Conscious Choice Seattle: February Letters

February 2006 | Letters to the Editor

February Letters

Evergreen Monthly Remembered Fondly

Hello,

I’m really sorry to see the name change to Conscious Choice.

I liked the name Evergreen Monthly for a couple of reasons. Evergreen evokes Washington State—the Evergreen State. It firmly places the magazine in the Pacific Northwest.

I enjoy reading and supporting local newspapers. Evergreen, also, can connote "ever green"—a paper that promotes and enhances environmental stewardship and healthy living.

Lastly, although Conscious Choice can plainly suggest mindfulness, it could be a magazine from anywhere in the U.S. with no connection to place.

Thanks,

Annemarie (last name withheld)
Seattle

Seeing Stars in the January Issue

Dear Editor,

I have thoroughly enjoyed your magazine for the last two years. So I was perplexed when Conscious Choice showed up in the place where Evergreen Monthly used to be.

But, hey, smart move in running a balanced and informative story about astrology (“Star Crossed, Jan.) in the new issue. Your author (Ritzy Ryciak) did a wonderful job of explaining why astrology can be much more relevant than daily syndicated horoscopes.

What I really appreciated was the lack of mocking or making fun of astrology. That is rare. Most writers take the cheap shot at astrology (or alternative medicine practitioners) and your magazine did not.

Bravo,

Sydney Plunkett
West Seattle

When Kids’ Lunches Can Be Hazardous

The Washington Toxics Coalition recently wrote a letter to Jay Manning, director of the state department of ecology. Here is an excerpt:

Dear Director Manning,

I am writing on behalf of the Washington Toxics Coalition to request that the Department of Ecology take action under RCW 70.95G to protect Washington state’s children and ensure that children’s lunchboxes sold in Washington state do not contain lead—a potent persistent toxic chemical that has been banned in paints, gasoline and other products.

In September of this year, a study of children’s soft vinyl lunchboxes by the National Center for Environmental Health found many of these lunchboxes contain high levels of lead. Under Washington law RCW 70.95G, it is illegal to sell packaging products and other packages, including carrying cases, that contain over 100 parts per million of lead. Many of the lunchboxes tested exceed this level.

Your agency has the authority to require the manufacturers of the tested lunchboxes to certify that their products do not contain amounts of lead over the legal limit. If the manufacturers cannot make such certifications, your department can prohibit the sale of the lunchboxes.

We request that your department request certifications from the manufacturers of lunchboxes that tested high for lead. Lunchboxes that tested high include the following brands: Generation Sports; Frozn/Ingear; Roundhouse/Targus; Crayola; American Studio; Igloo; Sanford; Fast Forward; Arizona Jean Company; JC Penney; Lisa Frank; Animations/Accessory Network; Holiday Fair/Mischief Makers; Extreme Gear/Romar; SubZero/Global Advantage; Chill; Big Dogs; Childress baby bottle carriers; Innovo and East End Accessories/Worldwide Dreams;

If these manufacturers cannot provide the proper certifications, then the ecology department should prohibit the sale of these lunchboxes.

Sincerely,
Ivy Sager-Rosenthal and Laurie Valeriano
Washington Toxics Coalition

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