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  Environment & human rights: General materials Aug. 2001  

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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)

South Carolina company [Carolina Upgrading of South Carolina, Inc.], president plead guilty to violations in six states: ...the defendants admitted that they conspired and falsified more than 1,500 tests of underground storage tanks to gasoline stations and state and federal facilities in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Federal law requires that underground storage tank owners periodically have their tanks inspected to test for leaks of petroleum or other products. Petroleum leaks from underground storage tanks can release benzene into groundwater, and benzene is a known cause of cancer. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 31 Aug. 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)

Louisiana towing companies plead guilty to polluting Mississippi: Three Baton Rouge tugboat service companies, McKinney Towing, Inc., McKinney Harbor Towing, Inc., and Slidell Towing, Inc., and the president of the companies, Glenn McKinney, pleaded guilty on Aug.17 to violating the Clean Water Act by pumping a mixture of oil and water into the Mississippi River...During a five year period, the defendants knowingly allowed their tugboats to discharge oily bilge water into the river several times a week. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 31 Aug. 2001)

Molecules of death: ...Dioxins are among the deadliest chemicals known to humans...Dioxins are released mostly from burning of chlorinated compounds e.g, from garbage, medical waste and toxic chemicals. Dioxins from incinerators contaminate the air, water and food passing these deadly pollutants on to people through milk, meat and other fatty animal products. Bleaching of paper with chlorinated compounds, production of pvc plastics, chlorinated pesticides and secondary smeltering of copper also produce dioxins. Essentially, to produce dioxin we need organic matter, chlorine and a reactive thermal environment...Despite knowing their carcinogenic nature, there is no monitoring of these chemicals in most countries. (Centre for Science and Environment, Down to Earth, 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)

Freeport to appeal Jakarta court ruling soon: Mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia said yesterday it would soon appeal an Indonesian court ruling which found it gave false information to parliament over a fatal accident at a mining site last year. (Reuters, 31 Aug. 2001) 

Environmental Justice from the Niger Delta to the World Conference Against Racism: Erovie, a community in the Niger Delta, is thousands of miles from Durban, South Africa where delegates from around the globe are gathering this week for the World Conference Against Racism. But the tragedy that befell the citizens of Erovie, who were poisoned by toxic waste from Shell Oil's operations, is a graphic example of what the Conference's NGO Forum refers to as environmental racism: the disproportionate impacts of pollution borne by communities of color around the world. (Sam Olukoya, special to CorpWatch, 30 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)

E.ON says will be almost emissions-free by 2006: Europe's second biggest listed utility, Germany's E.ON , said yesterday that by 2006 most of its power generation will not produce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions thanks to recent changes in its fuel base following agreements with foreign utilities. (Reuters, 30 Aug. 2001) 

DSM, Siemens launch paper waste-to-fuel venture: Dutch chemicals group DSM NV said yesterday it and German technology group Siemens had signed an agreement to cooperate on plants that turn recycled paper waste into fuel. (Reuters, 30 Aug. 2001)

Sierra Club to launch ads urging Congress to pass meaningful campaign finance reform [USA]: "Elected officials should answer to people in their districts, not to the oil, mining, chemical and timber industries that buy undue influence with campaign dollars" (Sierra Club, 29 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)

German industry slams EU emissions trading plan: The German energy industry was firmly at loggerheads with government and European Commission officials Tuesday over plans to introduce an EU state-wide, company-based emissions trading system by 2005. (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)

Victoria court sets path for PNG Ok Tedi lawsuit: The Supreme Court of Victoria [Australia] yesterday gave Papua New Guinea landowners until January 7 to decide if they would participate in a class action surrounding the controversial Ok Tedi copper mine. The court said the class action should be advertised in PNG newspapers, on radio and at public meetings, with the onus on landowners to opt-out if they do not want to participate in the class action. Landowners won a settlement against Ok Ted Mining Ltd in 1996 for environmental damage caused by tailings from the mine. But they launched a new case in April last year arguing that OTML and BHP Ltd, now BHP Billiton Ltd/Plc had not lived up to promises to find a safer way of disposing of mine tailings. (Reuters, 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) 

Body Shop has lost its soul - founder Roddick: Body Shop founder Anita Roddick said last week the ethical cosmetics chain has lost its way since being floated on the stock market and has no place as a mere cog in the international financial system she despises....A tireless environmental campaigner...Roddick, now in her 50s, has said she is getting ever more radical as she gets older and wants to take the fight for her causes straight to the boardroom. "The protests are going nowhere. We should be directly pointing the finger at businesses, not even bothering with the governments," she said. "You've got to direct it at the companies," she added. "The only thing they really fear is consumer revolt." (Ed Cropley, Reuters, 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)

Mexico Power Plants Raise Environmental Eyebrows: One of the methods employed to battle California's power crisis was to build plants in Mexico, where environmental restrictions are more relaxed. But a number of people are saying that cheap power simply isn't worth the environmental repercussions of air and water contamination. (KGTV [San Diego], 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)

Roxbury [Massachusetts, USA] group tackles pollution: In the heart of Roxbury an innovative nonprofit organization is changing the way people approach environmental problems. Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), based in Dudley Square, works to reduce what it considers ''environmental injustice'' - that the poorest communities are harmed the most from environmental problems such as air pollution and hazardous waste. (Justin Pollard, Boston Globe, 26 Aug. 2001)

Exco to meet on action over polluted rivers: The state government will decide on the action to be taken over the polluted Sungai Benus and Sungai Semantot here (Bentong, Pahang State) after all reports have been submitted and discussed at the executive councillors meeting on Wednesday. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the Malaysia Newsprint Industries' representatives would also be called to attend the meeting as it was the company's waste which was believed to have caused the pollution. (Nik Naizi Husin, The Star [Malaysia], 26 Aug. 2001)

Measure Puts SUVs [sport-utility vehicles] on Road to Tax Credits Congress [USA]: Incentives to aid sales of 'hybrids' had bipartisan support. Now industry is said to have violated spirit of the deal. In an unusual meeting of the minds, environmentalists and auto industry representatives got together with lawmakers earlier this year and agreed on a new incentive to advance both of their causes: a tax credit for fuel-efficient "hybrid" cars. The idea seemed like a winner. Now, with legislation approved by the House and headed to the Senate, environmentalists say the industry has finagled the fine print to give the tax credit to the very epitome of excess: gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles. (Richard Simon and Terril Yue Jones, Los Angeles Times, 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)

Activists says mining firm menaces Kenyan coast: Plans by Canadian mining firm Tiomin Resources Inc. to build a titanium loading facility off the Kenyan coast threaten to cause irreparable environmental damage, a conservation group said yesterday. (Reuters, 24 Aug. 2001) 

Court denies TWA insurance for cleanup, lawyers say: A state appeals court said yesterday that Trans World Airlines is not entitled to insurance coverage to clean up environmental pollution at a maintenance facility in Kansas City, lawyers for the airline's insurance companies said in a statement. (Reuters, 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)

Replace dirty coal with the wind, engineers say: Health, environmental costs make it twice as expensive - Wind power is now cheaper than coal and could become a leading source of electricity with the right political support and investment, researchers said Thursday. The Stanford engineers calculated that building some 225,000 wind turbines across the country would be expensive — at an initial cost of $338 billion — but that the payback would include a huge drop in emissions tied to global warming. (MSNBC, 23 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)

Shell studies energy brick for cooking in African villages: An official of Royal Dutch/Shell said this week the company was studying the possibility of making a smokeless energy brick for cooking in African villages to reduce firewood consumption. (Reuters, 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)

4 major oil firms settle MTBE cleanup suit: S.F. judge presses 4 others to reach similar agreements - Four of the nation's largest oil companies agreed in court yesterday to clean up MTBE contamination in California caused by leaking gasoline storage tanks or face contempt of court penalties. The settlement, which will cover approximately 700 contaminated sites owned by Chevron, Shell, Texaco and Unocal since 1994, was signed in San Francisco Superior Court and could result in an outlay of millions of dollars in company cleanup costs...Superior Court Judge Stuart Pollak, who approved the settlement yesterday, praised it as a "sensible, very imaginative solution to the problem." But four oil companies -- ARCO, Exxon, Mobil and Tosco -- declined to settle the suit, and Pollak strongly urged them to meet with the court mediator to reach a similar agreement. (William Carlsen, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Aug. 2001)

Administrator Whitman reaffirms commitment to environmental justice: EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] Administrator Christine Whitman, in a memo to top agency officials, last week reaffirmed the agency's commitment to environmental justice and its integration into all programs, policies, and activities consistent with existing environmental laws and their regulations. In the memo, Whitman said environmental justice means fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of all environmental laws and policies and their meaningful involvement in the decision making processes of the government....Fair treatment means that no group of people, including a racial, ethnic, or social economic group should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local and tribal programs and policies. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 21 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)

Japan plans subsidies for green buses, trucks: Japan's Transport Ministry plans to offer subsidies to bus and truck operators in the three main metropolitan regions to encourage a switch to cleaner fuel, a newspaper reported on the weekend. (Reuters, 21 Aug. 2001) 

Route for Ecuador's new pipeline upheld in court: Ecuador's Constitutional Tribunal has upheld the route chosen for a new pipeline that's seen as the buoy of the nation's economy, despite challenges by protest groups, the Energy Ministry said in a statement last week....According to this statement, the Tribunal resolved "the route selected has been designed so that there is no damage to the right to live in a healthy, ecologically balanced and pollution-free environment." (Reuters, 20 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)

AIR POLLUTION: Fossil Fuel Pollution A Current Health Hazard, Study Says - Pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels may have devastating effects on the global climate in years to come, but it is already killing people in cities around the world by contributing to asthma, heart disease and lung disorders, five scientists say in a study appearing in today's Science. (UN Wire, 17 Aug. 2001)

Greenpeace Executive director accuses Bush of putting the world's future at risk: Greenpeace’s recently appointed Executive Director, Gerd Leipold, today criticised President George W Bush for putting the world’s future at risk with a “truly astonishing policy path that could undo so much progress in environmental protection and world peace”. Speaking at the launch of the organisation’s Annual Report, Dr. Gerd Leipold said that in pursuing the Star Wars (missile defence) programme, rejecting the Kyoto climate change agreement and threatening to open the Alaskan Arctic Wildlife Reserve to oil exploitation, President Bush was failing to protect the environment to satisfy his corporate supporters. (Greenpeace, 16 Aug. 2001)

Shell, Legislator Differ On Pipeline Vandalisation in Ogoni [Nigeria] (Joseph Ollor-Obari, The Guardian [Lagos], 16 Aug. 2001)

HAZARDOUS WASTE: Environmentalists Raise Alarm Over U.S. Approach - Environmentalists are becoming increasingly concerned the U.S. administration is considering walking away from the ratification of a 1995 amendment to the Basel Convention on hazardous waste. The amendment, agreed to by consensus by 82 countries, enhances commitments to the treaty by prohibiting wealthy countries from dumping toxic waste from industrial and other sectors in developing countries. (UN Wire, 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) 

CHINA: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Claims May Be False: Studies this year purporting to show that China -- the world's second-largest greenhouse gas emitter after the United States -- is greatly increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions may be off the mark, the Washington Post reports today. (UN Wire, 15 Aug. 2001)

Nigeria demands safety report on oil pipelines: The Nigerian government yesterday directed multinationals producing the country's mainstay, crude oil, to submit reports on the state of their pipelines and their plans to combat oil pollution. Vice-President Atiku Abubakar told an international conference on oil pollution that the move was to ensure that oil and gas industry operators adopt good oilfield practices and comply with the environmental standards that obtain in other parts of the world. (Camillus Eboh, Reuters, 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) 

Blount says ammunition unit faces $255,400 EPA fine: Blount International Inc., which makes riding lawn mowers, law enforcement ammunition and binoculars, said this week a unit faces a fine of $255,400 from the [U.S.] Environmental Protection Agency for alleged hazardous waste violations. (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)

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)

Act without fear or favour, enforcement agencies told: State Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min [Sarawak state, Malaysia] is disappointed with the performance of local councils and government enforcement agencies. He said he was not satisfied with their enforcement activities in dealing with environmental problems, illegal felling of trees and the killing of wildlife.  "It is pointless to have regulations and laws if the enforcement agencies do not have the courage and political will to enforce them." (The Star [Malaysia], 11 Aug. 2001)

Ex-UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme] official pushes business solutions to environment problems: "We believe that economic sustainability and profitability are possible, if you initially invest to create environmentally sound products," [Noel] Brown said in an interview with The Japan Times in Tokyo.  He also said that the degraded environment would eventually lead to low productivity by harming workers' health. (Hiroko Nakata, Japan Times, 11 Aug. 2001)

Amazon Watch Launches Mega-Project Report: "New Pipelines Threaten Intact Amazon Rainforest in Brazil" - The 12-page report examines plans to construct two new pipelines to expand oil and gas production from the Urucu and Jurua gas fields in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. (Amazon Watch, 10 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)

UK Tops EU Illegal Timber League: According to an analysis of data on illegal logging, as much as 60% of tropical timber sold in the UK is likely to be from illegal sources, Friends of the Earth reveals today. This makes the UK the largest importer of illegal tropical timber in Europe, ahead of France, Belgium, Germany,Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Friends of the Earth is calling for new European and UK laws to make it illegal to import illegally sourced timber, together with stiff penalties for the corporations involved in this trade. (Friends of the Earth, 10 Aug. 2001)

Australia report urges tax breaks for environment: A partnership between leading Australian corporations, environmentalists and scientists yesterday released a report on strategies to mobilise nearly A$13 billion over 10 years to address environmental problems. (Reuters, 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)

NIGERIA: Polluted Water Sources Put Communities At Risk - Communities in Nigeria's southern Ondo state could be risking a water-borne epidemic from pollution unless Nigeria moves to combat oil spills, the Nigerian News Agency reports. (UN Wire, 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)

CLIMATE CHANGE: Delhi, Shanghai Emissions Could Rise -- Studies: Indian, Chinese and US researchers report that transport-related greenhouse gas emissions could rise as much as fourfold in Delhi and sevenfold in Shanghai during the next two decades if nothing is done to reduce them. (UN Wire, 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)

What's Wrong With Corporations? Corporations aren't allowed to be nice. Company directors are legally obliged to act in the best interests of their shareholders' investments - i.e. to make them as much money as possible. Genuine efforts to sacrifice profits in favour of human rights and environmental protection are off-limits. Even if a company's directors took the long view that environmental sustainablity is ultimately essential for economic sustainability, their share price would drop and they would probably be swallowed up by competitors. This is why corporate social and environmental initiatives can't really get beyond the marketing and greenwash stage. (Corporate Watch, 6 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)

WEST AFRICA: Experts Say Coastal Erosion Threatens Thousands - Ecologists say that rising sea levels as a result of climate change, port construction, hydropower dams and sand mining are all factors responsible for coastal erosion in West Africa, a problem that threatens the homes and livelihoods of thousands of people. (UN Wire, 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)

Hudson River clean-up a monumental victory for public health: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to require General Electric to pay to remove the PCBs from the Hudson River is a monumental victory for public health, the Sierra Club said today. (Sierra Club, 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)

GE to pay $500 mln to clean river: The federal [U.S.] Environmental Protection Agency's administrator, Christie Whitman, has agreed to a plan requiring General Electric to spend more than half a billion dollars to dredge PCB pollution from the Hudson River, the New York Times reported in its online edition on Wednesday. (Reuters, 1 Aug. 2001)

Nafta deal changed to curb companies: Trade ministers from the US, Canada and Mexico on Tuesday agreed changes to a controversial provision of the North American Free Trade Agreement that allows companies to sue the governments for wrongful expropriation. The provision, known as Chapter 11, has angered Nafta critics, who charge that the treaty gave corporations unprecedented powers to challenge national regulations. (Edward Alden, Financial Times, 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)

Fires spread haze over borders [Indonesia]:...Satellite imagery helped show that the 1997/8 fires were mostly located in the concessions of plantation and timber companies. But almost no action has been taken against them. Of five companies reported to the Attorney General for starting fires last year, only one company has been successfully processed, according to Environment Minister Sonny Keraf. (Down to Earth Newsletter, Aug. 2001)

CDC [Commonwealth Development Corporation] projects criticised over impacts [Indonesia]: Communities in Kalimantan are trying to secure fair compensation for lands and resources from two oil palm plantation companies funded by CDC, the British private investment agency. Although some moves towards negotiations have been made, CDC still fails to acknowledge that the projects' policies on land acquisition and community relations have led to social conflict, deforestation and, for some communities, increased poverty. In the meantime, the projects are proceeding, while many disputes remain unsettled. (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)

PT KEM agreement [Indonesia]: Pressure from communities, Indonesian and international NGOs has forced improvements in the way Rio Tinto deals with people affected by its Kelian gold mine in East Kalimantan. Here, Dayak communities have persisted in asserting their rights to proper compensation for land resources lost to the mine and for the ill-treatment at the hands of the company. This was despite years of intimidation from security forces and the company's failure to stick to negotiation agreements. (Down to Earth Newsletter, Aug. 2001)

Inco protest [Indonesia]: Protests against the Canadian-owned mining company, PT Inco Indonesia have highlighted the continuing injustices suffered by villagers whose lives have been affected by the company's nickel mining operations...Villagers from One Putih Jaya - a former transmigration site - are refusing to relocate to fit in with Inco's mining plans. (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)

Business as usual in the Mentawais [Indonesia]: Protected areas such as Siberut are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation - legal and illegal - due to Indonesia's prolonged economic crisis, coupled with regional autonomy and the devolution of revenue gathering. The island of Siberut has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1981 due to its rich forests, unique wildlife and the traditional lifestyle and beliefs of the indigenous people. Nevertheless, local authorities and the Forestry Department have issued a number of logging permits over the last three years. (Down to Earth Newsletter, Aug. 2001)

A Public Role for the Private Sector: Industry Self-Regulation in a Global Economy: Over the past decade, a growing number of corporations have adopted policies of industry self-regulation such as corporate codes of conduct, social and environmental standards, and auditing and monitoring systems. A Public Role for the Private Sector is the first book to explore this self-regulation phenomenon on an international level across three different policy issues—environment, labor, and information privacy. (Virginia Haufler, Aug. 2001)