PRESS RELEASE - 01 September 2004

GLOBAL DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WASTE AND POLLUTION

An international coalition of activists today launched the 3rd Global Day of Action against Waste (GDAW) citing the increasing health impacts of polluting waste disposal practices, which affect mainly children throughout the world.

More than 182 groups from 45 countries participated this year in what has become an annual day of protest against unsustainable and dangerous waste disposal systems. Coordinated by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)[1], this year’s protest highlighted recent evidence from the World Health Organization which indicates that more than 3 million children under the age of five are dying each year because of polluted air and water and exposure to other environmental hazards.

Incinerators are linked to serious environmental health threats. Incineration alone is responsible for 69 percent of global emissions of the notorious pollutant dioxin, which is linked to cancer, immune, and reproductive system disorders, birth defects, and other health threats. Incineration is also a primary source of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, which builds up in the environment - especially aquatic ecosystems- and affects the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver. It is especially harmful to pregnant women and children.

groundWork is involved in opposing various incinerator plans around the country. A campaign that is of special concern is the continent wide push by the cement industries to burn hazardous wastes in cement kilns (incinerators) in Africa. The South African government sends out mixed signals on their position on burning of hazardous wastes. On the one hand we find that government officials have requested a local cement industry to burn agricultural waste such as obsolete pesticides and herbicides. While on the other hand we have DEAT holding workshops to establish national implementation plans for the management and strategies to clean up and prevent future accumulation of unwanted stocks of pesticides under the Africa stockpiles programme.

According to Von Hernandez, Co-coordinator, GAIA governments are failing to protect children and the human population at large from harmful chemical assaults resulting from unsustainable and irresponsible practices such as incineration. groundWork calls on the South African government to put a stop to the use of dangerously polluting technology whose operations will virtually undermine the objectives of the POPS treaty.

For more information please contact Llewellyn Leonard (Waste Coordinator) at 082-353-5029

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[1] GAIA is an international coalition of community-based organizations, research and policy advocacy institutions, citizen pressure groups and other non-profit organizations and individuals working together to promote clean production, zero waste and sustainable discard management systems. Contact for GAIA Secretariat (ask for Abi or Gigie at +632-9290376 or 436 4733).