The term “POPS” is short for persistant organic pollutants–and these are not the type of organics you want to buy in your local grocery store or find in your food.  They are chemicals that are created as a byproduct of manufacturing, found in transformer fluids, DDT, PCB’s, etc. They travel thousands of miles across the world to seep into the food chain and water. Then the animals or plants that live or drink the water /contaminated land move the toxins higher up the food chain. The POPS cause higher rates of cancer, learning disabilites, behavior problems, etc and numerous other issues wholly including death.  Children are effected the most since they are so sensitive to pollutants.  The Indigenous Environmental Network website outlines POPS in greater detail and their direct impacts on Indigenous peoples. They are working with Greenpeacea and the United Nations to call for the total elimination of POPS.  You can aviod buying plastics with the number 3 on them or the V symbol to help alleviate POPS. Learn more at

www.ienearth.org/pops-drumbeat.html