Women are often most sensitive to changes in the environment because they are in closest contact with the home and the land; they are the first line of defense. Survival of women and their families is closely linked to the health of the land, forests, fisheries and other natural resources. There is strong evidence of the irrevocable damage caused by environmental assaults during various stages of the life cycle, particularly to the fetus and growing child.

Unsustainable patterns of production continue with women facing serious health risks, especially reproductive health, as they become more active in the labor force. To a large extent, occupational risks to women are still unrecognized, uncharacterized and uncontrolled. Increased use of pesticides threatens women's health and the health of future generations in all parts of the world. Despite governments' commitments on environmental health in Cairo, official action and public awareness of prevention and risk reduction remain inadequate.

Source: Risks, Rights and Reforms: A 50-Country Survey Assessing Government Actions Five Years After the International Conference on Population and Development (WEDO, March 1999)

The health of humans is directly and clearly intertwined with the health of our planet. Here are just some of the resources available on the world wide web for information, education and action.

Health:

• http://www.engenderhealth.org/ - Engender Health, Improving Women's Health Worldwide
• http://www.planetwire.org/- (Plan)etWire.org," Linking environment, women and population"
• http://www.silentspring.org/ - Silent Spring Institute, researching the environment and women's health
• http://www.unfpa.org/ - United Nations Family Planning Association
• http://www.wen.org.uk/- Women's Environmental Network (UK)
• http://www.who.int/ - World Health Organization
• http://www.who.int/ - WHO, An Anthology on Women, Health and Environment
• http://www.populationaction.org/ - Population Action
• http://www.sierraclub.org/ - Sierra Club
• http://www.unfpa.org/ - United Nations Family Planning Association

Sustainable Development:

• http://www.gdrc.org/ - Urban and Ecological Footprints
• http://www.undp.org/ - United Nations Development Program
• http://www.wedo.org/ - Women's Environment and Development Organization

Local:

• http://www.oregon.sierraclub.org/ - Sierra Club
• http://www.solv.org/ - SOLV, Working to preserve this treasure called Oregon
• http://www.thedirt.org/- The Dirt, connecting people to the environment through timely information and resources

General:

• http://www.earthday.org/ - Earthday Network, Who says you can't change the world?
• http://www.earthsite.org/ - The "Official" Earth Day website
• http://shr.aaas.org/ - American Association for the Advancement of Science, Environment and Human Rights Resources

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette of linked web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. External links are provided consistent with the purpose of this PP web site.

...and to live in Peace with our Planet.