News & IPEN Press Releases:

PRESS RELEASE:

Responsible Care?
Chemical industry refuses to clean up while Bhopal tragedy continues

For Immediate Release: 2 December, 2009

Contact:
Mr. Ravi S. Agarwal, Executive Director, Toxics Link, India + 91 9810037355
Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith, IPEN Co-chair, National Toxics Network, Australia +61 413-621557

Twenty-five years after a toxic gas leak triggered a disaster that is widely recognized as the worst industrial catastrophe in the world, the poisoning of India's Bhopal and its people still continues today.

The poisonous gas that spewed out of the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal on 3 December, 1984 killed an estimated 8,000 people; a figure which rose to more than 20,000 in the following years, and rendered thousands of others chronically debilitated and seriously ill. It is estimated that 500,000 people have been affected by exposure to the deadly gas.

Today, twenty five years later, we find that the people of Bhopal, India still suffer. The residents experience grave and disabling illnesses including breathing difficulties, damaged eyesight, reproductive complications, and rising cancer rates, among others. High numbers of infants in the affected communities are born with congenital defects and cerebral palsy.

"The people of Bhopal deserve immediate justice, and responsible parties must finally take action to clean up the environment and ensure those affected by this terrible tragedy are adequately compensated for their loss and the years of pain and neglect. The world community cannot ignore this human rights disaster and must ensure the justifiable demands of the Bhopal people are finally met. In all good conscience we cannot tolerate any more delay." - Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith, IPEN Co-Chair and Senior Advisor to National Toxics Network, Australia

In 1989, Union Carbide agreed upon a financial settlement with the Indian Government, yet most victims did not get enough to even cover their medical expenses, and the settlement only covered deaths and injuries from the original leak; it did not cover any ongoing water or soil contamination. In 2001, the Dow Chemical Company purchased the company and acquired Union Carbide's assets and liabilities; however, they never cleaned up the site and the polluted groundwater continues to poison residents today. In 2004, a legal suit was filed in the U.S. against Union Carbide by individual victims and organisations. The U.S. Federal Court ruled that the company could be made to clean up the site with the Indian government's agreement. However, Union Carbide appealed and the suit was dismissed in 2005. Another suit was filed in the U.S. in 2007, and in 2008, 24 years after the disaster, the victims were permitted to have their case for damages heard in the USA.

"With Bhopal still suffering, all talk of Corporate Social Responsibility and Responsible Care is put to shame. It is an ongoing corporate liability issue which needs to recognize the ongoing human suffering and contamination at site. Only immediate action can help close this tragic chapter, even 25 years since it took place."- Ravi S. Agarwal, Executive Director, Toxics Link, India

IPEN recognizes the grave injustice that the people of Bhopal have experienced for over two decades and stand in solidarity with the survivors, supporting their demands for clean up and remediation of their environment, water and homes.

The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) is a global network of more than 700 public interest, non-governmental organisations working together for a toxic-free future. IPEN is committed to a world where all chemicals are produced and used in ways that eliminate significant adverse effects on human health and the environment, and where persistent organic pollutants and chemicals of equivalent concern no longer pollute our local and global environments, and no longer contaminate our communities, our food, our bodies, or the bodies of our children and future generations.

IPEN is proud to be a sponsor of the 25th Anniversary Day of Action for Justice in Bhopal. Find out more here: www.studentsforbhopal.org

Chinese Press Release - .pdf 76KB
Portugues Press Release - .pdf 48KB
English Press Release - .pdf 148KB

International Expert Committee: Endosulfan requires global action Pesticide moves closer to a global ban

GENEVA �- 16 October 2009 -

After a heated debate, an international expert scientific panel concluded that the pesticide endosulfan requires global action to prevent further harms to human health and the environment.¹ The decision by the Stockholm Convention POPs Review Committee (POPRC) sets the stage for a global ban of the chemical under the treaty. The panel acknowledged that endosulfan is persistent in the environment, is transported though the air to the Polar regions where it bioaccumulates in the food chain, and is of such high toxicity that it is a threat to humans and wildlife. �

"Endosulfan is poisonous and indefensible. This decision puts the world on notice that production and use of endosulfan must stop," said Dr Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Network. �"For the sake of protecting their own people and the health of the planet, China, India, Israel, and South Korea should cease manufacturing this poison."

India is the world�fs largest remaining manufacturer of endosulfan and the government itself owns a major endosulfan factory. In what is now regarded as one of the world�fs worse pesticide incidents, the aerial spraying of endosulfan on cashew nut plantations in Kerala, South India resulted in hundreds of deaths and chronic illnesses including birth defects of nearby villagers.

"Endosulfan not only kills people but contaminates our environment, our wildlife, human breast milk, women's placentas, and even our newborns. It is clear that the time for this old, outmoded and dangerous pesticide is over," said Dr Lloyd-Smith, Co-Chair, International POPs Elimination Network.

During the meeting, the POPRC committee member from India tried to delay and block the decision. In the final moments, India refused to agree to a consensus decision and forced a vote to be taken. India was the only country to vote against the proposal to proceed with the evaluation. Before the meeting Pesticide Action Network (PAN) and the International POPS Elimination Network (IPEN) expressed concern about allowing a country such as India with a clear conflict of interest to participate in decision making.

Endosulfan moves steadily to colder regions, contaminating the Arctic. �"This decision is especially critical for the protection of the health of the Arctic indigenous peoples who are exposed to endosulfan through their traditional foods such as fish, marine mammals and seabird eggs. Given that endosulfan levels are not diminishing in the Arctic and are likely to increase this decision is all the more necessary and urgent", said Pam Miller, biologist and Executive Director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics.

1 The language of the decision states, �"...endosulfan�...is likely, as a result of long range environmental transport, to to significant adverse human health and environmental effects, such that global action is warranted"



Contact:
Mariann Lloyd-Smith, PhD, IPEN co-chair, cell +006-141-362-1557 Pamela K Miller, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, cell + 1 907-242-9991

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Global NGOs Back Farmers' Campaign to Ban Aerial Spraying

September 02, 2009

EcoWaste Coalition Philippines NEWS RELEASE 18 August 2009

Global NGOs Back Farmers' Campaign to Ban Aerial Spraying

Global public health and environmental non-government organizations have thrown their full weight behind the farmers-led campaign to ban aerial spraying of pesticides in banana plantations in Mindanao. In a statement released through the EcoWaste Coalition, the Pesticide Action Network - Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP), International Persistent Organic Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) pressed the Government of the Philippines to heed public clamor for human rights and chemical safety and forbid pesticide aerial spraying.

The groups particularly requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the national focal point of the Philippines for the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), to introduce a national ban and show its resolve to pursue chemical safety for public safety and environmental health. SAICM is a global policy and strategy adopted in 2006 by governments, including the Philippines, to protect human health and the ecosystems from the harms caused by exposure to toxic chemical substances. A 6-person delegation from the Mindanao-based Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS, or Citizens Against Aerial Spraying) met Secretary Atienza last August 3, along with the Manila members of the National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (NTFAAS). "All eyes are now on Environment Secretary Atienza whom the affected farmers have approached for support. Will he listen to the farmers' plea for health and justice? The whole world will be watching," said Sarojeni Rengam, Executive Director of PAN AP.

"As the lead agency for SAICM, we urge him to show the way and uphold the rights of the people and nature not to be drenched and poisoned with toxic chemicals," Rengam added. Filipino health and environmental advocates are pinning their hopes on Secretary Atienza who made a historic decision banning endosulfan in February 2009 albeit temporary "to protect the public health from any undesirable risks and hazards" from the use and exposure to this highly toxic pesticide. "There is no reason why the government cannot fully ban toxic aerial spraying, aside from simply pandering to corporate greed. This immoral and harmful practice must be ended once and for all," commented Von Hernandez, Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. Earlier, a team of experts from the Department of Health had recommended the banning of aerial spraying of pesticides based on their findings that validated reported health and environmental impacts in the village of Camocaan, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.

"Banning the aerial spraying of pesticides will be a welcome step towards preventing chemical pollution and reducing chemical risks. It will hopefully induce the industry into switching to environmentally sound and safer substitutes, including non-chemical alternatives to managing pests," said Australia-based Dr. Mariann Lloyd Smith, Co-Chair of IPEN. Ecologically-produced food, Smith pointed out, is gaining market traction in Japan (the main destination of commercially-grown Cavendish bananas) and elsewhere as consumers become more conscious about food safety and human rights. "We also hope that Secretary Atienza will complement the ban on aerial spraying with another directive that will initiate a participatory process towards creating a robust chemicals regulatory regime, in line with SAICM, to keep humans and the ecosystems safe from chemical assaults and harms," added US-based Monica Wilson, Co-Coordinator, GAIA. MAAS had earlier received 10 statements of support for its steadfast campaign against aerial spraying from Europe and North America. Four came from US (Pesticide Watch, Play Not Spray, Stop the Spray, People Against Chemical Trespass) and six from Europe (Coalition of the Flemish North-South Movement 11.11.11 in Belgium, FoodFirst Information and Action Network in Italy, and the Catholic Women Organization, Friends of the Earth, Philippine Solidarity Group and Stichting Vredesburo Eindhoven in the Netherlands).

EcoWaste Coalition Unit 329, Eagle Court, 26 Matalino St., 1101 Quezon City, Philippines Phone/Fax: +632-4411846
E-Mail: ecowastecoalition@yahoo.com
Website: www.ecowastecoalition.org

Notes for the Media:

PAN AP works with grassroots peasants' and women's movements in Asia and the Pacific and envisions "a society that is truly democratic, equal, just, culturally diverse, and based on food sovereignty, gender justice and environmental sustainability," http://www.panap.net

IPEN is a global network of more than 800 public interest non-governmental organizations working together for the elimination of persistent organic pollutants, on an expedited yet socially equitable basis, www.ipen.org

Greenpeace Southeast Asia, which has offices in Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila, seeks to "safeguard environmental rights, expose and stop environmental crimes, advance clean development," http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en/

GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 600 grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in over 80 countries whose ultimate vision is a just, toxic-free world without incineration, http://www.no-burn.org/

  Bayer to End Selling of Endosulfan   .pdf 44KB

  Bayer Endosulfan Spanish   .pdf 45KB

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Bayer to End Selling of Endosulfan

July 2009

The multinational chemical company Bayer has committed to end distribution of the pesticide endosulfan in 2010, and to replace the toxic pesticide with safer alternatives. The decision follows an innovative action in 16 countries, led by Pants To Poverty, the organic and Fairtrade underwear company, and its coalition of partners including Pesticide Action Network, Fairtrade Alliance Kerala and Zameen Organic ¹.

In a letter addressed to Coalition Against Bayer Dangers, Bayer said: "We plan to stop the sale of the substance endosulfan by the end of 2010 in all the countries where it is still legally available." The letter, signed by Bayer CropScience's head of investor relations, Judith Nestmann, said endosulfan would be replaced by alternatives "with a significantly better risk profile".

Bayer's decision comes after years of global campaigning by the PAN Network and its partners and allies against this persistent pesticide, which is linked to autism, birth defects and male reproductive harm, as well as deaths and acute injuries to farmers through direct contact. It is banned in over 60 countries including the EU.

In this latest action, in 16 centres around the world, people exchanged their conventional undies for a free pair of organic underwear, and signaled their commitment to cotton production without the use of endosulfan. The conventional undies were sent to Bayer's HQ with a demand that it cease to distribute endosulfan.

Linda Craig, Director of Pesticide Action network UK, said, "We are pleased that Bayer has committed to stop selling endosulfan. There are many proven alternatives to its use that do not have the deadly side effects of this pesticide."

Staff scientist Karl Tupper of PAN North America said, "With Bayer stepping out of the picture, this leaves just handful of generic manufactures selling this poison. We call on these companies to put health and the environment ahead of the meagre profits they earn pushing this antiquated pesticide, and stop their sales. It's the only responsible thing to do."

"Nine countries in West Africa have taken the resolution to ban the use of endosulfan in agriculture because of the serious effects observed on farmers and their families, and on the environment. It is necessary to continue to push for the total ban of this product around the world," indicated Dr. Abou Thiam, regional coordinator of Pesticide Action Network Africa.

At the international level, endosulfan is being scrutinized at the Rotterdam Convention for stricter regulation and at the Stockholm Convention for an international ban due to its adverse effects on human health and the environment. PAN will continue to work to ensure that endosulfan is included in the list of chemicals that are banned globally.

However, progress is obstructed by the Government of India, as Dr. Meriel Watts, Coordinator of PAN Aotearoa New Zealand observes: "In India, the Government itself manufactures endosulfan - it owns Hindustan Insecticides which manufactures endosulfan, and then the Indian Government acts in the international conventions to stop endosulfan's listing. It has members on both the Stockholm Convention's POPS Review Committee and the Rotterdam Convention's Chemical Review Committee." This is a "clear conflict of interest", she says, "a manufacturer is using its power to veto international agreements on a chemical."

"Chemicals like endosulfan that are toxic, bioaccumulative and so persistent that they contaminate our bodies, our babies and the environment have no place in agriculture. We are calling on all governments and industries that still use, manufacture or trade in endosulfan to follow Bayer's example and cease to profit from this toxic poison," said Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, Co-Chair IPEN.

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¹ Uniting Pesticide Action Network, Organic Exchange, eco retailer Adili.com, National Union of Students, Thanal, Fairtrade Alliance Kerala and Zameen Organic

Contacts:

Linda Craig
Director, Pesticide Action Network UK
Development House
56-64 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4LT
Tel: 020 7065 0905/Fax: +44 20 7065 0907 Direct tel: +44 20 7065 0910

Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith PhD (Law)
Co-Chair, International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN)
Senior Advisor, National Toxics Network Inc.
PO Box 173 Bangalow NSW 2479
+(612) 66815340 / 0413 621557
biomap@oztoxics.org

Notes to editors
1. Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is a network of over 600 participating nongovernmental organizations, institutions and individuals in over 90 countries working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives.
2. The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) is a global network of more than 700 public interest non-governmental organizations working together for the elimination of persistent organic pollutants, on an expedited yet socially equitable basis.

  Version: December 2009