Congratulations!! As a loyal blog reader YOU are one-up on the unknowing populace…this means…YOU are already aware that there are 84,000 chemicals in commercial use, mingling amongst us daily. YOU already know that (some) of these chemicals are endocrine disruptors and are found in everyday products from can-liners to household cleaners to pesticides to…but YOU absolutely know this information already! Good! But…[gulp]…did YOU know that 20% of these chemicals (17,000, forsooth!) are kept as a secret from each and everyone of us? Kept as a secret from YOU!! OY!!
In other words, you are interacting daily with (purposely kept) unknown substances…and what YOU don’t know won’t hurt YOU, right!? Wrong!!!!!!!!  According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), these 17,000 chemical names and properties are hidden and protected from consumer awareness (including public officials) because of a teeny-weeny itty-bitty little known public provision!! What the!!???…
This policy was created 33 years ago to protect the chemical manufacturer’s trade secrets in a highly competitive industry. Under the 1976 Toxic Substance Control Act, manufacturers must make reports of all the new chemicals that are intended to bring to market (sell!). Okay, that sounds reasonable. But wait, there’s more…the law exempts from public disclosure, any information that could harm THEIR bottom line. What-in-tarnation!? Harm their bottom line? What about harm YOUR bottom line…YOUR health, for geeeezle-peeeeet!?
This, for 33 years has been a very ill-conceived law (“ill” being the operative word) and there seems to be some good news regarding the elimination of this (insane) “secrecy claim.” The critics and the Obama administration say that the secrecy has grown out of control, making it impossible for regulators to stop potential dangers or for consumers to know which toxic substances WE are being exposed to!
Finally!! Because of the increasing public awareness and the demand for more information about chemical exposure, pressure is mounting on lawmakers  to make it more difficult for these manufacturers to cloak their products in secrecy. So…Congress is all set to rewrite chemical regulations, this year…for the first time in a generation!!! Finally!! [Applause applause]
Besides public demand, what tipped the scales in this shrouded-chemical-connection and its (possible) final frontier of cover-ups? Answer…government officials, scientists and environmental groups have ALL joined in unison to declare that these manufacturers have exploited weaknesses in this (arcane) law that claims secrecy for an ever increasing number of toxic substances. In fact, in the past several years, a full 95% of the notices for new chemicals sent to the government, requested secrecy. 95%, wow!! According to the Government Accountability Office, that 95% translates into 700 (seven hundred) new chemicals introduced annually! All secreted! Some companies even argued that the manufacturers names and addresses be kept a secret! What!?
Richard Wiles, senior vice president of the Environmental Working Group (an advocacy organization that documented the extent of the secret chemicals) is quoted, “You have thousands of chemicals that potentially present risks to health and environment but it is impossible to run an effective regulatory program when so many of these chemicals are secret.” A hero among us, for sure!!!
It turns out, that hundreds of the 17,000 chemicals on the secret list, are made in quantities of more than a million tons a year ~~ a million tons of secret chemicals dispensed, brewing and HIDDEN!! Hundreds of these are being used in childrens’ products, hundreds!!…and then you wonder why…?
This chemical-insanity-law will soon change, as thankfully, the Obama Administration corrects this secret oversight that the chemical manufacturers so conveniently exploited at the cost of our health, only to increase their wealth! (Call your Representative, please, just cause…)
As we begin 2010, I bring my ol’ beat-up 2009 adage with me and declare…EDUCATION IS POWER!!!…with this as a mantra, no-one can pull-the-wool over your eyes (treated without  flame-retardant, of course!!)

and…so it’s 2010
we begin once again
favoritest mantle to be
oommmmmmmmmmed
in every day
‘n in every way
whether engaged with work
or play…
inoculate your soul with
“EDUCATION IS POWER”
be assured as you morph from seed
to flower
never ever ever to sour…or cower
eternally practice
“EDUCATION IS POWER”   

P.S. Environmental Working Group is a fantastic , hard-working, non-profit to visit and support.