The precautionary principle is most powerful when it serves as a guide to making wiser decisions in the face of uncertainty. Any action that contributes to preventing harm to humans and the environment, learning more about the consequences of actions, and acting appropriately is precautionary. Precaution does not work if it is only a last resort and results only in bans or moratoriums.

The idea of precaution has been handed down to us in the form of maxims, such as "a stitch in time saves nine,” or "better safe than sorry," or "look before you leap.

The MBCC uses the precautionary principle as a guideline for much of our work. Now more than ever, we need to take precaution to protect our health. There are over 85,000 synthetic chemicals on the market today, from preservatives in our lipstick to flame retardants in our sofas, from plasticizers in our water bottles to pesticides on our fruits and vegetables. The U.S.

The precautionary principle should become the basis for reforming environmental laws and regulations and for creating new regulations. It is essentially an approach, a way of thinking. In coming years, precaution should be exercised, argued and promoted on many levels — in regulations, industrial practices, science, consumer choices, education, communities, and schools.

To support a healthy future of our communities, we need to make decisions with greater care than we have in the past. The effects of careless and harmful activities have accumulated over the years. Humans and the rest of the natural world have a limited capacity to absorb and overcome this harm. There are plenty of warning signs: Chronic diseases and conditions affect more than 100 million men, women, and children in the United States - more than a third of the population.

Preventive policies encourage the exploration of better, safer, and often ultimately cheaper alternatives--and the development of cleaner products and technologies. As public awareness grows of hazards and of safer alternatives, these practices represent not only good ethics but also smart business. The markets of the Twenty-First Century will increasingly demand safe products and sustainable technologies.

Yes. Everyday our local governments make decisions that affect our well-being and the well-being of future generations. By using the Precautionary Principle we can begin to make wiser decisions in the face of uncertainty. Examples of governmental bodies using the Precautionary Principle include: The County and City of San Francisco has adopted an ordinance for the use of the Precautionary Principle. The first implementation of the ordinance has been applied to purchasing decisions.

Applying the Precautionary Principle will support a strong local economy for the future. Preventative policies encourage the exploration of better, safer, and often less costly alternatives. Using the Precautionary Principle may serve to prevent expenses associated with long-term cleanup resulting from prior poor decisions. As public awareness grows, these practices represent not only good ethics but also smart business.

It is not the intent of the Precautionary Principle to ban products or activities but rather to review a full range of alternatives to potential harm. The Precautionary Principle ensures that we as a county make fully informed decisions, examine less harmful or resource intensive alternatives, and that decisions be made in a fully informed, transparent, and democratic manner.

We use the Center for Disease Control traveler's health recommendations (www.cdc.gov). Your travel doctor will be knowledgeable about current epidemics and should be consulted. The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to Western Africa including Ghana . Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need. Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG).