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CETOS is committed to protecting vulnerable populations
from harmful toxicants, and to assure a toxic-free world for our children
and our children's children.
Our Perspective
- We have an imperative to contain environmental toxins that
endanger vulnerable populations including children, species, and future
generations.
- The level of worldwide toxic contamination results from
human activities that benefit few at the expense of many.
- Unfettered intensified agricultural systems have reshaped
the genetic makeup of our foodstuffs without adequate review and potentially
disrupt the genetic integrity of traditional crop varieties, ecological
biodiversity, and the staples of indigenous peoples without their consent.
- Biomedicine is intervening in the genetic makeup of future
human generations without firm guidelines or assurances against misuse
of DNA technology.
Our Commitment
- We will expand the medical principle of Non-Harming to assure no one -
and no endangered species is exposed to toxic substances at hazardous levels.
- We will reduce existing risks to human health and endangered species.
- We will work towards minimizing gene-damaging and cancer-causing chemicals.
Our Achievements
We've recently completed two books on agricultural biotechnology:
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Against the Grain
(Common Courage Press, 1998)
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Engineering the Farm
(Island Press, 2002)
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We've completed three projects
on toxic substances: one with the March of Dimes to identify high risk
chemicals during pregnancy, a second with the Forest Stewardship Council
to reduce and in some instances eliminate pesticides during logging;
and a third for the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the risks
to endangered species posed by pesticide exposure.
We continue to be active on the Proposition 65 front, assisting in developing
risk assessments, and doing basic toxicological consulting.
Our Current Work
- Safe Pregnancy Project - to reduce toxic risks
to fetuses and newborns and to diminish the intergenerational risk from environmental toxicants,
- Genetic Integrity Cancer Protection Project - to examine
our obligations to protect the genetic makeup of diverse species, and
- Critical Habitat Project - to promote ecological
health and biodiversity of species by reducing pesticide use within
critical habitat areas and encouraging sustainable and less toxic alternatives.
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