. Oregon Environmental Council is joining Seventh Generation and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families in launching the Million Baby Crawl, a grassroots effort to raise awareness about the nation’s badly outdated chemical laws and encourage parents and others everywhere to ask Congress to pass new stronger regulations that will protect the health of all Americans.

As part of this campaign, "The Million Baby Crawl" will be having an event at Washington Square Mall on November 18, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

WHAT: "Million Baby Crawl" – Portland
WHEN: Wednesday, November 18, 2009. 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Babies will be "crawling to action" at 10:45 a.m., followed by a press conference at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Washington Square Mall - Sears Court, 9585 SW Washington Square Rd., Tigard, OR 97223
WHAT:  Attendees can expect to learn more about safe household products, experience family-friendly live entertainment and receive free Seventh Generation product.

MORE INFO: To learn how to  get involved locally to support stronger standards on toxic chemicals and make a baby of your very own that will crawl to Washington, D.C. to help fight for a healthier nation to grow up in, visit www.MillionBabyCrawl.com. Follow the Million Baby Crawl on Twitter #mbcrawl.

"Both here in Oregon and on a national level, there is a need to re-assess and change our broken chemical policy system," said Dr. Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, program director for environmental health at the Oregon Environmental Council. "The vast majority of the chemicals in our products and that we use every day are untested. Even if these chemicals are tested, current law says that industries that manufacture them do not have to share their findings – even if the results show potential harmful to our families. This event is a fun way to begin solving a very serious problem both here in Oregon and across the country."

Today, the EPA has required testing on just 200 of the more than 80,000 chemical compounds developed for products used in the home.  The newly proposed policy called the Kid-Safe Chemical Act would require that industrial chemicals be safe for infants and children and new chemicals be safety-tested before they are put into products; it will also require chemical manufacturers to test and prove that the untested chemicals already on the market are safe in order for them to remain in commerce and that this information is publicly available.

ABOUT SEVENTH GENERATION
Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal-care products for your living home. Our products are healthy and safe for the air, the surfaces, the fabrics, the pets, and the people within your home -- and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation also offers products for baby that are safe for your children and the planet.

For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit www.seventhgeneration.com. To read more about Seventh Generation's corporate responsibility, visit the Corporate Consciousness Report at: www.seventhgeneration.com/corporate-responsibility/2008.
 
ABOUT SAFER CHEMICALS, HEALTHY FAMILIES
Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families is a growing coalition of diverse groups united by their concern about toxic chemicals in our homes, places of work, and products we use every day. www.saferchemicals.org

About the Oregon Environmental Council
The Oregon Environmental Council safeguards what Oregonians love about Oregon – clean air and water, an unpolluted landscape and healthy food produced by local farmers. For more than 40 years we’ve been a champion for solutions to protect the health of every Oregonian and the health of the place we call home. Our vision for Oregon includes solving global warming, protecting kids from toxics, cleaning up our rivers, building sustainable economies, and ensuring healthy food and local farms. Find out more at www.oeconline.org.

For More Information:

Oregon Environmental Council
Jeremy Graybill, Communications Director
503-222-1963 ext. 111
jeremyg at oeconline.org

Meghan Butler
Seventh Generation
(512) 657-4548
meb at seventhgeneration.com

Daniel M. Schwartz
Coyne Public Relations
(212) 938-0166
dschwartz at coynepr.com