IPEN News Centre:
links:
November 2009 Newsletter
IPEN News:
Time Magazine in Partnership with CNN
Heroes of the Environment 2009
IPENers lauded as Time's 2009 Environmental Heroes
Dear IPENers,
Please join me in congratulating fellow IPENers
Olga Speranskaya (EcoAccord, Russia)
Sheri Liao (GVB, China)
Yuyun Ismawati (Balifokus, Indonesia)
for their being acknowledged by Time Magazine as 2009 Environmental Heroes!
Keep up the good work everyone!
Best,
Bjorn
42 Groups Demand EPA Action on Endosulfan
International panel finds that "global action is warranted" on persistent pesticide
WASHINGTON, DC (December 3, 2009) - A broad coalition of 42 environmental, health, labor, and farming groups today urged EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to finally take action to ban the antiquated insecticide endosulfan.
National Congress of American Indians Stockholm Convention Resolution
Resolution #PSP-09-021 - pdf 238KB
I am very happy to announce that at its 2009 annual conference in Palm Springs, October 11 - 16th 2009, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) adopted the following resolution:
The National Congress of American Indians Resolution #PSP-09-021, TITLE: Protection of the Health and Human Rights of Present and Future Generations through Ratification and Implementation by the United States of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
We are very thankful for the work of our respected colleague, Chief and Tribal Chairman Mike Williams (Akiak Native Village, Yupik Nation, Alaska, and NCAI Regional Vice President for Alaska) to acheive the adoption of this resolution as well as for the assistance of the Alaska Community Action on Toxics and IITC advisor Shawna Larson who worked with IITC and Akiak in the drafting process.
This is a very important step forward for the the work of the North South Indigenous Network Against Pesticides. We sincerely thank NCAI and its members for this important resolution, which we hope will have a significant impact on US policy in this regard.
Best regards
Andrea Carmen
Executive Director, IITC
456 N. Alaska St., Palmer, AK 99645
phone (907) 745-4482, fax (907) 745-4484
andrea@treatycouncil.org
www.treatycouncil.org
IPEN Newsletter:
Welcome to the November 2009 IPEN Newsletter!
This month's newsletter includes up to date news on the following:
1. POPRC5 REPORT BACK
2. IPEN HEAVY METALS WORKING GROUP
3. COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
4. REGIONAL FOCUS: THE PACIFIC AND ISLAND STATES
5. REPORTS BACK FROM RECENT MEETINGS
6. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
7. MEETING REPORT
1- POPRC5 REPORT BACK
The 5th meeting of the POPs Review Committee recently concluded in Geneva, Switzerland, with very exciting news: The Committee concluded that the pesticide endosulfan requires global action to prevent further harms to human health and the environment. This is a great step forward, as it sets the stage for a global ban of endosulfan under the Stockholm Convention.
IPEN representatives attending the POPRC5 crafted a press release about this important step, which can be found here: http://ipen.org/ipenweb/news/press.html. Congratulations to all IPENers who have been working hard to bring endosulfan to this point!
Additional work at the POPRC5 focused on toxic interactions, short-chained chlorinated paraffins, and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). For more information about the meeting, please see the thorough report that Joe DiGangi circulated over the IPEN listserve on Monday, 9 November.
Foreground: Meriel Watts, PAN Aotearoa New Zealand Karl Tupper, PAN North America Background: Mariann Lloyd-Smith, IPEN Co-Chair / NTN
Meriel Watts, PAN Aotearoa New Zealand
2 - IPEN HEAVY METALS WORKING GROUP
As you may recall from July, IPEN has launched a new Working Group, the IPEN Heavy Metals Working Group (HMWG). Any interested IPEN POs that have not yet joined this initiative should send an email to ipen@ipen.org.
The HMWG is already very busy, with numerous activities being undertaken.
IPEN MERCURY VISION DOCUMENT:
As many of you know, the Mercury Treaty negotiations are beginning. IPEN will be participating in these important negotiations, as well as its subsequent implementation. IPEN envisions playing a key role in the negotiations, along with the members and the various bodies within IPEN. We will also cooperate and coordinate our efforts with other key networks such as Health Care Without Harm, Zero Mercury Working Group, Basel Action Network, and others.
In anticipation of the Ad-Hoc Open- Ended Working Group meetings on mercury, IPEN created a Mercury Vision Document. This is a working document, drafted to provide clarity on the issues that may come up throughout the mercury treaty process, as well as a vision of what could be achieved if mercury is addressed in all its aspects.
This Vision Document has been translated from English into numerous languages and is currently available on the IPEN
website here:
IPEN Mercury Page
The goal is to produce a final version of an IPEN Mercury Views Document to be adopted by the IPEN General Assembly in early 2010.
AD-HOC OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP ON MERCURY MEETING
IPEN representatives attended the Ad-Hoc Open-Ended Working Group (AHOEWG) on Mercury, which took place in Bangkok 19 - 23 October. Prior to the meeting the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) hosted a NGO strategy meeting.
Representatives from the following IPEN organizations attended:
AGENDA (Tanzania)
BaliFokus (Indonesia)
Ban Toxics (Philippines)
Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) (Nepal)
Day Hospital Institute for Development and Rehabilitation (Egypt)
Development Indian Ocean Network (DION) (Mauritius)
Environmental Health Fund (U.S.)
Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) (Philippines)
Global Village of Beijing (China)
groundWork (South Africa)
Island Sustainability Alliance, Cook Islands, Inc. (ISACI) (Cook Islands)
Health Care Without Harm (Philippines)
National Toxics Network (Australia)
Pro-biodiversity Conservationists in Uganda (Uganda)
RAPAM / CAATA (Mexico)
Society for Direct Initiative for Social and Health Action (DISHA) (India)
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
Toxics Link (India)
Numerous IPENers that attended the meeting have provided reports back. These reports back have been condensed and will be circulated via the IPEN listserve shortly.
JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ WITH THE ZERO MERCURY WORKING GROUP (ZMWG)
IPEN and the Zero Mercury Working Group leaders took advantage of their face-to-face meeting in Bangkok recently to begin to draft a joint communiqué. It is hoped that this communiqué will help promote collaboration and communication between IPEN and ZMWG. Once the communiqué has been finalized, it will be shared with the network.
GLOBAL MERCURY SAMPLING REPORT SUMMARY AVAILABLE
During the meeting in Bangkok, the summary of a global mercury in products survey conducted by IPEN and organized by IPENer ARNIKA in the Czech Republic was approved for release by the German government (project donor). Once the full report is approved for release IPEN will post the data and information about the results both online and across the Network. The aim of this project is to elevate IPENer's mercury awareness and eventually engage more IPENers and NGOs in the Mercury Treaty process.
GLOBAL LAUNCH OF LEAD IN PAINT REPORT
Following the global sampling of lead in paint that was conducted by NGO Toxics Link in partnership with the IPEN Network, a global launch of the report that details the sampling results is being organized for December. It is anticipated that this global launch, being planned in countries such as Belarus, Brazil, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Senegal, Thailand, and the Philippines, will help raise awareness among IPEN POs and the public/media in the sampled countries. Additionally, a Lead in Paint Campaign website is currently being created and should be live shortly. More news to follow!
TOXIC LINK'S INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEAVY METALS AND E-WASTE
The IPEN Participating Organization Toxics Link organized an International Conference on Heavy Metals and E-waste on 26-27th October 2009 in New Delhi, India. The objectives were to raise some critical concerns related to the issue of Mercury, Lead and E-waste, bring research-based information on these to the public domain and also to facilitate research and discussion with various stakeholders to find sustainable solutions.
Mercury and Lead have been a focus of attention all across the globe for their health and environment risks. Lead is globally used in different products, like lead acid batteries, paints, bullets, etc. Though lead usage has been phased out from petroleum products in India, its usage in household paints is still rampant in the country and is cause for exposure. Mercury usage in chlor alkali production, ayurvedic medicines and the healthcare industry, especially in measuring instruments, has also been a great cause for concern in India.
E-waste is another emerging challenge in India. Rapid technological advancement and consumerism in last decade or so has led to exponentially growing E-waste in the country. In the absence of a proper legal framework, the industry has shied away from taking responsibility until now. The rudimentary processes used by the informal sector engaged in recycling e-waste have resulted in major health and environmental damage.
Day One of the conference, which focused on Lead and Mercury, had the Pediatrics Association of India stressing on increased lead poisoning cases in children in the country and also strongly recommending lead level testing for this susceptible population. Toxics Link's global study on Lead in Paints also generated huge interest. Some of the initiatives in India in phasing out mercury from Chlor alkali industry, dental practices and health care establishments were also shared in the conference. A study on mercury levels in fish was presented, raising serious contamination concerns. It was recommended that the government should immediately ban or restrict, through certain fiscal disincentives, the usage of elemental mercury and mercury compounds.
The second day of the conference had presentations by eminent national and international speakers on E-waste and was successful in bringing forth several key issues like lack of proper inventory and gaps in the legal framework in India, health and environmental concerns, labour issues related to the electronics industry and dumping of E-waste in the subcontinent. Representatives from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh appraised the gathering about their country scenario related to E-waste.
The deliberations focused on both upstream and downstream solutions to this growing concern. The speakers and the participants stressed on the need for strong legal frameworks and infrastructure development for E-waste recycling and also the option of integrating the informal sector in the emerging scenario. The conference recommended that there is a need for a separate regulatory mechanism to manage E-waste and to phase out hazardous material. The speakers also emphasized on the requirement of ban on import or illegal dumping of E-waste. A representative from the government assured the gathering of an upcoming regulatory framework on E-waste in the country and laid out a timeframe of 4 months for that.
The two-day conference was attended by scientific professionals and representatives from government, industries, healthcare institutes, academia and NGOs.
3 - COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs hosts the Division for Sustainable Development. "The Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) provides leadership and is an authoritative source of expertise within the United Nations system on sustainable development. It promotes sustainable development as the substantive secretariat to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and through technical cooperation and capacity building at international, regional and national levels. The context for the Division's work is the implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Barbados Programme of Action for Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States."
Within the CSD there are "implementation cycles". The upcoming 4th Implementation Cycle Review Session (CSD-18) will be held in May 2010 in New York, and chemicals are one of the thematic issues the session will focus on. In August, the IPEN Steering Committee decided that, because of this thematic focus, it may be a good idea to engage in the CSD in order to broaden and reinforce IPEN's work in the intergovernmental processes on chemical management. Therefore when there was a call to provide input to the Secretary-General's reports that are being prepared for the CSD-18, the IPEN Steering Committee drafted a submission. This submission was circulated via the IPEN listserve on 18 August- if you would like to see it, please let me know (ipen@ipen.org).
Additionally, IPEN partners Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) are currently active in the Women's Major Group within the CSD process and have recently sent out calls via different IPEN listserves for comments on their submissions concerning Transport, Chemicals, Mining and others. If you missed those messages but would like to contribute (noting the deadline for doing so is 20 November), please contact Alexandra Caterbow (Alexandra.caterbow@wecf.eu).
IPEN may set up a listserve to cover upcoming CSD matters. If you would like to be on such a listserve, please let me know by 20 November (ipen@ipen.org). And for more information about the CSD, please see: http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/csd/csd_csd18.shtml
4 - REGIONAL FOCUS: THE PACIFIC AND ISLAND STATES
Each IPEN Newsletter includes a Regional Focus section that provides an opportunity for IPEN Participating Organizations (POs) to share their NGO's work, news, updates and/or local information as it pertains to our shared mission for a Toxics- Free Future. We encourage all interested IPEN POs to share their work and information with the global IPEN network.
This month the area of the Pacific and Island States is the Regional Focus. We encourage IPEN POs from the Anglophone Africa region to submit articles for the next IPEN Newsletter (submit to jenniferfederico@ipen.org).
Hotel Insel Fehmarn, Apia, Samoa, 5th February 2009
Mr Lee Bell, E-Waste Campaigner for National Toxics Network, Australia (an IPEN Participating Organization) began the seminar with a presentation about what e-waste is made up of, and the toxic substances that are contained in them. Mr Alvin Piadasa and Mr Ramkripal Pandey, both of TES-AMM (Singapore) Ptd Ltd then spoke about how their company could assist Pacific Island nations to dispose properly of e-waste, through its global operations. Ms Imogen Ingram of Island Sustainability Alliance C.I., Inc. (ISACI), another IPEN Participating Organization, then made a presentation giving the details of the proposed sub-regional project for Samoa, Niue and the Cook Islands.
SAICM objectives are focused on awareness-raising, chemical profiles, and the financing mechanism.
Conclusion:
The content of the proposed sub-regional project was considered sound by the workshop participants. Although Samoa is already advanced in some areas, the proposed project is flexible enough to allow for countries being at different stages in their e-waste management. There were no objections voiced. Civil societies groups were very pleased to voice their support of the project proposal. Samoa government agencies were also supportive, but will require more liaison for planning details after funds have been confirmed.
For more information, please contact Ms. Imogen Ingram at ISACI: Imogen@oyster.net.ck
Island Sustainability Alliance C.I. Inc. Participation in the 2nd Takitumu Lagoon Day in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Island Sustainability Alliance C.I. Inc (ISACI) used the opportunity of having a booth at the Takitumu Lagoon Day to raise awareness of persistent toxic substances in waste, particularly e-waste.
ISACI Booth at Aitutaki Lagoon Day
The event was held on 17th June 2009, when over 1,000 school children aged 9-13 visited iconic Muri Beach on the eastern coast of Rarotonga. A small grant from the Cook Islands National Environment Service enabled ISACI volunteers to make up posters for the Takitumu Lagoon Day and to book a radio time slot for the radio panel discussion on e-waste. This took place one week before the Takitumu Lagoon Day, when ISACI member Ms. Imogen Ingram and an e-waste recycler, Mr. Pauro Arnold, from Island Technology Ltd., discussed e-waste and its proper disposal. This awareness-raising was based on a script prepared by Mr. Lee Bell of NTN, Australia and broadcast on radio in both English and Cook Islands Maori languages, reaching not only Rarotonga but also the Outer Islands of the Cooks group. A grant from National Toxics Network enabled the printing of color flyers that were was distributed at Muri Beach as an information sheet. Students were asked to complete a brief written evaluation at the end of the day, and the resulting analysis showed that many students who previously had no knowledge at all about e-waste and its hazards were now more concerned, because of the efforts of ISACI and its IT partner.
NATIONAL TOXICS NETWORK (www.ntn.org.au)
National Toxics Network (NTN) is Australia's only NGO network dedicated to advocacy, capacity building and campaigning to achieve a toxic free future.
As a network, we provide a national entity and focal point for toxics, as well as assistance to individuals, communities and groups addressing toxic chemical threats in their environments. Along the way we are building and linking a groundswell of people with knowledge about the treats from toxic chemicals.
Capacity building
A key focus of NTN's work is building capacity amongst NGOs across the Australasian and Pacific regions. We do this in several ways.
NTN provides a reliable source of technical information as well as experience and expertise that communities, campaigners and the media can draw on.
We also help instigate and support effective community engagement processes in chemicals policy and management. NTN developed the principles, protocols and plans of action for Australia's industrial chemical regulator's community engagement charter.
NTN is currently preparing a research paper on the implementation of these principles in the task of realigning chemical regulation in Australia and the Pacific regions.
Addressing POPs
As the focal point for IPEN in Australia, NTN provides support to Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith as Co-chair of IPEN and also benefits greatly by the expertise gathered from this international work and the links to a global network.
NTN's POPs campaign work addresses POPs locally, regionally and globally. In Australia, this includes addressing the toxic waste legacy, for example, the identification and remediation of DDT contaminated cattle tick dip sites; finding non-incineration solutions to the Botany Orica HCB stockpile; as well as addressing dioxin emissions from a proposed Tasmanian pulp mill.
In this work NTN collaborates with local groups and also works closely with the GAIA network, German NGO Bund, Greenpeace Denmark, and many other IPEN POs and NGOs.
Children's Environmental Health
A central pillar of NTN's activities is the importance of protecting children's environmental health. Our report, 'Intergenerational Equity in Action' was published in 2008 the New York Annals of Science.
http://www.oztoxics.org/cmwg/library/documents_1/Intergenerational%20Equity%20in%20action.pdf
Pacific Project
In 2007, working closely with our Pacific colleagues, the Island Sustainability Alliance (Cook Islands), NTN initiated the Pacific Program for Environmental Health and Justice, which aims to strengthen the role of Pacific environmental NGOs.
The project's objective is to improve networking and build capacity in the area of toxics reduction throughout the Pacific. Two workshops have been hosted, one focusing on POPs and pesticides in the Pacific and the other, the problems with e-waste.
On request from environmental NGOs based in East Timor in 2009, NTN completed a report into the proposed heavy oil power plants to be based in Timor-Leste to provide electricity. This report has been used by other small island states to address similar proposals.
Pesticides
NTN campaigns to realign Australia's AgVet chemical regulatory system to include the four principles of reform - community-right-to know, no data no market, precautionary principle and substitution.
Campaigns on individual pesticides have focused on atrazine and endosulfan, as well as the ubiquitous problem of pesticide spray drift. In 2009, NTN released its Pesticide Spray Drift Kit to assist communities to report and take action on spray drift incidents. NTN collaborates and coordinates with its local groups and its sister organisation, the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) in pesticide campaigns.
New POPs
NTN has been part of the POPRC NGO team since its inception in 2005. It helps prepare NGO submissions and comments as well as liasing with government delegations. As an outcome of the recent COP4, where nine new POPs were added to the convention (albeit with extensive exemptions) NTN has initiated its Traded Toxics Campaign.
The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness of the Stockholm Convention and POPs listings, as well as the risks posed by new POPs exemptions.
The project is currently developing campaign material on the continuing use of PFOS and the recycling of the flame-retardants, Octa and Penta BDE. As new production of the PBDE flame retardants has been stopped, ongoing human exposure results from products and wastes in which they are still present. The agreement to allow the continued recycling and reuse of products contaminated with these chemicals until 2030 has increased the need to address the trade in toxic products. The new POPs Traded Toxics Campaign is part of NTN's work on hazardous products including nanomaterials, Bisphenol A and phthalate-contaminated household goods.
Joint Press Release:
And??Soil & Health Association of New Zealand (Est. 1941)
Publishers of ORGANIC NZ
Safe Food Campaign Inc.
15 December 2008 NZ Bans Endosulfan
The coalition of groups that have long campaigned for the banning of the controversial pesticide endosulfan is extremely pleased that New Zealand's Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) has announced it will ban it. Effective immediately. Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand (PAN ANZ), Soil and Health Association and Safe Food Campaign have been urging ERMA for many years to place a ban on the use of endosulfan.
Action to get rid of the insecticide began back in the mid 1990s, when Dr Meriel Watts of PAN ANZ, then with the Soil & Health Association, worked with Toxins Action Group and other community groups in Auckland to get the City Council to stop using endosulfan on sports fields because of the risk of breast cancer posed by the pesticide.
Endosulfan, already banned in 55 countries including all the European Union countries, is an insecticide used on a wide range of fruit and vegetables and also on sports turf in New Zealand. Illegal residues have also been found twice in beef destined for South Korea, resulting in enormous costs for exporters.
"We are delighted that ERMA has overturned its earlier 'proposed' decision to keep using this pesticide" stated Dr Meriel Watts, Co-ordinator of the Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand. "It would have been deeply embarrassing for New Zealand to continue its use when the pesticide has entered the process for a global ban under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants."
Endosulfan has triggered international action because of its toxicity, persistence in the environment and its ability to accumulate up the food chain. In October the Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) agreed that endosulfan meets the screening criteria for a POP, and is now undertaking a rigorous assessment preparatory to listing it for a global ban, alongside DDT and its other persistent organochlorine relatives.
"ERMA has made the right decision to get rid of a pesticide that is contaminating the global food supply," declared Ms Alison White of the Safe Food Campaign. "Endosulfan has been found in body fat, breast milk, placental tissue and umbilical cord blood, largely as a result of residues in food. We would also welcome an urgent reassessment of other hazardous pesticides still used in New Zealand, notably the herbicide 2,4-D and the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos," she added. "Like endosulfan, these pesticides can have an effect on hormone function even at minute doses. Chlorpyrifos and 2,4-D have both have been linked to brain damage in young animals, embryos and foetuses.""ERMA have made a real Christmas present for food safety and the environment by banning the use of endosulfan in New Zealand from January 16, 2009," said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.
"The decision is much better than previous ERMA reassessment decisions would have had us expect and is a credit to the many people that signed the petitions and made submissions, as part of the campaigns of Dr Meriel Watts and Pesticide Action Network, Soil & Health, Safe Food Campaign, Sue Kedgley Green Party MP, and also those in Tauranga that campaigned against the sports field use of the insecticide."
The three organisations carried out a number of residue tests on produce earlier this year to draw attention to the extent of endosulfan residues, especially in tomatoes.
"We found residues in both New Zealand and Australian tomatoes. The residue levels were not safe, despite being legal, and in some cases were high enough to trigger the growth of breast cancer cells. Lets hope Australia now revisits its decision to keep using the insecticide, so that the tomatoes they send us in winter will also be free of endosulfan" said Dr Watts...
"This decision vindicates our call for urgent reassessment of the older pesticides. There are many others needing reassessment and ERMA must have a substantial lift in funding to speed its reassessment process."
"Methyl bromide, subject to international treaty due to its devastating effects on the ozone layer, is due to begin the ERMA reassessment process but economic benefits to forestry risk allowing that neurotoxin to continue being released into the atmosphere" said Mr Browning.
"While we are pleased ERMA has a program of reassessment, it will take at least another five years for just the 20 worst pesticides to be looked at. In the meantime pesticides with known adverse effects on health and the environment continue to be used. ERMA must speed up reassessments by looking at groups of substances together, such as organophosphates and pesticides which are aerially sprayed."
"New Zealand needs to be a leader in removing pesticides not a follower," said Mr Browning, "Organic foods produced without such pesticides are the fastest growing sector of the food and beverage trade internationally and have been identified as best value products for New Zealand to be exporting."
Soil & Health has a vision of an Organic 2020 and a future proofed clean green Aotearoa New Zealand.
5 - REPORTS BACK FROM RECENT MEETINGS
Representatives from IPEN Participating Organizations have been very busy attending lots of different meetings around the world. You may from time to time see reports back from these types of meetings via the IPEN general listserve and/or other IPEN listserves.
In October, Dr. Paul Saoke's (PSR Kenya) report back and presentation from the then recently concluded meeting: "International Public Health Pesticides Workshop to Examine the Barriers and Possible Solutions for Bringing New Public Health Pesticide Products to Market in Developing Countries" was circulated to the POPs Pesticides Working Group listserve. If you would like to see a copy of his report or presentation, please let me know (ipen@ipen.org).
Additionally, on 8 November, Griffins Ochieng (iLima Kenya) circulated a report back over the IPEN listserve regarding the 2nd Meeting on the Consultative Process on Financing Options for Chemicals and Wastes. This meeting was recently held in Bangkok, Thailand, and NGOs were represented by Griffins Ochieng, Joe DiGangi (EHF/IPEN) and Richard Gutierrez (BAN). If you would like to see a copy of the report, please let me know (ipen@ipen.org).
Another report back recently completed by Dr. Paul Saoke outlines events at the first meeting of the Interim Steering Committee of the Global Alliance for the Development and Deployment of Alternatives to DDT for Disease Vector Control, which was held in Geneva from 27 to 29 October. Please see that report back as an annex to this newsletter. The Global Alliance will be comprised of five thematic groups, and there is an opportunity for organizations working on alternatives to DDT for disease vector control to join the Global Alliance by declaring their membership or the membership of their organization, which they could do by completing a form and forwarding it to the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention or to the leaders of the thematic group.
Finally, please note that the report back from the recently concluded Regional Awareness Raising Workshop on Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination for the Implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, which took place in Pretoria, South Africa at the end of October, will be circulated shortly over the IPEN listserve.
6 - CALENDAR OF EVENTS
15 - 16 November:
LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN REGIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING ON SAICM: Santiago, Chile. saicm@chemicals.unep.ch
16 - 20 November: REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ON BAT/BEP AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT (ESM)
OF POPS WASTES AND PCBS FOR ASIA:
Beijing, China. This workshop, organized in cooperation with the Basel Centre Regional Centre (BCRC), targets governmental
officials from 20 Parties in Asia. The workshop aims to enhance national capacities to effectively address unintentional
releases of POPs and implement environmentally sound management of PCBs and POPs wastes. Information exchange on relevant
guidance documents, such as the Basel Convention technical guide
lines and the guidelines on BAT and BEP will be the basis of
discussions and experience sharing.
For more information:
tel: +41-22-917-8729;
fax: +41-22-917-8098;
ssc@pops.int;
http://chm.pops.int/Home/tabid/36/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/1007/EventID/70/xmid/1854/mret/t/language/en-US/Default.aspx
23 - 25 November: REGIONAL AWARENESS RAISING WORKSHOP ON ENHANCING COOPERATION & COORDINATION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS IN SOUTH AMERICA: Montevideo, Uruguay. http://chm.pops.int/Convention/Meetings/UpcomingMeetings/tabid/521/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/1007/EventID/82/xmid/1854/mret/t/language/en-US/Default.aspx
December
1- 4 December: REGIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOP ON PCBS AND POPS WASTES FOR THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN REGION: Bratislava, Slovakia. This workshop will provide training for national experts from the Central and Eastern European Region on the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of PCBs and POPs wastes. The objective of the workshop is to enhance the capacity of the participants on the concepts, principles and standards for the ESM of PCBs and POPs wastes, as presented in the Basel Convention technical guidelines. The workshop is organized in collaboration with the Basel Convention Regional Centre in Bratislava, Slovakia. For more information contact: tel: +41-22-917-8729; fax: +41-22-917-8098; ssc@pops.int; http://chm.pops.int/Home/tabid/36/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/1007/EventID/68/xmid/1854/mret/t/language/en-US/Default.aspx
2 - 4 December: NEW POPs AND THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING AND UPDATING NIPs: Barcelona, Spain. http://chm.pops.int/Convention/Meetings/UpcomingMeetings/tabid/521/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/1007/EventID/72/xmid/1854/mret/t/language/en-US/Default.aspx
2 - 4 December: 4th TOOLKIT EXPERT MEETING TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE STANDARDIZED TOOLKIT FOR IDENTIFICATION & QUNATIFICATION OF DIOXIN & FURAN RELEASES: Geneva, Switzerland http://chm.pops.int/Convention/Meetings/UpcomingMeetings/tabid/521/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/876/EventID/76/xmid/1854/mret/t/language/en-US/Default.aspx
7 - 11 December: 3rd CEE REGIONAL MEETING ON SAICM & ASSOCIATED WORKSHOPS ON MERCURY AND NANOTECHNOLOGY: Lodz, Poland. saicm@chemicals.unep.ch
14 - 16 December: REGIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOP ON REVIEWING AND UPDATING NIPs IN ARABIC-SPEAKING COUNTRIES: Kuwait City, Kuwait http://chm.pops.int/Convention/Meetings/UpcomingMeetings/tabid/521/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/1007/EventID/79/xmid/1854/mret/t/language/en-US/Default.aspx
17 - 18 December: SCOPING MEETING FOR CHEMICALS IN PRODUCTS PROJECT (CiP): Geneva, Switzerland
21- 23 December: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY INSTITUTE (SDPI) 12TH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE - Islamabad, Pakistan. Technical Sessions include: "Household Water Treatment Systems and Safe Water Storage for Sustainable Access to Safe Drinking Water in South Asia" and "Climate Change and Chemicals Use: Adaptation and Mitigation Measures for Minimizing the Emerging Environmental and Health Issues". For more information, contact Dr. Mahmood Khwaja at Khwaja@sdpi.org
If there is an upcoming event that you would like to have listed here, please let me know! ipen@ipen.org
7 - MEETING REPORT
First Interim Steering Committee Meeting on the Global Alliance for the Development and Deployment of Alternatives to DDT for Disease Vector Control
International Environment House II, Geneva, October 27th -29th 2009
The first meeting of the Interim Steering Committee of the Global Alliance for the development and deployment of alternatives to DDT for disease vector control was held at the International Environment House II, Geneva, from 27 to 29 October, 2009.
The meeting was attended by the following members: Mr. Artak Khachatryan - Armenia, Mr. R.S. Sharma - India, Mme. Fagamou Sy - Senegal, Mr. Meliton Adams Melendez - Venezuela, Mr. Abdullah Naeem - Yemen, Ms. Victoria Mupwaya - Zambia, Mr. Paul Saoke - Physicians for Social Responsibility, Kenya, Ms. Stéphanie Guillaneux - WHO, Mr. Kevin Munn - Chemicals Branch, United Nations Environment Programme, Mr. Robert Sloss - Innovative Vector Control Consortium, Dr. Gordo Jain - Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany, Mr. Egon Weinmueller - BASF, Croplife International. The Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention was represented by Mr. Paul Whylie - Programme Officer and Mr. Gamini Manuweera - Programme Officer. The Central and Eastern Europe Region and the Latin America and the Caribbean Region only had a single representative attending and the Western Europe and Other Groups Region did not have representation at the meeting
The meeting had four technical sessions i.e.
1. Regional outlook of malaria vector borne diseases and control initiatives in endemic countries. A regional
assessment on the efforts to develop and deploy alternative products, methods and strategies to DDT for disease
vector control. Ongoing initiatives to support the development and deployment of alternative products, methods and
strategies to DDT for disease vector control. The contribution of stakeholders to overcome the challenges toward achieving
the goals of the Global Alliance.
2. Implementation strategy of the Global Alliance, Interim Steering Committee- Overview, scope and responsibilities and Terms of Reference for the Coordinating Team.
3. Introduction of the Thematic Groups
Recommendations
1. Interim Steering Committee members are to accept lead roles in Thematic Group implementation as decided in the Interim Steering Committee meeting and support the Secretariat in the establishment of these Thematic Groups respectively;
2. The Secretariat is to prepare detailed workplans for the establishment of each Thematic Group based on the results of the Working Groups and make these available to the Interim Steering Committee members on or before November 20, 2009 for review and comments which are to be sent to the Secretariat on or before November 30, 2009;
3. The members of the Interim Steering Committee are to carry-out the inter-sessional activities identified in document UNEP/POPS/GAISC-1/4/Rev.1 and to communicate regularly with the Secretariat on the progress being made in implementing these activities;
4. All Thematic Group workplans are to include an initial meeting being convened before March 2010 and the Secretariat is to facilitate the implementation of such meetings either by teleconference or face-to face, as appropriate, and inform all the Interim Steering Committee members in advance of such meetings;
5. All members of the Interim Steering Committee and the Secretariat are to actively seek funding for the implementation of the workplans of the Thematic Groups and also to support the cost for holding upcoming Interim Steering Committee Meetings;
6. The Secretariat is to prepare and undertake the launch of the Global Alliance with the support of WHO at the Extraordinary COPs meeting in February, 2010 for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and also promote the initiative at the accompanying United Nations Environment Programme Governing Council meeting;
7. The Secretariat is to prepare the implementation of the first Alliance Assembly to be held during 2010. All Steering Committee members are to investigate suitable global events that could be used as a coupling event for the Alliance Assembly and convey the information on such events to the Secretariat for consideration;
8. The next Interim Steering Committee meeting is to held in India during the month of May 2010 and the Secretariat is to cooperate with the Interim Steering Committee member from India to ensure smooth implementation of the meeting;
9. Interim Steering Committee and the Secretariat are to promote and encourage formation of regional and sub-regional networks for the implementation of the work of the Global Alliance;
10. The World Health Organization is to provide a dedicated person to support the implementation of the Global Alliance.
Organizational Structure of the Global Alliance
Alliance Assembly
- Composed of all members
- Governing body of the Global Alliance
- Institutional or individual
- To sign a Members' Declaration
- Endorse Steering Committee
- Approve the strategy from the Steering Committee
- Meets every 2 years
Role of Members
- Initiate or lead a Thematic Group;
- Provide guidance
- Undertake activities
- Share information
- Mobilize or provide resources
In Support of the
Global Alliance
For the Development and Deployment of Alternative Products, Methods and Strategies to DDT for Disease Vector Control
As the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention held in 2009, by its decision-4/2 endorsed the establishment of a Global Alliance to support the development and deployment of alternative products, methods and strategies to DDT for disease vector control, by providing an inclusive global platform for cross-sector dialogue, by supporting existing initiatives and by catalyzing new initiatives or partnerships to stimulate concrete action and to replicate and scale up best practices;
As the following challenges are associated with developing and deploying alternatives to DDT:
As the Global Alliance, in coordination with the broader malaria control agenda to support the reduction and control of malaria transmission, will:
As I/my organization is involved in and undertakes activities related to the development and deployment of alternatives to DDT for disease vector control;
I, the undersigned, do declare my membership/the membership of my organization to the Global Alliance for the development and deployment of alternative products, methods and strategies to DDT for disease vector control and support to its implementation in overcoming the challenges toward the achievement of its goals, as stated above and further described in the related business plan [fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention - Annex to document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/6/Rev.1]
Signed:
Date:DD/MM/YY)
Name:
Title:
Organization:
Address:
Tel:
Fax:
E-mail address:
Possible members for the Global Alliance on Alternatives to DDT
The Global Alliance is open to all stakeholders having an interest in the development and deployment of alternatives to DDT for disease vector control. There is no limit on the number of participants per sector. Participation in the Global Alliance will be encouraged through existing organizations and initiatives that are relevant to the goals of the Alliance but is not intended to introduce duplication of work. The list below is an estimation of the entities that will become members of the Global Alliance.
Stakeholder
Public Health Authorities from disease endemic countries 80
Pesticides regulators from disease endemic countries, with special consideration of least developing countries 80
Pesticide regulators from developed countries with special consideration of those countries having initiatives or interest in supporting pesticide registration in developing countries 15
Official Focal Points for the Stockholm Convention 165
Donor community 25
SIDA
GTZ
Clinton Foundation
GEF
Gates Foundation
EU
AusAID
Canadian International Development Agency
DANIDA
DFID
Norwegian Agency for International Development Cooperation
President's malaria initiative
USAID
Research institutions in insect biology and vector control products 30
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
Innovative Vector Control Consortium
Bernhard Nocht Institute für tropenmedizin
Wageningen University
Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Medical Research Institute, Kenya
Malaria Research & Training Center, Mali
Instituto Nacional de Saude, Mozambique
National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanzania
Pesticide industry 25
Bayer CropScience
Dupont
Sumitomo Chemicals
Syngenta
BASF
Becker Microbial Products, Inc.,
Bonide Products Inc
Summit Chemical Company
Central Life Sciences (Wellmark - Altosid)
Vestergaard Frandsen
NGOs working in the field of malaria disease control 30
IPEN
European Alliance Against Malaria
Malaria consortium
Malaria elimination group
Stop Malaria now
Others 50
Asian Collaborative training network for malaria
Africa data dissemination service
Anobase
Mobilising for malaria
UK coalition against malaria
Coalition Francaise contre le Paludisme
Cameroon Coalition against Malaria
Coalition against malaria in Ethiopia
Coalition against malaria Belgium
Coalition against malaria Mozambique
Anticipated total number of members 500
Working Together for a Toxics-Free Future
Tel: 1 (510) 704 1962/3 " Fax: 1 (510) 883 9493
email: ipen@ipen.org
web: http://www.ipen.org
November 2009
News/Press Release