Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) is a statewide membership organization dedicated to working with people to bring about social, economic and environmental justice.

Protesters honor troops, urge withdrawal

Connecticut Post - March 20, 2008

TONY SPINELLI and PETER URBAN

A rainy, gloomy day just before the start of spring was the setting Wednesday for dozens of anti-war protesters around the state who marked the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq with pickets and vigils.

"We didn't want to have one single event in the state, so we had several of them around the state, and we'll continue this weekend," said John Murphy, a leader of Connecticut Opposes the War, a group he said has 50 member organizations.

Activist To Lead Anti-War Campaign

Ex-Lamont Manager Coordinator Of Effort To Oppose Iraq War As Economic Disaster
By MARK PAZNIOKAS

Hartford Courant - March 18, 2008

The manager of anti-war candidate Ned Lamont's 2006 Senate campaign was named Monday as coordinator of a $20 million nationwide effort to oppose the war in Iraq as a continuing economic disaster.

Tom Swan is the manager of Iraq Campaign 2008, an effort to tie the war to an issue with a higher profile: the struggling U.S. economy.

"The public is already with us on this," Swan said in a telephone interview.

CCAG Testifies At Capitol for Stronger Municipal Ethics

Testimony of Phil Sherwood
Before the GAE, Monday, February 25th, 2008

Good morning Senator Slossberg, Representative Caruso and other members of the GAE committee. My name is Phil Sherwood, I am the Legislative Director for the Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG). CCAG has approximately 30,000 member families across CT and I appreciate the opportunity to comment on several bills before your committee today.

CCAG supports both H. B. 5504 AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL LOBBYING and H. B. 5505 AN ACT CONCERNING THE CITIZENS' ELECTION PROGRAM.

Study: Bottles sold at Target leach toxic chemical

New Britain Herald - February 7, 2008

By SCOTT WHIPPLE, HERALD STAFF
HARTFORD — Public-health and science-based groups have called for an immediate halt to the sale and manufacture of bottles containing bisphenol A. The toxic chemical, also known as BPA, leaches from plastic baby bottles when heated,

Baby's Toxic Bottle

Most plastic baby bottles are made with Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is the building block of polycarbonate plastic. When these bottles are heated and/or exposed to detergents/scrubbing the ester bonds degrade and bisphenol A leaches from the bottles into liquid.

Scientific studies show bisphenol A can wreak havoc on the endocrine system, which regulates important hormones. The chemical is associated with adverse health effects including prostate and breast cancer, immune system dysfunction, early puberty in females, and higher rates of miscarriage.

Why is this newsworthy, or what's new about this?

Consumer advocates on alert for toxic toys

Av Harris, WNPR - December 10, 2007

Listen (mp3)

HARTFORD, CT (2007-12-10) According to Connecticut consumer advocates, alarming levels of toxic chemicals are present in common toys that may be bought as gifts this holiday season. Most of these toys are manufactured in China. Phil Sherwood of Connecticut Citizen Action Group spoke with WNPR's Av Harris, and says a recent national study found even toys such as Hannah Montana contain high levels of toxins.