August Briefing Ban Roundup

Public education, member action strengthen call to ban Roundup

The more we educate the public about Monsanto's weedkiller, Roundup, the more support we find for banning the product -- the residue of which can be found practically everywhere, from breakfast cereal to ice cream.

In July, U.S. PIRG and our national network kicked off a summer public education drive in 15 states.

"Ever since the World Health Organization determined [Roundup's main ingredient] glyphosate is a probable carcinogen, we have been warning the public," said our Ban Roundup Campaign Director Kara Cook-Schultz.

"We're doing all we can to get the facts to legislators about why we should ban Roundup until and unless it's proven safe," said U.S. PIRG's Faye Park. "The support and action of our members are making it easier to get state decision-makers to listen."

By summer's end, our national network's canvassers aim to enlist more than 40,000 citizens to join our call on state leaders to ban Roundup.

Learn more about our campaign to Ban Roundup.

Canvassers across the country are going door to door to mobilize the public to ban Roundup unless and until it's proven safe.

Right to Repair

Nathan Proctor advocates for our right to repair at the FTC's 'Nixing the Fix' workshop

We've been telling everybody who will listen that the companies that make electronics and other products should make it easier to repair your stuff. In July, we got to tell the Federal Trade Commission... FULL STORY

Protect Your Credit

Here's why we're not satisfied that Equifax agreed to pay $650 million for its big data breach

Equifax has agreed to pay $650 million two years after its data breach put 147 million people at risk. It's not enough. On July 22, a federal judge gave tentative approval to the $650 million settlement... FULL STORY

PIRG Consumer Watchdog

Recalled baby rockers could still be at your child's day care

Adam Garber, the PIRG consumer watchdog, was shocked when he discovered recalled baby rockers at his infant son's day care this June. "They were still using the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Plays... FULL STORY

Beyond Plastic

Not one, not two, but four more states ban single-use plastic bags

The number of statewide plastic bag bans in the U.S. tripled in June, with Maine, Vermont, Connecticut and Oregon adding themselves to the list. The states joined California and New York in passing bans... FULL STORY

VIDEO: Stop the Overuse of Antibiotics

"My wife, about four years ago, came down with a pretty nasty MRSA infection ... She had recurring infections two or three times that year. And each time I thought, 'What if this is the time the antibiotics don't work?' We need to protect the foundation of modern medicine." Our national network's Stop the Overuse of Antibiotics campaign director, Matt Wellington, explains why we need to protect our life-saving antibiotics.

Watch the video below.