Activism CPSIA: MEDIA

[Kathleen F.]

Moved:

[Melissa McKeagney]

WHY is it that Congress thinks that there is an exemption for products that aren't made with noxious materials??? This is just making me so d**n angry that they don't even know what they signed into LAW! Ok, here is an article from the Consumerist that someone posted over at Etsy:

http://consumerist.com/5117450/new-toy-safety-rule-has-collateral-damage-handmade-toy-manufacturers

Melissa

[Esther]

John Lott, economist, blogger and foxnews pundit finally picked up the story. I emailed him over a month ago and he didn't get it then. He picked up the toy angle. Add your comments too and maybe he will take it air.

http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2008/12/unintended-impact-of-law-passed-in.html#comments

[Eric H]

Mark Riffey gets it:

[Jody]

ABC News has covered this. Yet again, the story focuses mainly on toys, but they appear to be noticing the scope of the law...just haven't covered it thoroughly.

The story is here: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=6522976

ABC provides the ability to give them information for follow-up stories. This is a good opportunity to whet their media appetite for more headlines. I recommend that we all send them the following to let them know that there's a really big story brewing here in the hopes that they might smell a scoop and pick up on it. If a few more of us email them with "the rest of the story", they might give it more coverage. If you decide to respond, remember that the media likes lots of sources, so include whatever websites you feel most relevant.

This is what I sent to ABC:
The broad scope of this law has blindsided manufacturers in all sectors, especially those who produce inherently lead-free products. The memo your story cited is the result of an urgent request submitted by the National Association of Manufacturers to the CPSC on Dec 18 for an immediate rulemaking on exemptions needed under CPSIA to avoid the devastating consequences that are set to occur on Feb 10 (http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/PDFs/Safety/CPSCPetition1208.pdf). Concerns about the CPSIA have been picking up a fast and furious head of steam since late October, and the CPSC is scrambling to undo some of the damage this law will do. But, the memo for exclusions won’t do nearly enough to offset the economic impacts. There are still millions of inherently lead-free products that will require testing, even with the exemptions proposed. Textiles are a good example (the i-petition cited below explains this in more detail).

Read the comments to your story and you'll find there's a much bigger story here. This law will affect everyone, consumers and manufacturers alike. Rep. Rush’s statement as quoted is false. Had you checked his assertion against the language of the law, you would know that the exemptions currently proposed are the only exemptions that have even been suggested to date, and they are not yet approved. Furthermore, these exemptions will do little to spare consumers from enormous price increases that will result from this law. These costs are enormous and will undoubtedly be passed on to consumers while providing no additional protection for children.
There are so many angles to this story, it’s unreal. For example, how will schools be able to afford the CPSIA? (http://fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com/413898.html)
Other Sources:
http://www.ipetitions.com/ and enter "CPSIA" in the search function).
//fashion-incubator.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=32
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/

[Some Farker]

FYI, http://www.fark.com has a story about this in their "not news" listing-- summary headline (which is not correct) is given as "New law mandates testing of all imported toys for toxins, but exempts domestic made ones. Happy Fun Ball bounces in approval."

The story Fark is linking to is here:
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=9583225&nav=menu682_2

The Fark page for comments is here:
http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=4109572

[Tina HD]

I don't think this one has been posted. If it has and I'm duplicating, I'm sorry.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=8134831&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

[Kathleen F.]

URGENT:
If you own a resale shop or a boutique in the Los Angeles area, please contact me asap kfasanella@yahoo.com. A reporter from the LA Times is looking for people to interview.

[mollyodesigns]

[Handcraftivist]

I haven't gotten over here in a while to post videos-

Here is a news report by ABC12 in Mid-Michigan which ran December 30, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOqn-tSj6hI&feature=channel_page

Here is the link to the ABC12 website page-

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=6578127

Please check out the handcraftivist channel on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/handcraftivist

I have posted the news videos you all are aware of, but the idea behind posting them on YouTube is to give them a wider audience. Many people use YouTube as their first news and entertainment source.

I would appreciate if you could hit the videos and comment, subscribe, become a friend-

The more hits, people will get curious and watch, finding out about the CPSIA situation.

It is very important to also go to the website of the TV station to make a comment too.

Thanks everyone. The word is getting out and I am glad to hear that "they" are working on the situation in Washington.

I do wish there were more vids on how CPSIA is going to affect the chidren's apparel industry. But, the good thing is that at least TOYS have gotten people's attention and now the awareness can spread to other sectors.

Karen

[Handcraftivist]

A reporter for Media General via the Winston-Salem Journal did an interview with my friend who makes hair bows a couple of weeks ago.

I can't remember if I posted it here- it first appeared on the Media General Washington Bureau website and now it just ran in the Winston-Salem Journal, Monday, December 29, 2008

I hope more Media General outlets will pick up the story. When I spoke to Sean Mussenden (referring him to my friend, Pam, who put me onto the whole CPSIA situation), he seemed to have a grasp that this wasn't just about toys.

He included a couple of other handcrafters in his interview and he must have checked out etsy.com per my suggestion.

It's good to see an interview with someone whose livelihood is children's accessories. The other lady in Chapel Hill also sells children's accessories online.

Winston-Salem Journal-

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/29/a-hard-rule-product-safety-testing-could-spell-end/news-local/

On Media General Washington Bureau-

http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mom-and-pop-toymakers-fear-new-testing-regulations/2274/


I see there are some comments on the Winston-Salem Journal article, with some making the connection that this could greatly affect the North Carolina handcraft industry, and that is something we definitely don't want to see happen.

My question has been- what were the NC state senators and reps thinking when they passed the CPSIA? Our state relies heavily on tourism and handcrafted items are a HUGE part of the tourism industry i.e. mountain crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

[Jody]

Kudos for Kiki in MA!!!! This story tells it from out point of view....finally!!!

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/263549

[Jody]

Another home run!!

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,2083247.story

[Kathleen F.]

[Valerie Burner]

Way to go Kiki! Loved the article. I sent the link to the ASDP president, who is going to post this to them. I think your article would be the best way to get the message that it can and will affect just about everybody- including their quilting buddies and their husbands crafting rocking horses in the garage. Thanks for this!