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IKE published its Spring Newsletter in early December.  Call IKE at 317-442-3973 or send an email to get a hard copy.  A PDF file will soon be available at this site.  In the meantime, the information in the newsletter has been parsed out on the IKE webpage with links. 

Welcome to IKE! I like it and I hope you will as well!

After seven years in the manufacturing sector, five years in the education sector, several years as a small businessman, and six years as an Assistant Commissioner with Indiana’s environmental agency, I (Tom Neltner) have chosen to focus my efforts on serving Indiana and the Midwest as an aggressive advocate for children’s environmental health.

I am enjoying the challenge of serving as a positive force for change. I am steep in the learning curve but have received excellent support from many of you. Thanks!

The most rewarding part is finding that I am not alone. I have been surprised by the tremendous number of advocates from all walks of life who care deeply about children’s environmental health. They make a difference every day - usually in their own quiet way.

They have expressed frustration that the current environmental programs are missing the mark. They see the world of permits and standards as disconnected from the tangible gains that our children need and deserve.

Many are angry when they see a paternalistic environmental protection system that makes decisions in their best interest – decisions that have been foreordained by a rigid structure setting minimum standards based on assumptions about the public’s best interest.

Families want to move beyond this paternalistic approach to one that gives them a right-to-know about the environmental threats their children face, how they can protect their children, and, most important, what is not known about these threats. Knowing that something is not known is critical.

That is where IKE comes in. Join us!

About a Right-to-Know Philosophy?

At the July 6 Advisory Council meeting, we will discuss IKE’s first year action plan. The following is a draft of that plan.

• Promoting a Parent's Environmental Right-to-Know Act to develop a system where those who generate a threat to children have an obligation to notify parents of those children. (See previous page for details)

• Supporting lead-based paint legislation to put teeth in the current program, especially to protect tenants.

• Identifying prevention opportunities based on an analysis of the thousands of calls for help to the Indiana Poison Center.

• Working to eliminate unnecessary mercury uses such as mercury thermometers.

• Analyzing Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s air toxics monitoring results in Lake, Marion, Elkhart and Vanderburgh counties, helping communicate them to the community, and developing recommendations to improve and enhance the program.
• Urging the State to publish a "State of Children's Health" Report so we have a common, better understanding of the health problems Hoosier children face and what environmental threats may be the cause f these problems.
• Encouraging IDEM to appoint a children's health ombudsman or advocate at the agency.
• Developing a consensus based organization that is a stable and strong advocate for children’s health.