avon

i know i have a different reaction than many to the sight of a pink ribbon - or to the sight of billions of pink ribbons getting ready for the avon walk for breast cancer in sf this weekend. there are definitely emotional reasons...not ready to fully associate myself with the disease. but there are other reasons:

"...the Avon Company has chemicals linked to breast cancer in their products! Yet Avon, “the company for women,” has refused to talk to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics or even admit they have possible carcinogens in their products.

Currently there are 392 Avon products listed in Skin Deep, a personal care product safety guide with in-depth information on 14,406 products. Of the Avon products:

• 65 are listed in the Highest Concern category
• 291 are listed in the Moderate Concern category
• 36 are listed in the Lowest Concern category

Avon products contain eight different parabens which have been linked to breast cancer. Other chemicals of concern include endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins and possible other carcinogens." (http://www.mbcc.org/content.php?id=169)

according to breast cancer action: "Avon will be removing dibutyl phthalates from its product lines. This is a small but important step by a corporate giant. It's important for the people Avon markets to, many of who are women of childbearing age, and it's important for future generations." (http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/CosmeticCompanies.html)