ABOUT

Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Written by EWG staff.

DONATE TO EWG!

Help us protect your health and environment!  Please donate $5 to EWG today.

GET EWG'S TIPS & ACTION ALERTS

Sign Up here to receive email updates and tips from EWG and stay informed on the issues that matter most to you.

ENVIROBLOG VIA EMAIL

Delivered by FeedBurner

 Enviroblog in your Reader

Get EWG widgets & blog badges.

Join EWG's live chat with Chef Ann Cooper

School lunch: More fruits & veggies, please!

Texas Schools are Drilling for Dollars

Why do blowouts take so long to fix?

SEARCH ENVIROBLOG

FIND PAST POSTS

select month November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004

FEATURED

Support the 2010 Safe Cosmetics Act. It's Urgent.

Why, oh why is there plastic in my aluminum water bottle?

Cell phone radiation series - Part 2: 8 Ways to reduce your exposure

So what products CAN we use?

Test Your Knowledge of Cosmetics Safety: 8 Myths Debunked

EWG's Tips for Parents: The Series

EWG's Tips to avoid BPA exposure

EWG on TV

Cutting the Pork from U.S. Farm Bill

Toxic Tub?

Sunscreen safety & DC drinking water

Perchlorate in people, kids' personal care products & plastics, and sunscreen

BPA in baby formula & safe cosmetics

Ask EWG

What can I do about fluoride in my water?

What is new carpet treated with? What can I do?

What is "fragrance"?

Which infant formula is best?

Are stainless steel water bottles safe?

Is mineral-based makeup safer?

Ask EWG Archives

PEOPLE TALKING TOXICS

Breast Cancer Fund

The Daily Green

Eco Child's Play

Environmental Defense Fund

Green Moms Carnival

Grist

Healthy Child, Healthy World

Huffington Post Green

NRDC's Switchboard

Organic.org

Safer States

TreeHugger

TALK TO US

Did we miss something? Email Enviroblog.

« 9 safer shopping tips from the pros @ Skin Deep | Main | Dear CEO: It's time to reduce children's exposure to BPA »

Time to say goodbye

I will never forget my job interview here at EWG--I woke up at 3am to catch the plane from Detroit and to make my 9am interview time. I slept for one hour the night before because I was nervous and quite honestly, scared. A few weeks before I had graduated from Michigan State University with my Master's in Public Relations and was ready to make the difference in the professional world, working for a non-profit advocacy in the nation's capital.

The moment I walked in to the EWG office, I fell in love with it. The people, the atmosphere and the décor, plastered with EWG' s slogan the power of information, made me feel right at home. As the daughter of a former journalist, I was raised with the mantra that information is power.

I spend almost 3 years here at EWG bringing that information to you, as EWG's Press Secretary. I made contact with thousands of reporters nationwide, and I've blogged since the day one. So, as I am sure you can imagine, it is with sadness that I write my last blog at Enviroblog. Friday is my last day at EWG.

It is difficult to decide what would be my favorite moment at EWG - would it be the first interview I ever set up with Fox affiliate in Boston about a fluoride industry cover-up; the time we persuaded EPA not to expose the public to chromium-6, a known carcinogen; or meeting so many people who loved EWG? Or even meeting those who worked for the "other side," and who told me openly that they fear "EWG coming after them"? It could also be the moment a few weeks ago when my mom sent me a power-point presentation in Serbian on the dangers of BPA, the issue we brought to light. The professional challenges and successes of working at EWG have helped me grow as a professional and a person. The people that I have worked with have been an inspiration to me as well as comrades in arms. We have all worked together to protect the most vulnerable populations from chemicals and toxins.

So, why am I leaving and where am I going?

I came to the US 11 years. I meant to stay for a year, to learn English. I ended up staying here much longer. The NATO bombing of my country prevented me from returning, and then school and work kept me here for another decade. Even though my years in the US have been a growing and developing experience for me, the time has come, I feel, to reunite with my family. So the move from EWG is a transcontinental one for me. Before I settle back in my city, Belgrade, I plan to spend some time teaching English at Samveda Training & Research Centre in Davangere, India.

So this is my final note, from this continent, on this blog. It's been an honor to be the part of the amazing team at EWG, as well as a writer for this blog. And as one of my favorite quotations goes: How lucky I am to have something that makes saying good-bye so hard.

« 9 safer shopping tips from the pros @ Skin Deep |