What You Can Do
We need your help in getting the lead and other dangerous products out of our homes. A broken regulatory system and unfair, unregulated trade policies are endangering our families, our communities and our jobs. This check list provides you with a few ideas for what you can do to send the message that a cheap price tag is not worth putting our families at risk:
Use your USW Get the Lead Out screening kit:
- Test your toys and other imported items and report your results at www.stoptoxicimports.org or www.protect-our-kids.org.
- Review product recall lists and get the unsafe products out of your homes and pass the word.
- Check local child care centers and schools for these recalled toys and get them out!
- If you need more lead tests, buy them from manufacturers such as www.leadcheck.com/ in the United States or www.leadinspector.com/ in Canada.
Join with the USW and help spread the word:
- The USW’s Women of Steel are sponsoring Get the Lead Out Safe Home sessions around North America to educate friends, family and neighbors about toxic trade and the danger of unregulated globalization. Visit www.stoptoxicimports.org or www.protect-our-kids.org to find events near you.
- Have your own Safe Home testing get together to share information about lead screening and toxic trade and to let friends and family know what they can do to help.
- Visit local toy, tire and other retailers to see if toxic/faulty products are still on the shelves.
- Join a USW action day at a local retailer or other high-traffic area where you can pass out campaign brochures and lead screening kits. Check the Web for details.
- Encourage your friends to visit www.protect-our-kids.org and join our campaign!
- If you’re not a USW member, join us now! Go to http://www.uswa.org/uswa/program/content/1264.php for an online application or send us the Associate Member application enclosed in your Get the Lead Out kit.
Ask your government representatives to fix the broken trade system that is allowing toxic and unsafe imports to threaten our families’ health:
- Write or e-mail them a letter saying something such as:
Dear (fill in the name):
Our children should be the top priority of our government. That is why I am imploring you to help put an end to unregulated toxic trade that is threatening our families with everything from lead-laced baby bibs and toys to toxic tooth paste. We need tougher trade laws that not only safeguard consumers but protect our jobs. We need to stop toxic imports from ending up on our store shelves and in our homes. Please take action now to protect our children and stop toxic trade!
Sincerely,
(Your name)
- Sign our online petition at www.stoptoxicimports.org then pass along the link and ask your friends, family and co-workers to sign it.