The document outlines the Women's Healthy Environments Network (WHEN), a Toronto-based non-profit organization established in 1994 to address environmental impacts on human health. WHEN uses the precautionary principle to promote prevention initiatives in communities facing scientific uncertainties about environmental risks. The document discusses WHEN's approach and examples of its campaigns focusing on breast cancer, radiation, children's health, pesticides, and community disclosure of toxins.

1. Experiences and
Achievements by Women
in Environmental Activism
Women’s Healthy Environments Network
(WHEN)
Toronto, Canada
Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN)

2. Outline
• Background on Women’s Healthy
Environments Network (WHEN)
• Approach to linking environmental conditions
to human health: the Precautionary Principle
• North American campaigns – some examples
• Breast Cancer and Women’s Health
• Radiation and Nuclear Power
• Children’s Health
• Eliminating Pesticide Use
• “Community Right to Know”
Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN)

3. Background on WHEN
• Toronto-based organization, created in 1994
in association with the WEED Foundation
• WHEN works with communities on prevention
initiatives, addressing environmental impacts
on health
• Outreach and education to help individuals
and groups “Take Action for Prevention”
• Volunteer Board run organization, with
funding from donations and project grants
• Current projects and campaigns focused on
cancer prevention, children’s health, toxins in
our food and personal care products and
stopping the expansion of nuclear power.
Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN)

4. The Precautionary Principle
• Assessment of risk based on weight of
evidence, not full scientific proof
• Promotes action for prevention in the
face of scientific uncertainty
• Advocates the adoption of “reverse
onus” (proof of safety beforehand)
• Forms the basis of WHEN’s work
• Two films good resources for teaching
the precautionary principle
Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN)

5. Women’s Health
• Growing concern about environmental
links to breast cancer and reproductive
health across North America
• WHEN part of the creation in 1997of the
documentary film Exposure:
Environmental Links to Breast Cancer
• Best Health Documentary Award at the
2001 New York Int’l Independent Film
Festival; continues to be widely shown
• Links higher incidence of breast cancer to
radiation and environmental pollutants,
including impact of poverty and racism
Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN)