Everyone deserves to live in a healthy and safe environment. That environment includes where you live, work, play, and pray. We reject and actively push back against racist rhetoric, actions, policies and institutional oppression that leads to state-sanctioned brutality, gun violence, and harm that again and again assaults communities, particularly communities of color. We are committed to working for justice and equity, and are in solidarity with social, racial, and environmental justice organizations to build community, understanding and honest dialogue to address the root causes of violence, harm and hate.

Lori Alper

Lori Alper

January Inspirational Voice

Lori Alper is a green living enthusiast and lifestyle writer, consultant, mother, borderline vegan and recovering attorney. She’s the author of the Groovy Green Livin’ blog and mother to three boys. Lori has been a powerful voice in the movement to protect women’s health from toxic chemicals, including the driving force behind the Change.org petition asking Tide to remove 1,4-dioxane. Read her original blog post here.

I kicked off last year with 3 words that helped define my goals and experiences for the coming year: honesty, present and learn. Looking back at the year progress was made, but my three words will continue to play a role in the new year. I have plenty more to do and learn.

Highlights from my Groovy Green Livin Year

Tide Petition
It turned out that Tide Free & Gentle isn’t so gentle. A report released by Women’s Voices for Earth, Dirty Secrets: What’s Hiding in Your Cleaning Products? found high levels of the cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane in the detergent. 1,4-dioxane doesn’t appear on the product label or on the product website, so consumers have no way of knowing it’s even there.

I put together a petition asking Procter & Gamble (makers of Tide) to strip this harmful cancer-causing chemical out of Tide Free & Gentle! Thanks to many of you the petition has over 78,000 signatures.

Appearance on ABC World News talking about BPA
A seemingly normal day turned into a crazy day. I was quoted in a wonderful article by Jack Kaskey in Bloomberg News about bisphenol A (BPA) and how mothers are impacting change even when regulators fail to act. I was then asked to appear on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer to talk about BPA. A camera crew showed up at my door smack in the middle of a radio interview with Mrs. Greens World. The ABC News clip was incredibly fun and hopefully sent a strong message.

National Stroller Brigade in DC
I traveled to Washington DC on a trip organized by Safe Chemicals Healthy Families. We gathered on Capitol Hill for a National Stroller Brigade to let Congress know that we demand the passage of Senator Frank Lautenberg’s Safe Chemicals Act. I also had a chance to catch up with some of my favorite green advocates, Shane from Environmental Booty, Diane from Big Green Purse, me, Micaela from Mindful Momma and Anne from Flour Sack Mama.

BlogHer in New York City with Stonyfield
This year I headed into one of my favorite places, New York City, to attend BlogHer.  BlogHer is the largest blogging conference and this year was a big crowd with over 5,000  bloggers, speakers, brands and others. After a few days filled with  laughter, sweat (incredibly hot and humid), reconnecting with old friends and making new BlogHer 2012  came to a close. The friendships formed at events like this are truly some of the greatest rewards of blogging.

Disney Petition and CBS  Boston
As many of you know,  television cameras came to my house yet again! This time they were from CBS Boston. I was very happy to see how the piece turned out. This time I was talking about another petition I started asking Disney to remove the toxic chemicals that were found in children’s vinyl back-to-school supplies including Disney lunch boxes. Thanks to many of you this petition has almost 60,000 signatures!

Phew! There you have my 2012 in a nutshell.

Now to you my loyal readers I can’t say thank you enough. You make writing, advocating  and continuing on worthwhile. Thank you. Now let’s make 2013 even better!

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