Consumer Protection - ForceChange

Protect Consumers from Unsafe Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs

The drug manufacturing process in the United States is highly regulated; however, there has been a move to transfer such regulatory power to those who might not have the consumers’ best interests in mind. Scientific integrity demands that experts on review panels must not have special interests in the drug itself. Urge Congress to retain the laws which support scientific integrity and to not allow drug companies or persons of interest to have a say in the approval of marketable drugs.

Stop Using Cancer-Causing Chemicals in Baby Products

Recent safety tests have found a probable carcinogen in many of Graco Inc.’s popular baby products. The chemical, chlorinated Tris, is used as a flame retardant and is considered highly toxic. Urge Graco stop using dangerous chemicals to manufacture their baby products.

New California Legislation Poised to Strip Parents of their Vaccination Rights

The California State Legislature is on the brink of passing new legislation that will strip parents of their fundamental rights to protect their children from dangerous agents. All vaccines contain hazardous chemicals that can cause serious health complications in children. Governor Jerry Brown must respect parents who oppose childhood immunization, and dismiss new legislation that essentially forces parents to vaccinate.

Ban Misleadingly-Branded High-SPF Sunscreens

Sunscreen may be essential for protecting your skin against the sun’s damaging UV rays, but studies have shown that products with an SPF above 50 provide no additional benefit. In fact, higher SPFs encourage consumers to endanger their health by leading them to believe they can spend longer in the sun without reapplying sunscreen. Ask the FDA to ban misleading high-SPF sunscreens.

Discourage the Consumption of Bottled Water

The market for bottled water is exceedingly high: $7.7 billion dollars were spent on bottled water in 2007 alone. Bottled water is not safer or healthier than tap water, and it is certainly not as friendly for our environment. Implement strategies that deter bottled water consumption in your own home, and urge your workplace, school and community to do the same.

Nationalize the Federal Reserve for Greater Transparency and Accountability

The Federal Reserve is the U.S. central bank, yet it is not transparent and private interests play a large role in shaping its policy. It should be made a transparent division of the U.S. Treasury and its members not chosen by the very industry it regulates. Demand that Congress make these essential changes to the Federal Reserve.

Stop Walmart from Selling Handgun Ammunition

When every bullet sold has the potential to take a human life, the world’s largest corporation, Walmart, has no business selling handgun ammunition. We must call upon Walmart to discontinue handgun ammo sales in its stores.

Protect America from Future Banking Collapses

After the Great Depression, Congress enacted a law that separated commercial banks from investment banks, but in 1999 it was repealed. For nearly seventy years the act had stopped investment banks from using our money, which is guaranteed by the federal government, to gamble in the market and had avoided any major financial crises. Now it is time for this sensible act which was insensibly repealed to be re-passed to help protect America from another financial meltdown.

Remove Controversial Figure from New York Federal Reserve Bank

The Federal Reserve is responsible for overseeing financial institutions to protect the public. Jaime Dimon’s presence at both JPMorgan Chase and on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Board of Directors thus represents a clear conflict of interest. Urge Jaime Dimon to resolve the conflict of interest by resigning from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Board of Directors.

Stop the Discriminatory Practice of Selling Personal Credit Reports to Employers

Since TransUnion began selling personal credit histories to employers, an appalling 60 percent have admitted to firing current employees or not hiring applicants based on their debt-to-credit ratio. TransUnion must work to end this discriminatory practice by discontinuing its sale of employment credit reports immediately.

Second State Bans Undercover Investigations on Factory Farms

In March, Utah became the second state to criminalize undercover investigations on factory farms. These investigations are crucial not only to expose animal abuse, but to also safeguard our food supply. Utah Legislators must overturn this unconstitutional attack on our freedom of speech immediately.

Get Toxic Flame Retardants Out of Our Furniture

A law passed in California in the 1970s effectively set a national standard for the use of toxic flame retardants in furniture. These chemicals are getting into our bodies and causing everything from birth defects to cancer. Tell California lawmakers to get the poison out of our furniture.

Keep Genetically Engineered Salmon Out of Our Food Supply

Genetically modified salmon–a product that is simply not fit for human consumption, is on its way to FDA approval. This salmon will be the first genetically engineered animal product on the market and there are serious concerns about health and environmental impacts. Tell the FDA not to approve genetically modified salmon, as it would be a premature and dangerous move in the name of profit.

Don’t Let Big Ag Companies Like Monsanto Dominate the Farming Industry

There are a handful of companies that dominate the farming industry today: these companies, such as Monsanto and Cargill, regulate the supplies farmers need as well as the buying and selling of farmed goods. With the ability to raise and lower prices at their pleasure, these Big Ag companies dominate both small independent farmers and public consumers. Urge the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to enforce laws that would dissolve these monopolies.

Commend the USDA for Posting Humane Slaughter Records Online

The USDA recently began posting humane slaughter records online for public viewing. This action represents a great step towards greater efficiency and transparency in the slaughter industry. Commend the USDA for its attempt to improve the standards of this industry.

Stop USDA From Firing Hundreds of Slaughterhouse Inspectors

The USDA is planning to fire hundreds of slaughterhouse workers, allowing chicken and turkey slaughterhouses to inspect themselves. Not only will this lead to more animal rights abuses, but could also cause future health problems for consumers.

Enact Concrete Standards for Green-Branded Products

Products branded with the terms natural, organic or green are becoming all the more ubiquitous, but companies that sell green versions of their products aren’t actually held to any kind of environmental standards. Ask the FDA to require companies to stand behind their marketing by regulating ingredients in supposedly natural personal care products.

Don’t Leave Native American Tribal Lands Without Digital Connections

Native Americans have been left out of the digital world with less than 10% of homes having broadband Internet service. The lack of connectivity has had detrimental consequences for jobs, healthcare, and education. We must support closing the digital divide and bring Native Americans the same digital connections as the rest of the country.

Ban the Chemical Triclosan From Household Products

Triclosan, an antibacterial agent used in household products such as hand soap, dish detergent, cosmetics, and even children’s toys has been shown to have detrimental effects on human beings, animals, and the environment. Not only does over-use of triclosan infused products produce antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but the chemical has also been linked to cancer, hormone imbalance and water pollution. We must ban the use of this dangerous chemical in everyday products and preserve the health of our Earth and people.

Stop Companies from Handing Internet Users’ Private Information to the Government

Congress is getting ready allow companies to provide the U.S. government with all Internet users’ online activity and content. This bill nullifies ALL internet users’ rights to privacy and legalizes cyber-spying. Tell companies such as IBM, Microsoft and Facebook to stop supporting this intrusive bill and urge Congress to vote against it.

What Fish Are You Eating? In Southern California, You May Be Surprised

A report released earlier this week by environmental advocacy group Oceana reveals that something fishy is going on in Southern California. After testing the DNA of 119 fish, samples taken from grocery stores and restaurants in Los Angeles and Orange counties, Oceana was able to report back that more than half (55%) of the fish tested had been labeled incorrectly.

Tell The Shrimp Industry to Move Toward Sustainable Shrimp Farming

Shrimp farming leads to the destruction of marine habitats, and mass produced shrimp that are not fit for human consumption. Shrimp are often raised in contaminated environments, and then pumped with antibiotics that have been banned in the U.S. due to their toxic effects. Do not buy shrimp that is imported from foreign farms when there are more sustainable, non-toxic seafood options clearly marked on grocery store labels.

Ask Children’s Toy Company to Stop Gendered Marketing

The LEGO Group, an international children’s toy retailer, has been marketing their products to girls or boys by relying heavily on gender stereotypes. Exposing children to gender stereotypes limits their range of expression. We must urge the LEGO Group to change their marketing to be more inclusive of all children.

Let Clothing Manufacturer Know that Sexist Labels Are Not Funny

Madhouse clothing has recently come under attack due to the sexist labels on their jeans’ care tags, such as the instruction to ‘Give it to your woman, it’s her job’. Let Madhouse know that these sexist jokes are not funny and must be removed.

Don’t Let The Beef Industry Rebrand Pink Slime

The manufacturers of pink slime are waiting for the public outcry to die down to rebrand the product and reintroduce it into ground beef. Consumers demanded transparency and used their power to get pink slime out of many restaurants, markets, and schools, and we must not let the beef industry forget that. Don’t let pink slime be rebranded and put back into ground beef.

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