Take Action Now!

Dear Friends,
We write to ask you to sign on the petition addressed to Hon. Carl Guiterrez, Governor of Guam, USA regarding the planned incinerator project for municipal solid waste in the island. We will appreciate it if you can respond on or before 19 November 2001. Please note that you can sign on as a group or as an individual.

Background:

Guam's civil society groups are objecting to the incinerator project because it will produce dioxins and furans, which are linked to severe public health and environmental problems, place huge financial burdens on citizens and taxpayers, and undermine recycling efforts and other rational approaches to waste management. Incineration opponents also criticize the project for not going through the proper legal process. The decision of the Superior Court on 6 November 2001 declaring the controversial waste-to-energy incinerator contract as valid provides incineration promoters with a "legal" basis to burn Guam.

Petition:

Dear Gov. Gutierrez,

The ruling made by Judge Steven Unpingco of the Superior Court declaring as valid the controversial waste-to-energy incinerator contract of Guam Resource Recovery Partners (GRRP) is an affront to the global consensus to eliminate the most insidious and most damaging persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from our planet. As you know, the Stockholm Convention signed in May this year calls upon State Parties to work towards eradicating these harmful chemicals, several of which are known carcinogens, including dioxins and furans which are by-products of waste incineration. Municipal solid waste incineration is specifically cited as a problematic technology in the treaty, because it is one of the largest sources of dioxin releases in the world.

As people concerned with the deteriorating state of our environment, we call upon you to reconsider your support for the incineration plan and take decisive measures that will address Guam's waste problems in a manner that is non-wasting, non-burning, non-polluting and non-health threatening.

We urge your government to invest instead on Zero Waste strategies that aspire to maximize recycling and resource recovery, minimize waste generation and ensure that products are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into nature or the marketplace. There are many success stories worldwide attesting to the economic and environmental advantages of Zero Waste that Guam can learn and benefit from.

By choosing Zero Waste over waste incineration, you will conserve your natural resources, generate jobs for your constituents, prevent dioxins and furans from polluting the sky and the food supply and ensure that tourists will continue to come and enjoy your beautiful island.

Please keep Guam incinerator-free.

Sincerely yours,
..............


Reminder for organizational endorsers:

When you reply to the GAIA Secretariat, please do inform us who will be signing the petition on behalf of your organization. Please provide us with her/his full name and designation/position in your organization. 19 November 2001 is the deadline for your response.

Thank you very much for your solidarity.

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Manny C. Calonzo
GAIA Secretariat
Unit 320, Eagle Court Condominium
26 Matalino St., Barangay Central
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Tel. + 632 9290376
Tel/Fax: +632 4364733