I remember how nervous I was when I had my first daughter. I worried that I would hold her wrong, that I would trip and drop her, that the house wasn’t safe for some reason, that something would happen to this fragile, beautiful little being that I loved so much I thought my heart would burst.
I vowed to do everything I could to protect her and improve the world that was emerging to her. So I researched, read and talked to my friends about making healthy choices for her. I wrote about keeping kids safe from toxic chemicals in products, our air, and water. And 11 years later, I haven’t run out of topics to write about or issues to work on. Harmful pollution, climate change and toxic chemicals are putting all children at risk. It is something I think about and worry about everyday.
On election day, we have a choice. We can elect candidates who care about these issues. Issues that can make the world healthier and safer for all children, especially those who are already disadvantaged by poverty. Issues such as:
- Clean Air. Air pollution from fossil fuels leads to bad air quality in too many communities. Increases in smog can trigger asthma attacks and exacerbate other chronic health problems. Do not let your child’s health be voted away to protect polluters’ profits. You can use your vote to protect little lungs from toxic air pollution.
- Climate Change. Our changing climate is making smog worse, harming the public health. Smog and air pollution increase respiratory health threats, particularly for people with allergies and asthma.The same harmful pollution that is making our children sick is causing rising temperatures and extreme weather events. Intense heat waves exacerbate heart and lung conditions. Please vote for candidates who support proposals to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. And vote to put our country on a clean energy path while protecting American jobs!
- Toxic Chemicals. I have been writing for years about the dangerous chemicals found in our daily lives. They often enter our homes and bodies without our realizing it. Most of these chemicals have not even have been disclosed, identified or studied. Thousands of toxic chemicals found in everyday products are linked to potential reproductive and developmental toxicity, endocrine disruption, birth defects, cancer, asthma, headaches and skin irritants. Children are among the most vulnerable to such chemicals. Vote for leaders that have a record of standing up for public health versus corporations interested only in the bottom line.
You can use your vote to protect our children from harm from air pollution, climate change and toxic chemicals. We can create a healthier world for all kids and families. We have the power in this election. Please join me in pledging to get out and vote for our kids and families!
This post was produced with support from Clean Air Moms Action. All opinions are, of course, my own.
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