Things we’ve accomplished together (me + you, my readers) & why I still need your support. #SmallVictories #BigVictories

Did you know Marble King removed the “Lead-free” labeling from their website and packaging as a result of this work?

Are you in a position to help keep me doing what I do? (Everything I do is with the support and involvement of my readers!)

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Below is just one example of how – together – we have made a difference (and why this work is important!):

The photo below is of Leaded Marble King Marbles and was taken by my son Avi earlier this year (2019). [You can see part of his eight grade school project with the test results of these exact marbles on this link.]

In early 2017, when I first tested Marble King marbles and found them to be positive for Lead, Marble King was selling and marketing these Leaded marbles as “Lead-free” [see screenshots above from January 26, 2017.]

Marble King’s initial response to my findings of Lead in their “Lead-free” products was a phone call to me from their lawyers, demanding that I “retract” my test results (asserting my results were somehow inaccurate or false) – and issuing ominous veiled (and not-so-veiled) threats!

However – some time after we brought the issue to their attention (that several of their colors of “Lead-free” marbles contained Lead at levels that are considered unsafe in a child’s toy) the company completely removed the “Lead-free” language from their website and packaging!

They still sell marbles (and their marbles still have Lead) — but they are no longer marketed or labeled “Lead-Free”!

This outcome is in large-part thanks to your support of my work in so many ways! #SmallVictories

Please continue reading below the image!

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Now for the #BigVictories on the horizon:

Manufacturers of toys (and dishware, and pots and pans, and sippy cups) aren’t the only ones who have first tried to discredit my work before capitulating and letting the truth prevail. In the past three years, government agencies and their representatives have used these same tactics in an effort to discredit my advocacy work time after time. We, as engaged citizens, cannot stand for this being allowed to happen. We need to fight for justice (and freedom from unfair and illegal persecution at the hands of public funded agencies) – not only for my work  – but also for the work of all environmental activists everywhere.

To do this… to stand for what is right and to continue this fight – I again need your help (the help of my readers) in the new phase of this battle – help to make sure they don’t get away with this “next level” injustice.

For the upcoming new phase in my larger legal battle I still urgently need to cover the expenses retainer for the attorney I plan on hiring to sue the State of Oregon for the attacks against my work that started in February of 2016. The full expenses retainer needed is $10,000. The minimum retainer needed right away is $7,500. If a total of 20 people each loaned $500, the whole amount would be covered. [Three families have already helped in this way with loans of $500 or $1,000 each, so the minimum left to raise is $5,000 and the total left to raise is $7,500].

The money will be paid back when my family farm sale closes (“on or before December 31st”). Can anyone help in this way? [Joining the three families who have already chipped in?] The attorney wanted the retainer by June 12th, so I’m on the verge of *not* having this work out well and this request is therefore fairly urgent. Thank you, in advance. This is the home stretch to victory, to see justice served for three years of illegal persecution at the hands of government agencies.

I am not asking for a handout – what I am asking for is a small investment in the success of my growing business (an investment that will help see justice served) – I will be repaying with generous interest within the next six months. If you can help now in this way (with a loan to help ensure a much bigger victory!) I won’t have to borrow money from a “hard-money” lender to cover this! [I’d rather have any “hard-money-loan-type interest” go to my *friends* rather than some *stranger*!]

Ways to send money to help me cover my legal retainer [the attorney is taking the case on *contingency* – this retainer is just to cover her expenses to re-file the case against the state in the Federal court.]

• PayPal: TamaraRubin@Mac.com
• Zelle: 503-702-2708
• Venmo: TamaraERubin
• GoFundMe: http://www.GoFundMe.com/LeadSafeMama
• CreditCard (via PayPal): https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/chip-in/

Thank You for anything you can do to help me win this, and close this chapter in my (and my family’s) life.

I also expect many more #SmallVictories on the horizon…. so stay tuned.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama