Self-sufficency for impoverished women around the globe. I wrote this post before your call for suggestions and it would be a great cause to get behind.

I think that it's a fantastic plan to focus energy on one issue and work to raise the profile of four.

I would like to put in a vote for addressing toxic chemicals -- they're not just in toxic waste dumps, or pouring out of smokestacks. They're in everyday products ( http://www.saferproducts.org/ ), our homes, our cars, ( http://healthycar.org ) our workplaces. They're even in our bodies ( http://www.ewg.org/sites/humantoxome/ ).

New research ( http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/botrender.fcgi?bl... ) shows health effects from some chemicals at levels at or close to those now found in people.

Women are particularly vulnerable, both in terms of impact to our own health and the health of the next generation.

This is an issue that has not gotten the attention it deserves, but it comes down to this: a century of industrialization and increased reliance on synthetic materials has lead to far-reaching and continuous exposure to chemicals that have never been fully tested for their impacts, and that can fundementally alter not only human health, but the entire planetary ecosystem.

We as women need to call out for health protections that start at the source. The new Women's Health and the Environment Initiative ( http://www.womenshealthandenvironment.org/ ) has excellent information about the science, what individuals can do and what we can do collectively. The Louisville Charter ( http://www.louisvillecharter.org ), put together by environmental health and justice organizers from around the U.S., sets forth a platform of changes that must be made to protect ourselves, future generations, and the planet.

Whether or not this is the top issue, it should be in the top four that we demand policymakers address.

http://lifesalad.blogspot.com/2007/06/bloghers-act...

http://barefootbooksmaine.com
http://mainemamas.com
http://lifesalad.blogspot.com

Honestly, there are days when I'm lucky to be able to get my kids to school (on time) and back home, again (safely) rather than coming up with a way on how I can change the rest of the world.

One small voice - muted by years of yelling at my kids - can get lost in the crowd.

But, I've seen great things happen to the good people of the blogosphere - especially those who deserve our attention the most!

Here's a simple little act of kindness that we ALL can bring about, in the comfort and familiarity of our own living rooms.

How about bringing about awareness in our local communities - like, taking up a challenge ( http://www.thisfullhouse.com/?p=186 ) and get bloggers (especially with children) to think outside ourselves and raise money for a local charity.

To get more corporate sponsorship and allow companies a venue to show they care - not just so it looks good on some spreadsheet - because, it's the right thing to do.

I believe there is power in blogging and if you blog it, they will come, no matter how good (or bad) the traffic is!

Good luck.

--------------------------------------------
Family.com ( http://family.go.com/blog/ThompsonClanMom )
Imperfect Parent ( http://www.imperfectparent.com/ethompson/index.php )
This Full House ( http://thisfullhouse.com )

http://www.blogher.com/node/20936

My response is here on Blogher, ( http://www.blogher.com/node/20936 ) and I'll crosspost it at my blog too.

Thanks Cooper and Emily for all of this so far - it has been great to follow along. This is such a fantastic project.

Laurie
lauriewrites ( http://lauriewrites.typepad.com )

http://www.wearefamilytoo.net
http://www.maybegayby.com

Our Hot Button Issue is:

LGBT Family Equality

Equal Rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Families. This includes reproductive equality for LGBT couples.

http://reesiesworld.wordpress.com/

BlogHer wants to know about my hot button issue.

Education.

I have a lot of hot button issues, but this is one that I think everyone can get behind and impact locally, and globally.

So many of our other issues would resolve themselves if everyone had better access to education.

Nutrition is truly a global issue that needs to be tackled. As Shuna Fish Lydon said last year at Blogher-food is an issue that cuts across race, class and gender. We have obesity issues that must be addressed. We have food safety issues. We have food insecurity issues. We have health issues. These wrap into one big issue-nutrition. It is a key to health, which is the key to so much more. Then there is so much that goes into educating and providing food for folks that just totally changes not only their lives, but the lives of the people who pick it, process it and cook it. ~TW ( http://ramblewoman.blogspot.com )

That's amazing!!

I can't wait to hear the results.

In order to change your life, you must change your life
Link Text ( http://www.expectingexecutive.com )ExpectingExecutive.com

In order to change your life, you must change your life
Link Text ( http://www.expectingexecutive.com )ExpectingExecutive.com
I think this is one thing to change as well as an election item. This truly is something that can be done and would significantly change womens lives in an extaordinary way. Provide state unemployment benefits to all working women on maternity leave. Just as one might receive unemployment benefits for being laid off...working women on maternity leave should be able to tap into the unemployement funds pot to which they ante up with every paycheck.