Obama Makes Environmental Promise

Lourdes Salvador's Column

...Co-founder of MCS America discusses the latest Multiple Chemical Sensitivity issues.

Lourdes Salvador volunteers as a writer and social advocate for the recognition of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). She was a passionate advocate for the homeless and worked with her local governor to provide services to the homeless through a new approach she created to end homelessness. That passion soon turned to advocacy and activism for people with MCS and the medical professionals who serve them. She co-founded MCS Awareness in 2005 and went on to found MCS America in 2006. She serves as a partner for Environmental Education Week, a partner for the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE), and a supporter for the American Cancer Society: Campaign for Smokefree Air.

For more information visit MCS America

Monday, December 15th, 2008:

Obama Makes Environmental Promise

by Lourdes Salvador

On October 20, 2008, before his election, Presidential-Elect Obama wrote a letter to John Gage, president of the of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO regarding the importance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an Obama Administration.

Obama declared several key points and made a few promises.

First, he says, "The mission of the EPA is to protect the environment of the nation." In the past, this has not happened in many cases and has been painstakingly slow in others.

Second, Obama recognized, "This is due to the failed leadership of the past eight years," and went on to explain, "Inadequate funding for the EPA has resulted in the ineffective allocation of resources."

Obama then committed to pursuing greater funding for the EPA so that its responsibilities are carried out. He said, "Clean water, land and air, and ensuring the health and safety of our citizens, especially children, will be high priorities in an Obama Administration."

Most importantly, Obama recognized that environmental science, research, and education have been damaged by politics and ideology. He states, "I strongly oppose attempts by the Bush Administration to thwart publication of EPA researchers' scientific findings, as well as the attempt to eliminate the agency's library system"

"In an Obama Administration," said Obama, "the principle of scientific integrity will be an absolute, and I will never sanction any attempt to subvert the work of scientists."

Indeed, the Obama Administration is fast coming upon us. Americans have every right to expect that the EPA will be given the leadership and funding promised. Further, Americans are entitled to absolute scientific integrity free from undue industry influences.

To view President-elect Obama´s letter to John Gage, see:

http://tinyurl.com/5e4ha9

To learn more about how you can share your views with Obama, see the MCS America News, December edition article, "Obama to hear your vision", on page 26.

For more articles on this topic, see: MCSA News.

Copyrighted 2008 Lourdes Salvador & MCS America

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