Activism CPSIA: MEDIA

[Kathleen F.]

[Guest]

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11559106

"New lead Rule May imperil Thrift Shops"

[Melanie]

Hey...don't think this has been posted yet...India is considering a ban on ALL Chinese toys, because of their toxic substances...Gee...why didn't we think of that, instead of the CPSIA????? That's where all of this nonsense started, was the big recalls in 2007, of toys made in CHINA...
Not to mention all of the other items that have been found unsafe from there as well...remember the pet food fiasco?

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Permanent_ban_on_Chinese_toys_likely/articleshow/4031546.cms

[Melanie]

and part 3 from Forbes.com. They've been covering this story during January, and telling it like it is...this guy that wrote part 3, was actually at the CPSC as the chief economist from 1985 to 1987...very interesting to read his slant on this...and why this was pushed through!
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/26/toys-lead-cpsia-oped-cx_phr_0127rubin.html

[Darby]

Yay to the NY Post!
https://www.nypost.com/seven/01282009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/how_child_safety_may_kill_nyc_jobs_152308.htm

Have yet to see anything from the NY Times... not very surprised, though.

[no one]

http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2009/01/help-save-handm.html

[Olivia - The Cheerleader]

Kathleen,
After our Colorado CPSIA forum on 1/8 http://tinyurl.com/altf8h, you asked me if I had considered holding a press conference with the turn out of businesses (large, small manufacturers, thrift, resell, retail) was so great (40+). I would like to hold one on 2/10 and wanted to see if you and the group had any suggestions. The purpose is specifically to increase awareness and draw media attention to the impact of CPSIA.

Here are some of the questions I have and where I could use help.

1. What should our angle be? Many of the manufacturers are CPSIA certified for right now, but will most likely go out of business in Aug without needed changes. Should our announcement or message be that National Bankruptcy Day really stretches over the next 6 months if action isn't taken?

2. How do we get multiple media outlets there? What would be most compelling to them?

3. How do we invite local Congressmen? And cut through all of the CPSIA mail (hate mail) they are currently getting. How can we actually get them to show? Maybe present an opportunity that is positive, less threatening, etc.

4. Any ideas on how we can make the most of our local press conference on a national level? National ties to other businesses...illustrate the chain effect across business types, regions, industries, etc.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I have been working with local media from a PR standpoint and have gotten some good coverage on CPSIA, but I have never held a press conference.

Thanks again! Olivia
cpsiacheerleader@live.com[/url]

[Darby]

Finally I see something in my morning NY Times about the cpsia. But it's written by the associated press, and the headline reads, Toys With Banned Toxin Must Go, Judge Decides. I couldn't even find an online link to this story. The first paragraph reads, "The federal Consumer Product Safety commission may not let toys containing toxic manufacturing chemicals remain on store shelves after a ban takes effect next week, a judge ruled Thursday." Later on in the article, "... consumer advocates called the ruling a victory for children's health."

I'm very tempted to cancel my subcription to the NY Times!

[Kathleen F.]

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/business/06toys.html

[Darby]

Thanks, Kathleen!

[Guest]

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705283068,00.html

http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_11638972

[Kiki Fluhr]

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/76302-Congress-war-on-toys/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

I'm in this one.

[Guest]

Good article,

This phthalate opinion reversal is not a big deal for the clothes people but for toys, it is huge. And it illustrates how unstable things are with every aspect of this law. People thought they had something to hang onto regarding existing invetory given the Cpsc opinion and now that is up in smoke a few days before the deadline. Millions more dollars of goods now illegal.. How are stores even supposed to ship it back anywhere. Isn't that illegal.
Wow!

[Sarah R]

http://tinyurl.com/b5unuh

This is our local Des Moines IA paper. I'm pleased with the article, particuarly considering that they assigned the story (after numerous emails from me suggesting they do a story!) to a reporter who called me first, and didn't do a whole lot of research on his own. I spent several hours on the phone with him just catching him up on the basics and explaining over and over what the testing requirements were, ways that the law could be changed that would still achieve the goal but without the stupidness, etc.

The other woman quoted in the story, of course, pulled out exempting all small businesses, erg.

That hasbro quote has me cringing, though. I was trying to get him to understand the scale of economy on large runs vs small runs and I pulled Hasbro and Tickle Me Elmo out of thin air... and Hasbro doesn't make Tickle Me Elmo. *eek*

[Melanie]

Wall Street Journal did another op ed piece today...still calling it a runaway train, and saying Congress needs to fix it...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123388626627155299.html