MomsRising on Toxic Toys

MomsRising, the energetic mothers-rights organization, has launched a campaign for safety toys. Visit their website for more information, or click on the links below to learn about recalls and tell Congress to make toys safer.

First it was toxic lead paint on Thomas the Train Engines, then it was toxic Doras, Big Birds, and Elmos--and now it’s toxic Barbies. On Wednesday Mattel Inc. announced the third major recall of Chinese-made toys due to toxic lead paint this summer (yes, we said third!). Tens of millions of toys have been recalled. What’s a parent to do?!

1. KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE BY RECEIVING REAL-TIME ALERTS ABOUT TOY RECALLS:
Find out about dangerous products being recalled as soon as the notice is made--so you can get toxic toys out of your house.

Sign on here to receive real-time email notices from the Consumer Product Safety Commission about recalled toys.

After you sign on, please forward this email to the other parents in your children’s classes so they have an opportunity to sign on to get recall notices as well. Right now the Consumer Product Safety Commission is working to sign on one million new people to receive these potentially lifesaving and free recall notices via email.

2. TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT TOXIC TOYS FROM BEING SOLD IN THE FIRST PLACE
There are already over 20,000 signatures on our “No Toxics in Toys” petition. Let’s double that number. Join us in telling Congress that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) needs the tools and authority to ensure our children’s safety. Let’s give Congress the political capital they need to pass legislation that stops toxic toys from ever reaching store shelves.

Sign the petition & send to five friends to help build a massive national movement that can’t be ignored.

Another reason to forward this email far and wide is to let other parents know about this opportunity to support legislation that will fix our under-powered Consumer Product Safety Commission, as well as our deeply flawed consumer protection laws. Please consider forwarding this email to the class list of parents for your children’s classes. It’s a great way to give other parents a way to help keep children safe.

THE LOWDOWN ON THE LEGISLATION:
There are currently two bills in the U.S. Senate which will help protect children from dangerous products. Together, these bills (the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act and the Children’s Product Safety Act) will:

1) Give real teeth and authority to CPSC to keep toxics out of toys and set firm toxic limits (since there are only guidelines now);
2) Create a third-party testing system and increase the fines for those companies who put toxics in toys;
3) Fully fund the CPSC, which has had a stagnant budget since 2005, so it can enforce the laws;
4) Increase staffing at CPSC since their current staffing is at its lowest level since the 1980s;
5) Give authority to quickly release safety warnings about imminent hazards without manufacture approval.

The Senate will be acting on these two bills in the coming weeks, and they need to hear from you to keep the momentum going. Let’s make sure that Congress hears our strong support for this legislation. Our children need safe products NOW.

PASS IT ON - HELP KEEP TOXICS AWAY FROM KIDS:
Don’t forget to sign up to be on the toy recall notice list here.