Send email to CNN now!

[#1]

It is Saturday morning and CNN weekend show said to email with what we want President Obama to work on in his first 100 Days. I just sent a long letter.

Please, someone else send a notice to them, too, so they can see that this is a genuine problem and I'm not just a "mommy blogger"!

The email address is:

weekends@cnn.com

[Former_Member]

Thank you to all of you. Don't you just love this internet?!

[Former_Member]

I just love this forum and I haven't even opened my shop yet. lol

[Former_Member]

I sent one hon I hope it helps ;)

[Former_Member]

I just sent one along with the PDF Booklet that was made. Hope this helps.

[Former_Member]

I just sent my letter - hope it helps!

[Former_Member]

I sent mine and a pic of my 100% cotton dress satting that it would be considered hazadorus

[Former_Member]

Here is that PDF incase you have not seen it yet.

http://shalomscottagehome.com/Assets/Special%20Graphics/save%20handmade_book.pdf

They did a great job making it.

[TinyLoveBugs]

Sent mine!

[Former_Member]

I just sent mine! :)

[Former_Member]

I just sent them another email asking them why the national networks are not investigating this topic. We know that they have been flooded with emails, calls, letters... Senators and Congressmen have written asking for this to be reviewed, very reputable sources such as Forbes, Business Week, Washington Post have reported on this, very powerful organizations are working on this... why aren't they reporting on the "unintended consequences" of the CPSIA.

Probably won't get a reply, but it was worth a shot!

[asherjasper]

Just e-mailed :)

[Superflykidz]

Just sent an email!

[Former_Member]

baparsell I mentioned that in my email too. I told them that this is getting covered by local outlets but we need help on the national side.

I gave them the Forbes article too.

They have got to notice us! I have it on CNN now and they only read two emails in the last two hours.So much for that.

[Former_Member]

Sent mine! I made sure to mention the impact not only on small business but also schools, libraries, non-profits, resellers and the environment. Also mentioned that in these tough economic times we cannot limit the access to affordable or free clothing, books and toys that resellers and non-profits provide. Lastly, I wondered why the average citizen does not know about this law and its negative impacts when it will be enacted so soon!!!!!

[Former_Member]

I also sent mine. Although I'm obviously impacted as an artisan who makes children's clothes, I made sure to express the greater concern that this was presented to President Obama via change.org as simply a "handmade issue."

I am horrified at the way some of us as mothers and artists are being maligned for spreading misinformation--just because you don't want hear it....--and that it is not being covered in a more global fashion by the media.
It's just too easy to dismiss us as artisanal fringe-people, and to hide behind the need for "safety!" at all costs, too easy to dismiss the complainers by attacking the things which were supposed virtues.
My heart lies with handmade and the artisan, but I am also drawing on myself in every other aspect: as a mother, educator, and businesswoman, because I know we have to get this issue out from the handmade umbrella and into the public eye.

I created a site to try to generate dicussion for the non-industry folk, the average, Target-lovin' mom, etc--just on this issue.
I would love it if some of you could please come and help spread the general word. www.small-things-considered.com

This article DOES apply to handmade, specifically: http://www.small-things-considered.com/2009/01/cpsia-like-anvil-on-onesie.html and also appears at What Every Baby Needs.

keep screaming!

[Former_Member]

Even if they don't talk about it today, we have flooded them YET AGAIN. Sooner or later they will have to deal with this subject.

[Former_Member]

Here's a letter I just sent:

Dear CNN,

I run a small hand-made children's clothing and accessories business and on Feb. 10th I will have close up shop.

All I want to do is bring creativity into children's lives. I want to give them color and shapes. I want to spark their mind with ideas, images and inspiration. But because of the CPSIA I and other small crafters like me will not be able to provide children with our quality, heart-filled products.

The CPSIA is supposed to protect children from lead poisoning and it should and can do that, without making small businesses like mine suffer. (1) We cannot afford the lead testing, (2) If we could afford the testing and found that our products contained lead we would be out thousands of dollars of inventory (3) We can't find suppliers that would test for lead because their material would not be originally meant for children ages 0 - 12 and therefore would not have to be tested (4) The CPSIA states that if we were to find suppliers who sell lead-compliant materials we would still have to test the end product ourselves, which brings us right back to number (1).

The burden of proof should be on the manufacturers of the materials that are being used by children's product makers. Because by the time the materials get to me or other crafters to be made into a stuffed animal or felt bookmark it's too late. Crafters would essentialy be forced to buy materials hoping that they are compliant with the new law and then be forced spend the money to test them themselves and in most cases that testing money will be wasted on materials that inherently don't have lead in them in the first place.

I agree completely that America's children are in danger. They are in danger of ignorant, sweeping, illogical legislation that robs them of creative, high-quality clothing, toys, books, and educational materials. The crafting community urges you to let the public know about the CPSIA and how it will effect US ALL, not just the big, bad, companies that sell lead-filled toys.

Sincerely,
Sara Ortiz
Danville, IL

Feel free to use this as a template to send to others.

[Former_Member]

sending this up to the top

[Former_Member]

Thanks sending letter off

[Former_Member]

I'm off to send my letter.