groundWork

Memorandum to Minister van Schalkwyk

At the recent climate change meetings held at Gallagher Estate a memorandum was handed to Joanne Yarwitch to pass on to the Minister of Environmental Affairs.

Why Climate Change is a Human Rights issue

Read the article by Desmond Tutu, published in the Sunday Weekly Argus on 6 March 2009.

Press Release - People’s Summit and Protest March at National Climate Change Summit

On the 5th of March 2009, Earthlife Africa Johannesburg [1] and groundWork, Friends of the Earth, South Africa [2] will be hosting a People’s Summit on Climate Change at the Midrand Convention Centre. The People’s Summit parallels the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism National Climate Change Summit.

Survey of generation rates, treatment capacities and costs of Health Care Waste

The DEAT's Survey of Generation Rates, Treatment Capacities and Minimal Costs of Health Care Waste in the 9 provinces of RSA can be downloaded here.

Stunning Victory in Nairobi

On Thursday 19th February world environment ministers finally agreed the process to establish a global, legally binding international treaty to tackle mercury pollution in Nairobi at the United Nations Environment Program 25th Session of Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum. Click to read more.

Press Release - Obama Administration changes position on Mercury

The Obama administration has reversed the former U.S. position on limiting mercury pollution worldwide. Before astonished environment ministers attending the United Nations Environment Programme Governing Council opening session in Nairobi today, the U.S. delegation endorsed negotiations for a new global treaty to control mercury pollution, to begin this year. Click to read more.

Press Release - UNEP's Achim Steiner on Mercury

No one alive today is free from some level of mercury contamination and the World Health Organization argues there is in the end no safe limit. Thus prevarication and inaction over the global mercury challenge is no longer an option —we owe it to pregnant women and unborn children everywhere and to artisanal miners and their families. We owe it to anyone who has an interest in a healthier, less polluted world. Click to read more.

Press Release - Mercury in Fish

As the world’s governments convene next week to discuss developing a legally binding treaty on mercury, citizens’ groups from around the world have released a new report calling attention to the significant global human health hazards caused by mercury in fish and fish-eating marine mammals. Click to read Press Release.

Press Release - Wasting the Nation

On Tuesday 10th February groundWork releases its 7th Annual review of the State of Environmental Justice in South Africa. This review focuses on waste in South Africa at a time when President Kgalema Motlanthe is about to sign the National Environmental Management: Waste Bill into force. Click to read Press Invitation.

Action Alert: Tell Uranium One To Respect Human Rights in South Africa!

The Dominion Reefs uranium mine in South Africa, owned and operated by the Canadian company Uranium One, has continuously been exposed for systematic violations of workers' rights and basic environmental regulations. Click to find out more and take action.

Breathing Spaces - click to enlarge

On 15 January 2009, Bobby Peek will open an exciting photographic exhibition - Breathing Spaces: Environmental Portraits of Durban's Industrial South - at the Castle in Cape Town. Find out more...

Read Bobby's address

The little video that could change the world
The Story of Stuff has been watched by over four million viewers, and tells, in simple and effective terms, the story of waste from from generation to disposal, suggesting viable alternatives to the world's waste problems.

The World Medical Association unanimously passed a resolution calling for the phase-out of mercury use in the health care sector. Delegates said hospitals and medical facilities should switch to non-mercury alternatives. - 28 October 2008

Spain: Huge protest against plasma incinerator and mega landfill - 20 October 2008

Mercury in health care devices to be banned in Philippines - 17 June 2008

Dead workers, stinking pollution and forced evictions: New report highlights ArcelorMittal’s global trail of destruction - 13 May 2008
View the Report

Ban the Burn! Government Ignoring Advice - 02 March 2008

groundWork asks for public protection against the DEAT - 27 Feb 2008

Letter to the Editor - Community and NGOs tired of Environmental Department: Fossil fuels cost nation R4bn a year in healthcare! - February 2008

Solidarity for Environmental Justice in South Africa - Report by Victor Munnik - Nov 2007

See Pambazuka News

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
Tip of the day

These tips came from Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland

groundWork Union
Download the groundWork Union brochure Click here
		PROJECTS
PUBLICATIONS
The March 2009 newsletter (pdf) MORE HERE groundWork report 2008: Wasting the Nation - making trash of people and places (pdf) Reclaiming Livelihoods The role of reclaimers in municipal waste management systems (pdf) groundWork/GAIA Cement Kiln Portal Go to site groundWork/NIZA Briefing Papers: The Impact of Extractive Industries on Rights of Local Communities Modern Day Slaves: Living conditions of the Diamond Diggers of Mbuji Mayi The Impact of Cement Kilns on the Environment An Analysis of the Socio-Economic Intervention System of Forestry Companies in the DRC Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Small-scale Mining on the Copperbelt Clean Fuel: Is it a Reality or a Myth? Please contact groundWork for French versions of above papers “HALTING THE CHILD BRAIN DRAIN” - Stay Healthy, Stop Mercury! www.env-health.org/stopmercury/ The groundwork Report 2006 Poisoned Spaces: Manufacturing wealth, producing poverty READ THE REPORT (pdf format) DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY
Corpse awards 2006 - Southern Africa’s leading civil society awards for corporate bad practice and abuse - 10 November 2006 Finalists in the Corpse Awards 2005 MORE HERE
AIR QUALITY
Civil Society response on the NEM: Air Quality Act National Framework 09 August 2007- Covering letter groundWork Submission PMB agrees on anti-pollution strategy. Witness, 21 September 2006. MORE HERE A Civil Society Response to the Government Gazette on Air Quality Standards.8 September 2006 MORE HERE
WASTE PROJECTS
The Isipingo Declaration on eliminating the harmful impacts of Health Care Waste and Incinerators in Southern Africa MORE HERE
Friends of the Earth International 2008 calendar with prize winning photographs on the theme of food and agriculture available now!

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