South Burlington resident and soon-to-be Connecticut College senior, Scott Britt, is interning with VPIRG’s Field team this summer. As a government major, he’s focused on learning how to inform and engage citizens on important issues of the day, from wind energy to the Bottle Bill. Having wasted no time getting his hands dirty, Scott has …
Several hundred moms, nurses and cancer survivors gathered at the U.S. Capitol to demand action on toxic chemicals. The group rallied in support of Senator Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) Safe Chemicals Act, a bill to overhaul antiquated laws governing toxic chemicals. Hundreds of moms, including VPIRG Environmental Health Advocate Lauren Hierl, flew or bused into Washington …
Update from VPIRG Environmental Health Advocate, Lauren Hierl — May 10, 2011 I knew the chemical industry couldn’t be trusted, but it’s way worse than I thought. This week, the Chicago Tribune published a scathing series of articles about the underhanded tactics the chemical industry has used to stop regulators from banning toxic flame retardants. …
The 2012 legislative session marked another busy and successful year in advocacy for the public interest. We came into the session with ambitious plans – from taking on the Oil and Gas Industry to ban fracking to initiating a campaign to require GMO labeling to standing up to health insurers and making sure they cover the medical care they should. We take our role as “Vermont’s Voice” in the State House seriously – bringing research and policy analysis, strong partnerships and principled organizing and advocacy to the fore.
The end of the legislative session is always lively. While things are changing by the minute, here’s a snapshot of where things stand with the public interest bills on the eve of the session’s close.
Jewelry being sold in Vermont stores contains alarming levels of toxic chemicals including lead, cadmium, nickel and arsenic, according to a study conducted by The Ecology Center, a Michigan-based nonprofit environmental organization that conducts product testing for hazardous ingredients in items average American families use daily. Many of the products tested are aimed at children. …
For Immediate Release: March 13, 2012 Montpelier, VT – Jewelry being sold in Vermont stores contains alarming levels of toxic chemicals including lead, cadmium, nickel and arsenic, according to a new study. Many of the products tested are aimed at children. The chemicals found in the jewelry have been linked to acute allergies, birth defects, …
News Release: Alarming Levels of Lead, Cadmium, and Nickel Found in Vermont Jewelry Read More »
On Thursday, the Senate gave final approval to S.92, a bill that requires manufacturers and distributors of cleaning products to only sell environmentally preferable cleaning products to schools. The bill will now make its way to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
“This legislation will create safer and healthier learning environments in our schools,” said Charity Carbine-March, environmental health advocate for Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). “Children in classrooms across Vermont will soon be breathing easier.”
Our advocates are following these bills and we’ll keep you posted on opportunities to take action. Find the bill language by clicking the title.
We continue to work toward building a clean, renewable, reliable energy future for our state. VPIRG is working to pass a bill ensuring that a greater portion of your electricity comes from renewable sources. And, with 50% of Vermont’s electricity already coming from clean energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower, our goal, of an additional 30% more by 2025, is well within our reach.
