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Environment & human rights: General materials Aug. 2001 |
August 2001:
Environment and the people [Papua New Guinea]: We all know that there has been a large logging industry in PNG since the late 1980s. There have been millions of cubic metres of logs taken out of the forests in New Ireland, New Britain, the Mamose and Papuan regions. The Papua New Guinea Eco-Forestry Forum claims that in all of these projects there has never been a prosecution by the Office of Environment and Conservation of a logging company (Post-Courier [Papua New Guinea], 31 Aug.-2 Sep. 2001)
Mississippi company [Truck Trailer and Equipment, Inc.], employees charged with conspiracy: The indictment alleges that spent solvents and other wastes were dumped from truck cleaning activities into a wetland and a Pearl River tributary bordering its facility. It is further alleged that when ordered by public safety officials to stop the dumping, the defendants arranged to dump the caustic wastes into an outlying area in Rankin County. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 31 Aug. 2001)
Unctad [United Nations Conference on Trade and Development] Sets Options for Dealing With International Agreements: As part of its series International Investment Agreements (IIAs) issues, the UNCTAD has just published new studies, one on the environment, and the other on social responsibility. (TOMRIC News Agency [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania], 31 Aug. 2001)
Moi's Pledge On Titanium: The controversial titanium mining project in Kwale will be renegotiated to satisfy environmental and compensation concerns [Kenya] (Edmund Kwena, The Nation [Nairobi], 30 Aug. 2001)
Shell disputes Brazil toxic site health report: Anglo-Dutch oil and chemical group Royal Dutch/Shell has disputed a report in Brazil that showed a high rate of contamination in residents near its former pesticide factory. Shell admitted in February that the factory had contaminated the groundwater and soil but not residents. (Sharon Cohen, Reuters, 29 Aug. 2001)
EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] pollution limits draw fire from DOE [U.S. Department of Energy] - sources: The Bush administration is divided over how far the federal government should go to cut power plant emissions at a time when electricity supplies are tight, environmental groups and congressional sources said yesterday. (Chris Baltimore, Reuters, 29 Aug. 2001)
Sustainability matters: Connecting long-range social issues with saving the planet - principles, tolerance and respect for our fellow humans and respect for our natural resources, are in fact interdependent [including connection between sustainable development issues and racial discrimination issues] (Theodore W. Kheel, Earth Times News Service, 29 Aug. 2001)
South Africa: Durban residents victims of environmental racism - The pollution hits your lungs and nostrils as soon as you enter Wentworth, a mixed-race community and apartheid-era dumping ground south of the Indian Ocean port city of Durban. Towering above "Noddy-town" as its known locally because of the small, box-like houses, are two huge oil refineries and a host of other industries. Between them they spew out a noxious cocktail of sulphur dioxide and other dangerous chemicals and local people say they've had enough. (Integrated Regional Information Networks, 28 Aug. 2001)
China to tackle pollution, congestion caused by motor vehicles (Xinhua [New China News Agency], 28 Aug. 2001)
Auto Industry Slams Environment Minister [Germany]: The president of the Association of the German Automotive Industry on Tuesday lashed back at German Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin for criticisms of the industry's technological record. Mr. Trittin told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Monday that carmakers were improving gas mileage too slowly and not doing enough to reduce emissions, among other criticisms. (Associated Press, in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung [Germany], 28 Aug. 2001)
Brazil environmentalists face new battle on Amazon: Brazilian farmers and environmentalists are gearing up for battle again ahead of a key congressional vote that could ease the limits on how much forest can be cut down in the Amazon jungle. (Marco Sibaja, Reuters, 28 Aug. 2001)
Air Pollution May Affect Hearts of Younger Adults: Air pollutants may adversely affect the heart even in young and middle-aged adults, according to preliminary study findings [by Harvard School of Public Health]. (Reuters Health, 27 Aug. 2001)
How energy firms got their say on Bush policy: Executives who stood to benefit enjoyed access - Throughout February and March, executives representing electricity, coal, natural gas and nuclear interests paraded quietly in small groups to a building in the White House compound, where the new administration's energy policy was being written...Many of the executives at the White House meetings were generous donors to the Republican Party, and some of their key lobbyists were freshly hired from the Bush presidential campaign. They found a receptive task force. (Judy Pasternak, Los Angeles Times, in San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Aug. 2001)
Limited access to Bush for environmentalists: Little opportunity to lobby administration - Environmental leaders say they never got a real chance to influence the administration's energy policy report in favor of greater conservation efforts and renewable power. (San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Aug. 2001)
New 'green' plane is threat to ozone layer: Earth's ozone layer, which is only just beginning to recover from the ravages of recent decades, faces a devastating new danger from a new generation of "environmentally friendly" aircraft, The Independent on Sunday can reveal. The threat comes from Boeing's new "sonic cruiser" passenger planes, which fly at a higher altitude than conventional jets: about 45,000 feet. (Geoffrey Lean, Independent [UK], 26 Aug. 2001)
EPA seeks strict limits on producers of power [USA]: The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking approval from the White House to place tight new restrictions on the amount of pollution from power plants, congressional and industry sources say. (Traci Watson, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2001)
Environmental Racism Shifts the Costs of Industry to the Poor: Environmental racism affects individuals, groups or communities differentially, based on race or colour. It combines with public policies and industry practices to provide benefits for corporations, while shifting the costs to people of colour. It influences local land use, the enforcement of environmental regulations, the siting of industry and the areas where people of colour live, work and play...Environmental racism manifests itself in the sub-standard treatment of workers. Thousands of farm workers and their families are exposed to dangerous pesticides on the job and in labour camps. These workers endure sub-standard wages and working conditions. But environmental racism also extends to the exploitative work environment of garment district sweatshops, the microelectronic industry and extraction industries. A disproportionately large share of the workers who suffer under sub-standard occupational and safety conditions are immigrants, women and people of colour. [article extracted from paper prepared for the World Conference on Racism and Public Policy in Durban from September 3-5, sponsored by United Nations Research Institute for Social Development] (Robert D Bullard [Director of the Environmental Justice Resource Centre at Clark Atlanta University in the USA], Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg], 24 Aug. 2001)
Agency Criticizes Environment Shift [USA]: The General Accounting Office has warned against a Bush administration plan to cut federal environmental enforcement and shift resources to the states, saying the move could harm overall efforts to enforce laws designed to protect the environment. (International Herald Tribune, 24 Aug. 2001)
Power Shift: American-owned power plants slated for construction in northern Mexico will provide plenty of electricity for Californians -- and plenty of pollution for local residents. (Kimberly Lisagor, Mother Jones, 24 Aug. 2001)
Coastguards scoop up half Baltic oil slick: Rescue boats have scooped up almost half of an oil slick in the southern Baltic Sea, coastguards said. (Reuters, 24 Aug. 2001)
Feds Fall Short on New Regulations to Protect Water from Mine Toxins [Canada] (MiningWatch Canada/Mines Alerte, 24 Aug. 2001)
New environment-business collaborative report outlines basis for state's conservation success: Report debunks myth that high-tech industry is strain on California's energy resources: The Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group (SVMG) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released today the first independent assessment of California's surprisingly effective energy conservation efforts. (Natural Resources Defense Council, 23 Aug. 2001)
Ohio company, executives plead guilty to falsifying test results: The company, J.T. Eaton & Co. of Twinsburg, Ohio, and two of its executives, Stanley Z. Baker and Benjamin H. Baker, pleaded guilty on Aug. 16 to submitting a false application to EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] concerning products designed to repel squirrels and birds. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 23 Aug. 2001)
Business and sustainable development take to the net: Business preparations for next year's Earth Summit have found a new home on the internet with the launch of the Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) website. A joint project of ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) and WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development), the website (www.basd-action.net) will serve as a portal for all business actions leading up to the Second Earth Summit in Johannesburg, September 2002. (International Chamber of Commerce, 22 Aug. 2001)
Esso dismisses allegations by Green campaign: Esso has dismissed a boycott campaign against it by Green campaigners including Body Shop founder Anita Roddick as "ridiculous". (Stephanie Holmes, Reuters, 22 Aug. 2001)
China finds oil in Tibet...Oil extraction in Tibet's mountains is likely to attract criticism from environmentalists and human rights activists. (BBC News, 21 Aug. 2001)
Pipeline Fire Looms in Ogoni, Threatens Crude Oil Sale: Another catastrophe looms in Ogoniland, the oil-rich community of Rivers State, as the entire area continues to be ravaged by fire outbreaks resulting from burst pipelines. [Nigeria] (Yakubu Lawal, The Guardian [Lagos], 21 Aug. 2001)
UN call to save key forests: The United Nations says efforts to save the world's most important forests should concentrate on just 15 countries [Russia, Canada, Brazil, the US, Democratic Republic of Congo, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, India, Australia, and Papua-New Guinea]. The UN Environment Programme (Unep) says the 15 contain more than 80% of the forests it judges need protection most. (Alex Kirby, BBC News, 20 Aug. 2001)
Charges of Clean Air Act violations for not protecting homeless men hired to remove asbestos [USA]: (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 20 Aug. 2001)
Missouri company, former manager indicted on asbestos charges [USA]: the indictment alleges that Barr used Leeds employees who were not trained to remove asbestos. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 20 Aug. 2001)
Washington Chemical Inc. ex-president charged in waste case [USA]: Donn Herron of Spokane, Wash., was indicted on August 7 on charges he unlawfully stored, treated and disposed of hazardous waste....The illegal disposal of hazardous waste can contaminate drinking water and pose a threat to human health and safety. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 20 Aug. 2001)
New York company [Martisco Paper Company], three officers pleaded guilty to water violations [USA]: In their plea, the defendants admitted that over a period of 10 years they engaged in the illegal nighttime disposal of pollutants from the Martisco plant into Nine Mile Creek. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 20 Aug. 2001)
Industry bets big on energy policy ads: The big oil and gas companies that spent nearly $2 million to help elect President Bush last year are pouring millions more into an advertising campaign this summer to help sell his energy policy in Congress. (William E. Gibson, Orlando Sentinel [USA], 19 Aug. 2001)
Environmental destruction dooms us all (Ramesh Thakur, Vice Rector of the United Nations University in Tokyo, in Japan Times, 19 Aug. 2001)
Mining Companies Invade Peru's Andean Cloud Forests: The recent discovery of gold deposits in northwestern Peru has split the population between those who support proposed mineral extraction and those who fear it will cause irreparable ecological damage to human health, agriculture and endangered species. (Environment News Service, 17 Aug. 2001)
Air pollution labeled a killer: Direct link to deaths, study claims - A study released today provides substantial new evidence that air pollution from automobile exhausts and smokestacks is killing people worldwide. (Charles Seabrook, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 17 Aug. 2001)
Govt sets environment pollution standards for firms [Nigeria]: Manufacturers of textiles, petro-chemical and other allied industries operating in Kaduna have been directed by the Federal Government to come up with globally acceptable environmental pollution control audit within three months. (Segun Aiyeoyenikan, Guardian [Nigeria], 17 Aug. 2001)
Reps plan review of laws on environmental pollution [Nigeria]: A bill seeking a comprehensive review of laws on environmental pollution is now before the House of Representatives. (Guardian [Nigeria], 17 Aug. 2001)
Shell, Legislator Differ On Pipeline Vandalisation in Ogoni [Nigeria] (Joseph Ollor-Obari, The Guardian [Lagos], 16 Aug. 2001)
Environmentalists fight plan to mine gold in West Coast park: It will be New Zealand's largest toxic waste dump say opponents. (Philip English, New Zealand Herald, 16 Aug. 2001)
Air and water pollution becoming great threat to citizens of Multan [Pakistan]: Air pollution and water pollution have become a great threat to the existence of the residents of Multan, spreading critical diseases due to continuous flow and discharge of gases from industrial fertiliser plants and liquid waste from municipal and industrial sources. [pollution from tanneries, paper factories, fertiliser units, dyes factories and textile matching units, sugar factories, power generating plants, oil and gas plants] (Hoover's Online, 15 Aug. 2001)
EPA delays review of power plant pollution rules: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Tuesday it would delay until September its assessment of whether the agency should change the way power plants and oil refineries are regulated for clean air violations. (Tom Doggett, Reuters, 15 Aug. 2001)
Ethiopia pesticide cleanup under way, needs funds (Reuters, 14 Aug. 2001)
China and World Bank Collaborate on Sustainable Future: The last 20 years have brought swift economic growth to China and have taken a heavy environmental toll, but a new report issued by the World Bank says if the Chinese government changes its development strategy, an environmentally sustainable future is possible. (Environment News Service, 13 Aug. 2001)
Protecting China's Environment: New report urges new approach to national development strategy (World Bank, 13 Aug. 2001)
press release: Report On China's Environment Urges New Approach To National Development Strategy (World Bank, 9 Aug. 2001)
full report: China: Air, Land, and Water - Environmental policies for a new millenium (World Bank, Aug. 2001)
Kenyan Environmentalist Wants Lenders to Insist on Conservation: The Green Belt Movement has written to the World Bank president James Wolfensohn and the International Monetary Fund calling for an evaluation of the government’s commitment to environmental conservation before any further grants or loans are given. (Tom Osanjo, Environment News Service, 13 Aug. 2001)
Slap Moratorium On Surface Mining in Forest, Ecological Zones [Ghana]: As part of the continuous pressure being mounted on government to formulate a policy framework that must aim at maximising the economic benefits of mining to the state and local communities affected by large scale mining. Government has been urged to put a moratorium on surface mining in all forest reserves and sensitive ecological zones, until a thorough cost benefit analysis on mining is conducted to inform policy direction. (Othello B. Garblah & Henry Clark, Ghanaian Chronicle [Accra], 13 Aug. 2001)
Electronics Makers Plan for Lead Free Products: Electronics assembly firms have made a global alliance to plan an early transition to the use of lead free solders in electrical and electronic equipment. (Environment News Service, 13 Aug. 2001)
World Bank urges China to do more on environment (Reuters, 13 Aug. 2001)
Environment a Matter of Survival - World Bank: Concern with the environment, far from being a luxury, is a matter of survival for Africa due to the high dependency of people there on the continent's natural resources, and their vulnerability to environmental degradation, according to Hans Binswanger, sector director for environmental, rural and social development at the World Bank. (UN Integrated Regional Information Network, 10 Aug. 2001)
AMAZON: Environmentalists Laud Brazil's Move To Protect Rainforest (UN Wire, 10 Aug. 2001)
Xerox to pay penalty for unmonitored emissions: The Xerox Corporation has settled with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on charges that it failed to inspect vats of waste and monitor air emissions from containers and equipment at its facility in Webster, New York. The company has agreed to pay a penalty of $74,000, and will certify in writing that it is in compliance with all applicable regulations. (Anjuli Bose, Earth Times News Service, 9 Aug. 2001)
Caution Issued to Chevron Shareholders: New Ad Campaign Warns Chevron That It Must Pay Billions For Texaco's Dumping In Amazon Rainforest - Texaco's huge liability poses major obstacle for SEC approval of merger with Chevron; Texaco again charged with race discrimination (Frente para la defensa de la Amazonia, 9 Aug. 2001)
Mexico's Cytrar Hazardous Waste Dump Focus of Probe: The environmental agency that operates as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is seeking more information about the establishment and operation of the Cytrar hazardous waste landfill near the city of Hermosillo, in the state of Sonora, Mexico. (Environment News Service, 9 Aug. 2001)
Liberian timber riches seen fuelling regional war: Revenues from Liberian timber are allowing President Charles Taylor to fuel war in West Africa and are more important than diamonds as a source of funds, an international campaigner said this week. (Silvia Aloisi, Reuters, 9 Aug. 2001)
Aarhus Convention starts count-down to entry into force: The Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters will come into effect on 30 October 2001. (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 9 Aug. 2001)
Bush Administration Proposes to Weaken Vital Clean Water Act Permitting Program: Move Threatens Wetlands and Streams Throughout United States (Earthjustice, 8 Aug. 2001)
Global Warming's Victims Could Take U.S. to Court: As the rich world keeps falling out over how to deal with global warming, exasperated poor countries may come to the conclusion that when all else fails, it's time go to court. (Andrew Simms, head of the global economy program at the New Economics Foundation, in International Herald Tribune, 7 Aug. 2001)
Greenpeace welcomes Brazilian Government decision to increase protected areas in the Amazon but urges for implementation (Greenpeace, 7 Aug. 2001)
Green Room and Board: Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has created a valuable resource for hotels that want to lesson their environmental impact....The firm has released a 2001 update of its manual "The Green Partnership Guide: A Practical Guide to Greening Your Hotel," which details how hotels can begin protecting the environment while generating positive media coverage and saving money. (Anne Moore Odell, SocialFunds.com, 6 Aug. 2001)
Proponents of drilling in the Arctic Refuge side with polluting campaign contributors: Members of the U.S. House of Representatives voting Wednesday night to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge received contributions from the four oil companies lobbying to drill in the Refuge almost six times larger on average than House members who supported its protection. (NewEnergyFuture.com, State PIRGs [State Public Interest Research Groups, USA] 3 Aug. 2001)
Landmark Deal Will Protect Rainforests in Belize [U.S. Government and Nature Conservancy arrange debt-for-nature swap: Belize Government agrees to protect 23,000 acres of vulnerable forest in exchange for reduction of debt owed to U.S.] (Cat Lazaroff, Environment News Service, 3 Aug. 2001)
Turkish Mines Operate Despite Court Rulings [high court overturns lower court ruling that had banned international gold mining giant Normandy from operating at Ovacik] (Jon Gorvett, Environment News Service, 2 Aug. 2001)
UPDATE - EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] to order GE to clean up toxic waste in Hudson: The Bush administration said yesterday it will order General Electric Co. to dredge the Hudson to remove toxic waste it dumped into the river over several decades, a huge project that will cost several hundred million dollars. (Julie Vorman, Reuters, 2 Aug. 2001)
A small step for mankind: After nine years of talks, an environmental deal has been agreed on [Kyoto protocol]. (Paul Brown and James Meek, Daily Mail and Guardian [Johannesburg], 2 Aug. 2001)
Kyoto deal won't meet emissions target - UN official (Reuters, 2 Aug. 2001)
Limits on British Columbia log exports challenged: A lawsuit has been filed against restrictions on whole log exports from private forests in Canada's largest timber-producing province, setting the stage for a new battle between the industry, its unions and environmentalists. (Allan Dowd, Reuters, 2 Aug. 2001)
ENVIRONMENT-U.S.: Critics Condemn Review of Clean Air Act - President George W. Bush's request to review the Clean Air Act - considered one of the most important U.S. environmental laws - could halt government efforts to stop some of the world's largest energy companies from polluting, warn health and environmental advocates. (Danielle Knight, Inter Press Service, 1 Aug. 2001)
Whitman decides to dredge Hudson River: EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] Administrator Christie Whitman today moved forward on a decision to clean up PCB pollution from the upper Hudson River. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Aug. 2001)
GE Statement On Hudson River (General Electric, 1 Aug. 2001)
Sweden's "green crime" triples: Crimes against the environment in Sweden have tripled in the last three years, with scant response from police, public prosecutors said yesterday. (Reuters, 1 Aug. 2001)
Canada to tighten laws to reduce mines pollution: Canada said yesterday it is planning stricter regulations to reduce pollution flowing into the country's vast waterways from metal mines. (Reuters, 1 Aug. 2001)
The fight against illegal logging [Indonesia]: The campaign to stop illegal logging has become a key focus for Indonesia's new forestry minister, but the problem is immense and can only be properly tackled, say NGOs, by a complete overhaul of forest management in Indonesia. (Down to Earth Newsletter, Aug. 2001)
Communities and companies [Indonesia]: Violations of community rights are still continuing as companies and regional governments try to maximise income from the country's mineral resources. At the same time, mining companies are complaining about the "legal vacuum" hampering their operations in Indonesia. (Down to Earth Newsletter, Aug. 2001)
International solidarity: Two recent meetings have enabled communities directly affected by mining companies in different countries to discuss ways to counter the harmful impact of large-scale mining and to draw up strategies to prevent future damage. Manado STD conference: In April, a major conference on the problem of submarine tailings disposal (STD) was held in Manado, North Sulawesi [Indonesia]...London mines and communities meeting: A five-day seminar for communities affected by mining was held in London in May. The workshop heard accounts of communities' experiences of mining from Colombia, India, Indonesia, Ghana and Peru. (Down to Earth Newsletter, Aug. 2001)