Annie lays it on the line, and the information she delivers in this 8-minute video is scary. Baby shampoos have carcinogens. Many cosmetics contain chemicals linked to learning disabilities, asthma and damaged sperm. Lipstick has high levels of lead, a proven neurotoxin. Well over half of sunscreen contains the hormone disruptor, oxybenzone. And none of it is regulated by the FDA.

I bet you didn’t know that products put directly on your skin or scalp are absorbed into your bloodstream with no protection whatsoever. At least when you ingest food, the stomach acids break it down and often the dangerous products on or in the food are washed away. The liver and kidneys also help detoxify toxins that are ingested. But products placed directly on the skin are soaked in by the over 1,000 nerve endings with no protection.

Some of the more dangerous ingredients in cosmetics and personal-care products are:

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a degreaser which has been linked to reproductive and neuro-toxicity as well as cancer
2. DEA or Diethanolamine, a known and potent carcinogen
3. Propylene Glycol, a strong skin irritant
4. Parabens, which can lead to diminished muscle mass and extra fat storage
5. Fragrance, which can contain a whole slew of potentially dangerous chemicals

Words like “organic,” “natural,” and “free of harsh ingredients” mean nothing because industries are under no strict labeling laws, these links can help. First, many personal products can be home made. There were more than 400,000 recipes found in a Google search for “homemade cosmetics.” Other sites that can be extremely helpful are “Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database” and “Good Guide.” Some helpful tips are:

• look for the USDA Organic seal
• choose fragrance-free products
• pick products in glass bottles rather than plastic

The fact that industries are not required to label personal-care products could soon change. Last month Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 which would set up a system to make industries more accountable. Dangerous chemicals would be phased out and cosmetics ingredients would be periodically tested for safety. Please support this act, and watch the video at the Friends of the Earth website.

The “American Power Act” is John Kerry and Joe Lieberman’s bill that has passed the House and is currently being debated in the Senate. Like the healthcare reform bill that passed a few months ago, many liberal Americans are opposing this clean energy legislation because it includes support for nuclear power, oil drilling and coal mining. Yet even with these concessions, not one Republican is likely to vote for the bill. In fact they have filibustered it which means 60 votes are required to pass it instead of a simple majority.

According to the EPA passing the Act would “…create 440,000 jobs a year through 2020 and 540,000 jobs a year through 2030 while saving families $35/year on utility bills. And it would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45%.”

The reason the Republicans are adamantly against the bill is its inclusion of a cap on carbon emissions. But that cap is what makes the bill successful. With the cap in place, energy that emits the largest amount of carbon, like coal and fossil fuels, becomes more expensive. This drives the quest for cleaner, greener energy while creating jobs and economic activity.

In my opinion, the House should make it a priority to pass the “American Power Act” despite its flaws. It should use every means possible (including reconciliation that helped pass the healthcare reform bill) to achieve this goal. The American people understand the need to fix the problem of our dependence on foreign oil. The time is right. We can let our representatives know that unless they get something done this summer, we will vote new members to congress in the fall who will take our views into consideration. And everyone should know that if the Republicans gain power, America won’t be free of its oil dependence anytime soon.

For further information, see: http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2010/06/21/americans-are-ready-for-a-climate-bill/

First of all, the Copenhagen Accord, a 2 ½ -page document is the written result of the Conference. A lot has been said about its non-binding status and the fact that it cannot even be called an agreement as it was opposed by Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Sudan. The Accord calls for countries to “sign-on” by January 31st while submitting their commitments to emission targets by 2020 (from 1990 levels). Brazil has committed to ambitious reductions; Japan has pledged a 25% reduction; the E.U. has promised reduction targets of 20% to 30% depending on other’s commitments. These targets and all others will be listed on Page 4, Appendix I of the Accord. As of today, the U.S. has not submitted its emission reduction targets, but it has pledged to do so by the deadline. South Africa, India and China have announced they will sign on to the agreement and submit their plans by January 31st.

Secondly, the conference has determined that it will monitor and verify all greenhouse gas emissions promised. In the words of the Accord, reductions “by developed countries will be measured, reported and verified” which will help convince signers that other countries are doing what they have promised to do. The accounting of emission targets will be “rigorous, robust and transparent”.

Thirdly, the group has promised resources of $30 billion for 2010-2012 to be available to developing nations to help them upgrade their technology in order to make emission reductions feasible without burdening already struggling economies. An additional $100 billion per year up to 2020 was also promised. This funding will flow through the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund.

Many argue that the Copenhagen Climate Conference was a dismal failure because it produced nothing binding. Others call the Copenhagen Accord hopeful and a first-step toward global action. The parties have agreed to meet next year in Mexico and in South Africa the year after that. UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon announced at the conclusion of the Conference, “It may not be everything we hoped for, but this decision of the Conference of Parties is an essential beginning and we must transform this into a legally binding treaty next year. The importance will only be recognized when it’s codified into international law.”

We know how difficult it is to get family members to agree on where to go out to eat. I think the fact that so many countries have agreed to reducing emissions of their own free will is at least a step in the right direction. Let’s pray that President Obama steps up-to-the-plate and promises solid emission reduction targets that we in the U.S. can all be proud of.

Watch The Story of Stuff to get a concise picture of how we got into this mess in the first place!