Q) How do we demonstrate the precautionary principle in our day-to-day decision-making?

The precautionary principle is one which helps prevent certain dangerous acts from taking place. These preventive precautionary actions ultimately aim at continuously reducing and if possible removing exposures to potentially harmful substances, activities and other conditions. If progress is to be made in this direction, one should: Encourage the replacement of dangerous substances and activities with less dangerous substances or technologies where suitable alternatives are available Reconsider production processes, products and human activities so as to minimize significant adverse effects on health and the environment, for example through the use of integrated pest management strategies, land use planning and cleaner production Establish public health goals for protecting the health of humans and ecosystems (such as for reducing blood lead levels or improving fisheries) Provide information and education to the public to promote empowerment and accountability Integrate precautionary considerations into the research agenda to facilitate rapid interventions to prevent damage to health Minimize, so far as possible, unintended adverse consequences that may be caused by precautionary actions. In ones daily life, the simple act of walking instead of taking a car saves carbon emissions from being emitted. This reduces the amount of carbon dioxide produced and therefore reduces the amount of heat trapped on the Earths surface. This helps to reduce global warming. Another such example is turning off the electricity when the last person leaves the room. If no one is present in the room, electricity should not be wasted. This may not have a direct environmental effect but for electricity to be produced fossil fuels are burned. This burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and causes the same problems as previously stated. Webliography http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Precautionary+Principle++Reasonable,+Rational,+and+Responsible http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/91173/E83079.pdf