I’m not much of a causes girl. Signing petitions, sending letters to congress/senate people, not usually my thing.
But this?
The very same people who protect us from lead in painted toys (or try to) and phthalates in plastic toys (somewhat) are now going to force hundreds (thousands) of home-based mom-and-pop owned handmade toymakers out of business, basically, by “protecting” us from them too.
Here’s the thing. Regulations is regulations. If big toy companies have to be inspected, tested, and tagged, now, in 2009, so will small. But here’s the problem: the small companies can’t afford it, don’t have the infrastructure for it, etc.
By the way, it’s not just toys. The regulations would affect handmade children’s clothing, shoes, hair ties…
Now, really, who is doing the manufacturing with dangerous chemicals? Not the little guys whittling wooden trucks in backyard shops, the individual craftspeople sewing small stuffed owls (thank you, Dooce). Come on.
So, I did it. I took the time (five minutes, tops) to click the links, fill in the forms, cut and paste the letter to my Senate and Congresspeople. I signed a petition too.
You in?
Here’s the details and more ideas on how to take action: Five Steps You Can Take to Save Natural and Handmade Companies.