Precautionary Principle?

Coram Deo · #1 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 08:34 PM

Some Christian communities hold to the Precautionary principle.

The Precautionary principle is a moral and political principle which states that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action.

What are your thoughts on the Precautionary principle?

In light of the Precautionary principle I found the following article interesting and would love to also get all of your input....

Article from Dr. Maoshing Ni:

There are places in the world where a concentrated number of people routinely live to 100.

From the lush valleys of Ecuador to the peaceful island of Okinawa to the pristine hills of the Himalayas, these centenarian clusters all have something in common: an environment conducive to a healthy, long life-clean air, pure water, and nature unspoiled by the modern world.

In our Western world, we have to contend with the toxic by-products of our technological advances. We made our environment cancerous for ourselves.

Plastic, lightweight, durable, and versatile is everywhere in our modern world - bad news for our health. Many plastics release vinyl chloride and other harmful gases or contain phthalates that can lead to cancer, birth defects, and lung and liver disease.

Some plastics are right out in the open, like the ones found in our TVs, computers, telephones, coffeemakers, water bottles, and food containers. But some plastics show up in places where you might least suspect them, in carpeting, chewing gum, cosmetics, mattresses, sanitary napkins, polyester clothing, tissues, toilet paper, and upholstery.

Minimize plastic usage to cut your health risks. Use glass water bottles, wooden toys, personal care products and cosmetics made with natural ingredients, and natural fiber clothing, bedding, and mattresses.

Paper products do not come naturally white. All white paper is bleached with chemicals that leave behind harmful residues of dioxin, which is a known carcinogen.

These residues are found in coffee filters, diapers, lunch bags, napkins, paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper. Using unbleached paper products is good for you.

longevity means protecting ourselves from products that are dangerous to our health. Household cleansers containing bleach or chemicals are harmful to inhale. Instead of these, choose natural cleaning products that have recently come onto the market, which are safe.

Commercially grown produce is filled with pesticides, herbicides and toxic chemical residues. Conventional meat, poultry, and dairy products contain high amounts of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotic drugs that are harmful to your health.

These toxins show up in a variety of places, including the water supply, breast milk, and urine. They cause degenerative changes, hormonal problems, immune system disorders, and cancer in both people and animals.

For your own wellbeing, search out organic foods; whenever possible, buy only organic and free-range poultry and meat.

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Coram Deo · #2 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 09:02 AM

Bumpy Bump Bump..

Neopatriarch · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunaer

Some Christian communities hold to the Precautionary principle.

The Precautionary principle is a moral and political principle which states that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action.

"Better safe than sorry?"

Well, it seems to me that the mere possibility of severe or irreversible harm to the public would not necessarily be enough reason to stop implementation of an action or policy. I would want to know that there is some probability the adverse consequences will occur.

It would be very difficult to prove that any action or policy involves zero risk to the public and, if you have a good imagination, you can dream up worst case scenarios for practically any action or policy. Further, I would ask what the risks of inaction are.