Why Canada Rocks. Why BlogHers Act Canada Rocks. Why YOU Rock.

This week, major news outlets reported that the Government of Canada was on the verge of declaring bisphenol-A toxic, which would open the door for a country-wide ban on all products containing the chemical.

According to the International Herald Tribune:

A public announcement by Health Canada may come as early as Wednesday but could be delayed until the end of May. Canada would be the first country to make a health finding against BPA, which has been shown to disrupt the hormonal systems of animals. The department's decision was first reported in The Globe and Mail, a Toronto newspaper, on Tuesday.

(Bolding mine. Canada will be the first! WOO HOO!)

Further to this, both Wal-Mart Canada and the Hudson's Bay Company - two of Canada's largest retailers - announced in advance of the health finding that they are pulling all products containing bisphenol-A off of their shelves, because "market demand" has become overwhelming.

Which, have I said already? WOO HOO!

Of course, BlogHers Act Canada can't take direct responsibility for this, but we are proud - chest bursting proud! - to have been among the strong online forces lobbying for these changes. As our former lead blogger for BHAC, Sandra, put it:

"All the good folks that support BlogHers Act Canada helped with this. When we were pushing hard to sign the petitions and pressure day cares and put up buttons, I was monitoring signature increases on the Environmental Defense Website and we really helped them boost their numbers. It obviously wasn't solely *because* of us that this happened but our help didn't hurt and is a nice success story, and all the BHA supporters should celebrate that they helped make a tangible difference and pushed Canada to lead the way."

All of which is to say: YOU ROCK. Whether you put up badges or signed petitions or wrote posts urging others to do so or even just clicked through the links and by doing so showed that you were out there and paying attention - YOU helped make this happen.

Now - let's keep the pressure on. Let's spread the word about Canada's initiative here. Let's support our American friends in pressuring their government. Let's help them pressure Wal-Mart US to follow Wal-Mart Canada in pulling toxic products off of their shelves. Let's make sure that our own government knows that they have to follow through. And then let's just keep pressuring them to put our - and our kids - safety first.

But in the meantime, pour yourself a glass of champagne and cheer yourselves. YOU ROCK, Internets! You really do. 

Comments

[zchamu]

Most excellent, ladies! Am trying to find an organic champagne at the LCBO as we speak :)

[Assertagirl]

Power to the people....come on, let me hear you sing, power to the people...woo!