Precauitonay Principle

Definitons and References

Web Sites & References (12/30/2004)

Aldo Leopold, 1949
"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." - A Sand County Almanac

Sir Bradford Hill - 1965
"All scientific work is incomplete - whether it be observational or experimental. All scientific work is liable to be upset or modified by advancing knowledge. That does not confer upon us a freedom to ignore the knowledge we already have or postpone the action that it appears to demand at a given time. " - Sir Austin Bradford Hill (1965)

Principle 15: Rio Declaration 1992.
"In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation."

Wingspread Statement, Jan. 1998
"When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof. The process of applying the precautionary principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially affected parties. It must also involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action."

Key componets of the Precautionary Principle

1. Taking anticipatory action to prevent harm in the face of scientific uncertainty.
2. Exploring alternatives, including the alternative of “no action.”
3. Considering the full cost of environmental and health impacts over time.
4. Increasing public participation in decision-making.
5. Shifting responsibility for providing evidence to proponents of an activity.
   

Web Sites - Precautionary Principle - (home)

The Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN) - Coprehensive informatoin on the Precautoianary Principle. SEHN is concerned with the wise application of science to the protection of the environment and public health. SEHN is also a think tank for the environmental movement, framing concepts and ethical considerations that give direction to the movement in North America and internationally. (accessed: 21 November 2004)

Bay Area Working Group on the Precautionary Principle - Excellent information on the implementation of the Precautionary Principle in the San Francision Bay area. (access: 27 July 2004).

Oregon Center for Environmental Health - Precautionary Principle Workshop A New Approach for Protecting Health and the Environment - April 20, 2004 (6/6/04)

The Precautionary Principle Project: sustainable development, natural resource managment and biodiversity conservation - an international effort (accessed: 6 August 2004)

European Environment Agency - Late Lessons From Early Warnings: The Precautionary Principle 1896-2000 - Environmental issue report No 22 -- (Summary chapter *.pdf) Excellent review what we can learn from our history of using toxic agents. (Press Release *.pdf)

Precautionary Principle - Ag Biotech InfoNet - covers all aspects of the application of biotechnology and genetic engineering in agricultural production and food processing and marketing. Provides a number of diverse links to issues related to the PP.

European Union - Precautionary Principle - Food Safety: From the Farm to the Fork

The Lowell Center - Precautionary Principle Project. University Massachusetts effort to - "The Precautionary Principle Project seeks to refine and enhance understanding of the precautionary principle, and to investigate ways in which the precautionary principle supports sound science as well as social and economic well-being." http://sustainableproduction.org/proj.prec.abou.shtml

The Environmental Health Alliance BE SAFE campaign is a nationwide initiative to build support for the precautionary approach to prevent pollution and environmental destruction before it happens.

Interpreting the Precautionary Principle as the die off web site (with other interesting environmental and ethical information)

Oregon Center for Environmental Health - Precautionary Principle Workshop A New Approach for Protecting Health and the Environment - April 20, 2004

The Paris Appeal (pdf) (html) - excellent summary of international documents supporting human health and environment.

Articles / Books - Precautionary Principle - (home)

Environmental Justice and Precaution, 29-May-03 - Environmental Research Foundation (Rachel's News)

European Communities - Communication on the Precautionary Principle - 02.02.2000

Interrelationships between the Precautionary Principle, Prediction Strategies, and Sustainable Use of the Planet. by
John Cairns, Jr. Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 111, Number 7, June 2003

The Precautionary Principle and Public Health - The Precautionary Principle Also Applies to Public Health Actions. by Bernard D. Goldstein, MD. September 2001, Vol 91, No. 9. American Journal of Public Health 1358-1361. © 2001 American Public Health Association. (abstract below).

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Stockholm, Sweden: United Nations; 1992. Publication E.73.II.A.14. Online. (accessed: 6 July 2003).

The Precautionary Principle In Action a Handbook. Science and Environmental Health Network, Joel Tickner, Carolyn Raffensperger, and Nancy Myers. Online. (accessed: 6 July 2003).

Late lessons from early warnings: the precautionary principle 1896-2000 - (free at this site) European Environment Agency - Environmental issue report No 22 -- Excellent review what we can learn from our history of using toxic agents. (News release / summary *.pdf)

When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution
by Devra Lee Davis. Basic Books; (November 5, 2002) (review)

Precaution, Predication, Proof, and Policy Assessment. Stephen Dovers. News Solutions, vol. 12(3), 2810296, 2002.

“Precaution, Environmental Science, and Preventative Public Policy, 2003” Joel A. Tickner (editor). Discusses the precautionary principle, which calls for a thorough examination of new policies and technologies and an assessment of possible consequences prior to implementation. Provides a thorough definition of the principle, and its implication for environmental and public health policy. Argues against assertions that the precautionary principle is unscientific by providing discussions from scientists and case studies demonstrating the link between science, the precautionary principle, and policy. 406 pages. US $30. Contact Island Press, 58440 Main Street, P.O. Box 7, Covelo, CA 95428; phone (800) 828-1302; fax (707) 983-6414; email services@islandpress.org; Web site http://www.islandpress.org/.

“White Paper: The Precautionary Principle and the City and County of San Francisco, 2003” City of San Francisco. Recounts the history of the precautionary principle worldwide and the development of San Francisco's precautionary principle, implemented in March, 2003. Discusses the scientific, ethical, and economic implications of the principle with examples from existing precautionary policies. 21 pages. Available for free download here. Contact SF Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102l; phone (415) 355-3700; email environment@sfgov.org; Web site http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/sfenvironment/.

“Taking Steps to Be Safe: Precautionary-Based Laws, Policies and Agreements, 2003” Environmental Health Alliance. A sample list of current international, national, state, and local laws, treaties and agreements, and industry initiatives based on the precautionary principle. Arranged in alphabetical order by issue, from arsenic-treated wood to Toxic Chemicals. 10 pages. Available for free download at: http://www.besafenet.com/. Contact Environmental Health Alliance, P.O. Box 6806, Falls Church, VA 22040; phone (703) 237-2249; email chej@chej.org, Web site http://www.besafenet.com/.

“The Precautionary Principle Puts Values First, 2002” Nancy Myers. An overview of the precautionary principle including its history, definition, and implementation paying particular attention to the values underlying the principle. Also includes a defense against common criticisms of the principle and its current and potential role in policy-making and to enhance democratic processes. 10 pages. Available for free download at: http://www.rachel.org/library/index.cfm?St=1. Contact Environmental Research Foundation, P.O. Box 160, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0160; phone (732) 828-9995; fax (732) 791-4603; email erf@rachel.org; Web site http://www.rachel.org/.