Alerting the public!

[Former_Member]

The more and more I read about the CPSIA and its regulations, the more and more I am outraged! I have spent the most of the day reading all the forums on this topic and have come to the conclusion that the majority of the public HAS NO CLUE what the law is or how it affects them. WE MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE!!!!

The thought of all of those wonderful vintage children’s books safe at home on my shelf being destroyed brings me to tears. I refuse to visit libraries and bookstores because the thought of seeing empty shelves breaks my heart. Not to mention all of the wonderful handmade toys, clothing, and accessories that will no longer be made due to the high cost of testing.

I know there is a lot of talk about contacting your local congressmen, and while this is a GREAT start, I think there is more that can be done. We need to get the public "in the know" about the outlandish law.

I for one watch The Today Show every morning and have never heard them discuss the CPSIA (aside from a few short articles pertaining to recalls in children's toys produced in China) BUT they have plenty of time to talk about Snuggies?!

I suggest that we get as many people as possible to bombard them with "Story Ideas". Power in numbers people.

Contact info below:

Want to send us a story idea?
Please send story ideas to Noah Kotch, Senior Producer, 379E-1, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112. If your story idea is accepted, we will notify you. We do not have a general fax number.

The public MUST become aware! This should open their eyes.

P.S. Anyone friends with Oprah? :)

[MySubEarthanCottage]

This is a great idea!

[Former_Member]

It sure seem to be a dead issue with the general public. Jane.

[Former_Member]

I think you can go to Oprah.com and give them a show idea like that. I'll try to find the link...

[Former_Member]

This is as close as I could find in the list of topics they're looking for:
https://www.oprah.com/plugform.jsp?plugId=1467183&referer=http://www.oprah.com/pluglist.jsp?teamType...

It's under "Did you just lose your job?". A lot of us will if people don't know what's going on!

[Former_Member]

I wish that someone would sell T-shirts with ;
CPSIA...I would buy one and use it to start a dialog

[Former_Member]

Has anyone done a video on Causecast.com yet? I saw that there were a few articles on there, but none about amending the law, only praising it!

I would make one myself, but I don't have skills. I think it would be a great, viral way to get the word out.

[Former_Member]

I contacted several major magazines like
Good Housekeeping and Family Circle, suggesting the CPSIA law for future articles. I even contacted a few celebrities who are high-profile collectors. One that I couldn't reach (but maybe you can) is Zack Braff (sp?). He is a toy collector and has been doing a fair number of talk shows recently.

[Former_Member]

that's why I'm saying to make little tidbit videos of yourselves and send them to various media editors. Most have online publications and they can edit and put the story out there.

[Former_Member]

These are all GREAT ideas!

How great would it be to make onesies or t-shirts for children that would say "CPSIA took away all of my toys"-wait-they probably couldn't wear it due to the lead content in the ink...

[Former_Member]

Since we learned about CPSIA on Etsy, shops have been continually emailing and writing the media including Oprah and Martha Stewart. Some small media have picked up stories - usually not very detailed and generally not telling the whole story and how it effects every consumer. Oprah and Martha have stayed away from this as if it were poison - and perhaps for them it is. They have made no mention of it and they certainly have been informed of it numerous times.

I am not saying not to bombard the media but so far it has had little significant success. CPSIA is one of the best kept secrets of the year - perhaps two years as it started in 2008. I am not sure this is not intentional.

[Former_Member]

Local NPR covered it here...I was interviewed twice, and aired a few times.

and Rush fumbled it. (He had so many ETSIANS write to him, and when someone called in, he admitted he didn't know much about it, he had WEEKS of opportunity to be prepared for that phone call...)

[Former_Member]

Oprah, Martha, Today Show, the View, etc have all been contacted by dozens of us...

seriously, they don't care.

[germandolls]

WE need to stay on it! Great idea!

[PincushionCrazy]

I'm a Canadian and don't make children's items so this doesn't affect me directly...but when I see the anguish and frustration it's causing all you gals and guys in the US it makes me wonder why all the money being spent on this regulation wouldn't be better spent protecting children from abuse and hunger or improving their educational opportunities.
I feel your pain and hope you soon have a reasonable outcome...or am I hoping for too much?