The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire
In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire
UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović
US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire
Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović Anti-Empire >>
A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog. We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader 2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony Public Inquiry >>
Voltaire, international edition
Netanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en
Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en
Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en
Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en Voltaire Network >>
|
Cancer and a lost opportunity
international |
eu |
opinion/analysis
Wednesday November 23, 2005 17:38 by Kathy Sinnott
![Report this post to the editors Report this post to the editors](../graphics/report.gif)
With a close friend battling cancer and another friend going in for a biopsy next week, I am even more acutely aware of the breathtaking inadequacy of our cancer treatment services than usual. Prevention, where it is possible, is vital but the crisis in Irish cancer treatment makes me even more determined to promote anything that will help avoid the disease.
More than four years ago a decision was taken at EU level to deal with the chemical poisoning of people in European countries. Everyone who is aware of the enormity of the problem knew that chemicals must be classified according to degree of danger, then registered and controlled, and that this must be done urgently. So the EU decided to take a stand and curb our crazy, destructive romance with dangerous chemicals. The initative to get a handle on chemicals and establish safety standards on those that manufacture or import them or use them in production was named European Registration and Authorisation of Chemicals Directive, or REACH.
Selling REACH has been hard. Chemical companies and companies that use their products all predicted economic calamity if it was passed. And they wre right, the extra costs and restrictions of chemical usage could effect their competitiveness if only European companies were forced to comply. But this effect could have been neutralised if everything imported and sold in Europe was also required to comply with better chemical standards. This would have put the competition, at least in Europe, on an even playing field.
The initial intention of protecting health and environment seemed to get lost in the process as REACH went through multiple dilutions. After almost half a decade of research, debate, lobbying, and voting, REACH has morphed beyond recognition. As an MEP concerned about people's health and also concerned that families have jobs, I worked for a strong but workable REACH. Last week, after a two hour vote on amendments in the European Parliament, I could not in conscience vote for the tattered REACH that was left. For me two key elements were missling in the original document and were never really addressed. The document dealt with chemicals, metals and other substances in individual, isolated form. Which is OK if they are used in that form but this does not reflect the toxicity or safety of substances in combination, which is how chemicals are used in the vast majority of cases. REACH did not deal with this everyday phenomenon and was therefore rendered incapable of eliminating the now everyday phenomenon of serious, debilitating or even fatal illnesses like cancer.
The other problem is that REACH in the form it was finally presented to Euro MPs posed a real threat to business and this in the context of the EU militates against any real change. This was tragic because there was a way to have an effective chemical directive without threatening the economic survival of companies across Europe.
The final version of REACH was to no one's liking, according to the various EU group re-resentatives who spoke before the final vote. Though about 200 MEPs voted against REACH or abstained from voting for it, it was passed by the parliament. As far as I am concerned, everyone lost - most of all the citizens struggling with chemical overload. In the meantime let's keep fighting for better cancer treatment...as things are, we'll need it!
|
View Full Comment Text
save preference
Comments (1 of 1)