And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
X-Originating-IP: [156.106.192.32]
From: "gazer elk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc:snipped
Subject: Fwd: Press releases from Geneva
Date: Wed, 08 Sep 1999 07:53:53 PDT
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From: Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
News update from Geneva!
Reproduced below are the press releases IPEN and IEN has sent from INC3 in Geneva.
Feel free to forward them to your local press with any additional message relating to
your local situation, however, if you do change them in any way, it is very important
to be sure that it is clear that any information not in the original press release is
coming from your organization and not IPEN and IEN, in which case you may wish to put
yourself as the contact person for the local aspects.
As you see, the first release is in response to the controversy which has played out
on the pops listserve regarding DDT, and the subsequent interventions made on this
subject at the plenary Monday morning. DDT issues affect Indigenous Peoples in
developing countries. The second press release is about the convening of the INC3
meeting in general and the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs), IEN and IPEN at the meeting.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 6, 1999
CONTACT: Tom Lalley, EMS, 011-44-22-079/470-1681
Amy Kostant, EMS/US 202/463-6670
NGOs ADVOCATE GRADUAL PHASE-OUT OF DDT
Public Health is #1 Priority for Coalition of 180 NGOs from 40 Countries
Geneva, Switzerland (September 6, 1999) - As international negotiations resume on the
world's most toxic chemicals, a coalition of 180 non-governmental organizations in
attendance today called for the worldwide elimination of DDT, a hazardous chemical
that continues to be used in some parts of the world.
"The barriers to fully implementing alternatives to DDT are financial and political,
not scientific," said Romeo Quijano, MD, a physician and president of the Pesticide
Action Network in the Philippines. "DDT is no longer used in the Philippines and
malaria rates have not changed significantly."
The group of NGOs, known as the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), is
participating in United Nations-sponsored negotiations aimed at creating a treaty to
reduce or eliminate the world's most toxic chemicals, known as persistent organic
pollutants (POPs). The IPEN platform calls for elimination of DDT, but allows for
interim use in specific situations, such as health emergencies. The platform also
calls for increased funding for development and implementation of alternatives to DDT
and other POPs.
"IPEN's priority is human health," said Dr. Quijano, who is also the Southern co-chair
of the International POPs Elimination Network. "There are safe and effective
alternatives to DDT. This treaty represents an historic opportunity to develop and
implement them further and to attack both malaria and DDT at the same time."
DDT is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and has been linked to cancer and shortened duration of breast feeding, which
poses nutritional and immunological threats to infants. In birds and other wildlife,
DDT has been conclusively linked to reproductive and developmental problems. Many
scientists are concerned about the potential for similar effects in humans.
"People should not have to choose between exposure to malaria and exposure to DDT,"
said Paul Saoke, program director of the Kenya Association of Physicians and Medical
Workers for Social Responsibility. "When DDT was first introduced 50 years ago, it
was the most effective short-term solution but we now know enough about the long-term
consequences of DDT use to know we should phase it out."
Alternatives to DDT includes bed nets made with synthetic pyrethroids,
mosquito management programs which include strategies such as releasing natural
enemies of mosquitos and other insects, public education campaigns, vaccines and
elimination of insect breeding sites, among others.
IPEN, visit http://www.ipen.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 6, 1999
CONTACT: Tom Lalley, EMS, 011-44-22-079/470-1681
Amy Kostant, EMS/US 202/463-6670
UNITED NATIONS MEETING OPENS TO CREATE TREATY ON WORLD'S MOST TOXIC CHEMICALS
Coalition of 180 NGOs from 40 Countries Call for Treaty to Establish
Elimination of DDT, Dioxin and Other Chemicals as Goal
Geneva, Switzerland (September 6, 1999) - As United Nations-sponsored negotiations
resumed today on a treaty to control the most wide-spread and toxic chemicals in the
world, a coalition of 180 non-governmental organizations involved in the process
called for the worldwide elimination of substances such as DDT, dioxin, PCBs and nine
other chemicals known to cause significant health and environmental problems.
"The negotiations this week must preserve the goal of eliminating - not managing -
these substances which are inherently unmanageable," said Romeo Quijano, MD, a
physician and president of the Pesticide Action Network in the Philippines and the
Southern co-chair of the International POPs Elimination Network. "We are concerned
that governments will buckle under pressure from industry groups and others who say
these substances are impossible to eliminate."
The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) is a group of 180 NGOs from 40
countries focused on achieving a global treaty to phase out and eliminate persistent
organic pollutants (POPs), the group of chemicals which include such toxic chemicals
as DDT, dioxin and PCBs. POPs are highly toxic chemicals that break down extremely
slowly in the environment. In humans and wildlife, they are linked to reproductive
abnormalities, neurological defects and some cancers.
"These chemicals are the most dangerous and, because it can take decades for them to
break down, they have spread to all corners of the earth. All living creatures have
these substances in their bodies," said Deepika D'Souza, Executive Director India
Center for Human Rights and Law. "The health affects of POPs are well known in humans
and even better known in wildlife."
Alternatives to POPs are numerous and varied. For instance, PCBs are being
substituted throughout the world with non-toxic oils. Dioxins and furans can be
eliminated by preventing the production, use and disposal of products such as PVC
plastics. Nine of the twelve chemicals targeted in the POPs treaty negotiations are
pesticides that can be eliminated and replaced with safe and effective chemical or
management alternatives.
"There is absolutely no conflict between eliminating these chemicals and public health
or the public good, said Robert K. Musil, Executive Director of Physicians for Social
Responsibility. "In country after country, it has been proven that there are viable
alternatives to POPs. This treaty is the opportunity to establish those alternatives
and phase out POPs."
IPEN, visit http://www.ipen.org
Indigenous Environmental Network
PO Box 485
Bemidji, Minnesota 56619 USA
Tel: 218.751.4967
Fax: 218.751.0561
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.alphacdc.com/ien
