Many of you have followed my efforts to educate and advocate for lessening our daily exposures to environmental toxins. What you may not know is that I am also a Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) Actionista - this is a movement of people across the country who believe that everyone deserves to thrive, and that no one should have to endure pain and illness because of the chemicals in the products they use.
MY STORY Here is my story - the story of how I got here and why I am part of WVE as an actionista and a donor. In 2005, I fell in love. We met as ski instructors in Montana. Everything was wonderful. We were young, we were healthy, we were happy. We got engaged. But six weeks later, my fiancé was diagnosed with cancer. It came out of nowhere. I was shocked. I was angry. I was confused. While we were figuring out wedding details, we were going to appointments and planning for treatment. My partner and I fought it together. He went into remission, and we got married. We focused more on our health, and two years later, we were expecting twins. When they were born prematurely, I felt the same shock, anger and confusion that I did before. A light bulb went off. This wasn’t right. Something was impacting my health and the health of the people I loved most, and I knew I had to do something about it. I started to think about the products we used. I saw that there were toxic, cancer-causing chemicals in cleaning products, cosmetics---even products made for babies! I began to share what I learned. I had passion, but I lacked confidence. How could I make my voice heard? How could I stand up to these big corporations on my own? That’s when I found WVE. They showed me that I could make a difference, and that when we all raise our voices together---we can’t be ignored. WVE asked me to testify for an ingredient right-to-know bill in Montana, walking me through how I could help enact policies that would protect my health and the health of those I love. I had dreamt of having people listen, and here I was behind a podium, speaking my truth about why it matters to me that we know what’s in the products we use.
This experience fuels my leadership today. I sell healthy alternatives. I teach classes across the country to help people understand this issue and I created this blog. I even have a local TV spot. I do it for families like mine who have battled cancer, or experienced birth complications. I do it to keep others from going through what my family and I have been through. WVE helps me and you, and thousands like us, advocate for what we believe in, stand up to some of the most powerful corporations in the world, and make change happen. WVE MISSION The mission of WVE is to amplify women’s voices to eliminate the toxic chemicals that harm our health and communities. Research shows that chemicals in our environment, including those in products, are playing an increasingly significant role in rates of breast cancer, infertility, early puberty and other health problems. We strive to reduce exposures to these environmental toxins through education and advocacy. Our work has resulted in monumental shifts in some of the largest consumer products companies in the world, and in policies that protect women’s health.
2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WVE helped to pass a bill in California that guarantees salon workers the right to know what’s in the products they use daily.
WVE moved several manufacturers of intimate washes to remove dangerous colorants from their products.
WVE launched a campaign to eliminate hormone-disrupting, asthma-causing disinfectants from cleaning products.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Donate Now to help us reach our year-end goals - your tax deductible donation of $10, $20 or $50 will be incredibly helpful to help us continue our important advocacy work, vital research and educational efforts. When you donate to Women’s Voices for the Earth, you uplift, organize and support women leaders across the country. Together, we are changing the marketplace, passing laws that keep us safe, and helping people everywhere lessen their exposure to environmental toxins.
Join WVE as an Actionista. Actionistas are a group of sheroes who go the extra mile to take action, help spread the word on our campaigns and build leadership among women for a healthy future. Learn more about our Actionista program here.
Share this blog post and posts from the WVE blog with your friends and family to help spread our mission and to keep those you care about most informed on ways to lessen their toxin exposure.