Precautionary Principle – Number 202

Old and new precaution August 2011

I.   First Nations tribe combines science with legacy of conservation Anne Casselman, Scientific American, August 9, 2011 "What I find really cool is this principle of conservation biology, the precautionary approach, in most cases, is absolutely consistent with the philosophy the Heiltsuk evolved with culturally to manage their own resources," says Chris Darimont, chief scientist with Raincoast Conservation Foundation. "It's the same thing." Read more II. Bill could let researchers ban chemicals  Paulina Perlin, Green Answers, July 10, 2011 The Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Exposure Elimination Act of 2011 would allow the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and a board of experts chosen by the director, to ban up to ten chemicals from commerce each year. The bill is applauded by the Endocrine Society, which has called for implementing the precautionary principle to reduce the use of chemicals whose potential ill effects have not been studied. Read more III. Precautionary principle should be applied to shale gas  Read more IV. Risk assessment and the precautionary principle Bernardo Delogu, 2008 This slide presentation by the Adviser for Research and Science, Health and Consumers of the Directorate-General, European Commission, presents a useful overview of the EU interpretation and use of the precautionary principle. Download PDF