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Resource Pointer #342 (The Precautionary Principle)
October 23, 2003

For copies of the following resources, please contact the appropriate publishers or organizations directly.

*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 at: http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/sfenvironment/aboutus/policy/legislation.htm. 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/.

*Late Lessons from Early Warnings: The Precautionary Principle 1896-2000, 2002* European Environment Agency. A collection of historical case studies recounting environmental and public health disasters such as asbestos and radiation poisoning, fishery depletion, MTBE, and mad cow disease. Twelve ‘late lessons’ emerge to guide future preventative policy-making and inform an analysis of the role of science in risk assessment and the precautionary principle. 211 pages. Available for free download or print copy at: http://reports.eea.eu.int/environmental_issue_report_2001_22/en. Contact European Environment Agency, Kongens Nytorv 6, DK-1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark; phone (453) 336-7100; fax (453) 336-7199; email eea@eea.eu.int; Web site https://selectra.co.uk/guides/european-environmental-agency.

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