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Global
Day of Action
Against Waste Incineration,
17
June 2002
ACTIVITIES
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africa
· asia
and the pacific
· europe·
north
america ·
south
america
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| AFRICA
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South
Africa. groundWork
will issue a press release to mark the Global Day
of Action. (Linda Ambler, )
South
Africa. The
Habitat Council/Anti-Incinerator Alliance in Cape
Town will send letters to newspaper editors. (Marie
Lou-Roux, )
South
Africa. The
Toxics Waste Group of Earthlife Africa in Johannesburg
will prepare a media release. (Muna Lakhani,)
Zimbabwe.
A seminar will be held in Victoria Falls on the theme
“Anti-Incineration: Finding Safer Alternatives
for the Community” to stir interest and action
to discourage the use of incineration, particularly
for medical waste. Victoria Falls, a popular tourism
town, has three incinerators for treating medical
waste. (Busani Bafana, )
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ASIA and the PACIFIC
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| SOUTH
ASIA <back> |
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| Bangladesh.
Waste Concern will write
letters to the editors of national newspapers and distribute
fact sheets on waste and incineration. (Maqsood Sinha,
)
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| India. |
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“fire
in the garbage,
Run,
Run, Run.
douse
the flames
to have Fun,
Fun, Fun”
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An
evening of music, puppet show, street play and more
will be held on 17 June 2002 at Dilli Haat, in New Delhi.
The activity is organized by Srishti, Toxics Link, Karam
Marg, Youth Reach, Care Plus, Action India and GAIA.
Toxics Link has also launched a petition drive addressed
to Environment and Forests Min. T. R. Balu on the occasion
of the POPs International Day of Action (23 May 2002)
and the Global Day of Action against Waste Incineration
(17 June 2002). Over 40 groups from India and 16 other
countries have signed the petition.
(Madhumita Dutta, )
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India.
The
South Chennai branch of Exnora International and the
Lions Club of Madras will sponsor a competition entitled
“Best Zero Garbage Initiative 2002” with technical
assistance from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board;
winning entries will be announced in a public function
to mark the Global Day of Action.
(T. M. Ramkumar, )
India.
Thanal
Conservation Action and Information Network and Greenpeace
India, in cooperation with local community groups,
will hold a program to further promote the Zero Waste
project in Kovalam, a beach town in the southern Indian
state of Kerala. Activities include the inauguration
of a Zero Waste resource center, planting of bamboo
trees for watershed management, kite flying with Zero
Waste message from discarded materials, banner hanging
and people’s clean-up of the beach town. (Jayakumar
C., ,
Manu Gopalan, )
India.
The
Environment Protection Committee (PSS) based in Gujarat
will issue a press release on Global Day of Action.
(Michael Mazgaonkar,)
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| Nepal.
The
Forum for the Protection of Public Interest (Pro Public)
in cooperation with the Coalition for a Clean Environment
will convene an interaction meeting on waste incineration
issues and concerns targeting various stakeholders.
Pro Public has published a 4-page fact sheet on waste
incineration for distribution to participants and members
of the press. (Ram Charitra Sah, ) |
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| EAST
ASIA <back> |
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| Japan.
Greenpeace
Japan, the People’s Association on Counter Measures
against Dioxin and Endocrine Disruptors, the Stop Dioxin
Pollution Kanto Network and the Japan POPs Elimination
Network are organizing a forum in Tokyo on waste and
incineration. (Kawana Hideyuki, )
Japan.
Greenpeace
Japan will deliver a petition from Asian citizens’
groups to top incinerator makers in Japan, urging
them to stop exporting polluting waste disposal technology
to neighboring nations. For details, please see GP
Japan’s cyberalert at http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/campaign/toxics/incineration/action/index_en_html
(Junichi Sato, )
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| Korea.
The
Korea Waste Movement Network, which brings together
270 member groups, will hold a forum to debate the partial
revision of a waste disposal law in order to strengthen
community participation in the monitoring and surveillance
of all incinerator plants, to safeguard public health
and safety. The “Promotion of Waste Treatment Facilities
and Local Community Act,” passed in 1995 to cope
with the public opposition against the construction
of incineration plants, created the “Resident Support
Fund” and the “Council for Resident Support,”
but only for residents living within 300 meters of incinerator
plants. (Suyong Hol, ) |
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| Taiwan.
The
Taiwan Watch Institute, Green Formosa Front and the
Green Citizens’ Action Alliance have embarked on
a national signature campaign to block government funding
of waste incinerators. This will culminate with a press
conference on 17 June 2002 to urge the government to
reject incineration and shift to zero waste and clean
production. (Herlin Hsieh, ) |
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| SOUTHEAST
ASIA <back> |
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| Malaysia.
The
Consumers’ Association of Penang will highlight
incineration issues as well as Zero Waste in the local
press. (Mageswari Sangaralingam, ) |
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| Philippines.
Greenpeace
Southeast Asia, in cooperation with the Philippine Educational
Theater Association and other groups, will organize
a protest “artion” (art-action) at the Department
of Health to dramatize the toxic threat from medical
waste incinerators. Simultaneous with this, NGO representatives
will meet the Health Secretary to deliver a petition
signed by 138 groups from the Philippines and 42 other
countries, urging the government to implement the closure
of existing medical waste incinerators by 2003 and cease
from proposing any extension of the phase out period.
Caritas Manila, Greenpeace Southeast Asia/International,
Health Care Without Harm, National Secretariat for Social
Action and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
initiated the petition. |
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Prior
to the Global Day of Action, on 14 June 2002, Greenpeace
Southeast Asia/International will release the test results
of ash taken from four Austrian-made medical waste incinerators
in the Philippines.
(Francis de la Cruz,
)
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Philippines.
Bangon
Kalikasan will prepare an article on the Global Day
of Action for possible publication on 15 June 2002
at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the country’s
number one newspaper. The Global Day of Action will
also be one of the topics for discussion in the radio
program of Bangon Kalikasan, also on 15 June. (Annette
and Joey Papa, )
Philippines.
The
Cavite Green Coalition, which is comprised of 19 groups
from Cavite province in the Philippines, is organizing
a public information drive on waste and incineration,
including ecological solid waste management. The Cavite
Greens will hand out leaflets in selected town centers.
(Robert Mina, )
Thailand.
Greenpeace
Southeast Asia will hold a symbolic action on 17 June
to denounce the proposal to set up a huge municipal
waste-to-energy incinerator in Bangkok. With "Stop
Cancer Factory" as their rallying theme, Greenpeace
activists will ask the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority
(BMA) Council to reject the plan to secure a loan package
from an international funding agency, most probably
from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, for
the said incinerator project. On 19 June, Greenpeace
will meet with the Advisory Council of the National
Social and Economic Development Board of Thailand to
discuss alternative waste management policy and implementation,
including progressive Zero Waste stratgegy. (Tara Buakamsri,
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| PACIFIC
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| Guam/USA.
The
Recycling Association of Guam will send letters to the
editors of major dailies. (Paul Tobiason,) |
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| CENTRAL
AND EASTERN EUROPE <back> |
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| Armenia.
The
Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE)
will distribute fact sheets on incineration and hand
out the booklet “Do Not Burn Garbage at the Backyard,”
with assistance from Peace Corps volunteers. Petitions
will be sent to the authorities, i.e., Department of
the Environment and the Pollution Control Board. AWHHE
staff will also inform the media about the Global Day
of Action. (Elena Manvelian,) |
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| Belarus.
The
Foundation for the Realization of Ideas is organizing
an environmental photo-exhibition and disseminating
a brochure on persistent organic pollutants (POPs),
including problems associated with incineration and
other sources of POPs. The Foundation will issue a press
statement and organize a press conference as well. (Eugeniy
Lobanov, ) |
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| Czech
Republic. The
Health Care Without Harm – Europe is planning a
mailing of the HCWH report " Non-Incineration Medical
Waste Treatment Technologies" to NGOs in the region
that are campaigning against the burning of medical
waste. HCWH is also considering sending letters to certain
governments and to European Commissioners. (Cesta Hrdinka,) |
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| Georgia.
Members
of the Eco-Academy and Eco-Library of Batumi will hold
a beach cleaning action on 16-17 June 2002. Collected
waste will be sorted and analyzed and a position paper
developed for submission to the Ministry of Environment
of Ajaria. Green Alternative and the Batumi Eco-academy
will also prepare and publish 1000 copies of the leaflet
“Take Care the Earth, Don’t Litter Our Environment.”
Also, members of the Green Alternative and Black Sea
Eco-Academy will hire a minibus and distribute leaflets
to promote the “Clean City – Clean Beach”
message. (Nino Gujaraidze, )
Georgia.
The
Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth will
organize a round table discussion on the state policy
on urban waste management. (Lela Kiknadze, Sophia
Sakhanberidze,)
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| Poland.
The
Waste Prevention Association “3R” will translate
the Global Day of Action press release and send it to
major media. Information was forwarded to some Polish
NGOs asking them to organize local actions. (Pawel Gluszynski,
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| Romania.
The
Life Foundation will issue a press release about the
Global Day of Action. Letters, with translated materials
on alternatives to medical waste incineration, will
also be sent to the Ministry of Environment, Ministry
of Health and to the Ministry of Industry. (Monica Koszta,
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| Slovak
Republic. The
Dubnica Environmental Skupina (DES) is conducting a
“polluter pays” petition drive and issuing
a press release on the Global Day of Action. (Marek
Kurinec, )
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| Slovenia.
The
Citizens’ Anti-Toxic Action (DEA Klub) is set to
inaugurate the Slovenian anti-incineration coalition
of civil society groups and NGOs that will propose to
the government to integrate Zero Waste into the national
strategy for development. On 17 June, DEA members will
organize an information campaign in Presernov trg (Ljubljana’s
main square) and in Kidricevo (site of a proposed municipal
waste incinerator). At Presernov trg, there will be
musicians on stilts, giant puppets and rollers in trash
costumes (with Eko-Akacija) to help in propagating the
message. (Maja Bavdaz Solce, ) |
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| WESTERN
EUROPE <back> |
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| France.
The
Mouvement pour les Droits et le Respect des Générations
Futures (MDRGF) will lobby the new members of the Parliament
who will be elected on 16 June 2002. Letters explaining
the hazards of waste incineration and the urgency to
shift to sustainable non-burn alternatives will be sent
to the lawmakers on the Global Day of Action. The MDRGF
will work with the press to draw attention to waste
and incineration. (Francois Veillerette, ) |
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| Germany.
BN
(an environment protection alliance) and BJ (its youth
arm) will stage a protest at the Ansbach county court
in conjunction with an eviction case filed by the AEV
(a community waste disposal association) against TAE
(the local Thermoselect company). Campaigners to issue
a press statement after the court ruling is made. Party
will follow if the court decision is favorable to the
plaintiff. (Hannes Huttinger, Ingo Godeke, )
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| Ireland.
CHASE – Cork
Harbour Area for a Safe Environment – is organizing
a “PICNIC on the PROM” on 16 June 2002 (also
Fathers’ Day) on Cobh’s famous promenade.
The event will highlight the dangers posed to the Cork
population by the proposed hazardous waste incinerator,
for which Indaver Irl. Ltd. has an application for planning
permission lodged before Cork County Council. The Cobh
Confraternity Band will provide entertainment and families
can partake in an escorted historical walking tour of
Cobh to be led by Mick Martin, who is renowned for his
in-depth knowledge of Cobh’s heritage. The press,
public representatives and invited guests will be treated
to an early afternoon cruise of Cork Harbour and waterside
view of the proposed site, prior to the opening ceremony
to be presided over by Cobh’s Mayor Mr. John Mulvihill.
(Ann Kirwan, )
Ireland.
The
Irish Doctors Environmental Association (IDEA) will
write letters for publication in both medical and
national press. (Elizabeth Cullen, )
Ireland.
The
Galway for a Safe Environment (GSE) is launching a
campaign entitled "Incineration and Food, The
Deadly Connection - Where Does Your Food Come From?"
The GSE will present a map of Europe with the locations
of all municipal solid waste incinerators identified.
(Aine Suttle, )
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| Norway.
To
encourage the people of Oslo to sort waste and recycle
more, the Friends of the Earth is organizing a competition
on waste separation with local politicians as the contestants.
The event, which will be covered by the press, will
demonstrate that segregation of waste is easy and fun.
At present, the community invests vast amount of money
on technology to reduce emissions to meet the new European
Union standards, instead of using funds to support effective
separation schemes and recycling. (Christine Hvitsand,
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| UK.
Friends
of the Earth Essex is staging on 17 June 2002 at Chelmsford’s
County Hall the “Mad Hatter’s Trial”
– a spoof Alice in Wonderland midsummer pantomime
“Who Will Save the Tarts.“ The “Trial”
is a protest at the county council's continuing refusal
to start processes necessary to change the wording of
W7G, the policy in the Waste Plan which permits incinerators
to be built at six sites in Essex. On 18 June 2002,
a parliamentary meeting on “Beyond Recycling –
Towards Zero Waste” by 2020 will be held in Westminster,
with support from Greenpeace UK, Friends of the Earth
UK, SERA, Communities Against Toxics, and the UK Zero
Waste Alliance. A rally of anti-incineration campaigners
will follow at the College Green. Moses will launch
the Zero Waste Charter and Ten Commandments. The Essex
Incinerator and Recycling dragons will battle it out.
The new successful electric recycling vehicles already
used in three London Boroughs will be featured. No Incinerators
For Europe (NIFE) is supporting the activities. (Paula
Whitney, Rob Hill, )
UK.
Zero
Waste Fingal, an affiliate of the No Incinerator in
Lusk (NIL), is planning a Teddy Bears Picnic on 16
June 2002 - on the premise that the Fingal Teddy Bears
are moving out because would not live next to incinerators.
(Tim Kirby, )
UK.
The
Sandwich Action Group for the Environment (SAGE) will
hold a local demonstration at the headquarters of
the regional government of Maidstone to oppose continued
development of incineration in the county. (Phil Scott,
)
UK.
In
Derby, Friends of the Earth, the “Swerve the
SWERF – It’s Bad for the Earth” and
other groups will take part in the Global Day of Action.
They will promote Zero Waste, which calls upon the
authorities to put in place kerbside collections,
intensive composting and recycling, instead of dangerous
treatment of waste. (Dorothy Skrytek, )
UK.
Residents
against Bernard Road Incinerator Dust (RABID) will
organize a candle light meeting in Sheffield, UK.
They plan to take a large model of an incinerator
to the town hall and set alight candles, representing
children who have died as a result of incinerator
pollution.
UK.
In
Surrey, a protest meeting at the gates of a proposed
municipal solid waste incineration will be held.
UK.
After
campaigning for 18 months for a Zero Waste solution,
the London Against Incineration (LAI) and local residents
will take to the streets in protest on 17 June. Some
residents will launch the new "London Taste"
initiative presenting the "Fly Ash Burger"
(using ingredients known as the most poisonous substances
known to mankind). Others will stage a "Die In,"
showing that incinerator means death. Participants
will talk to residents about the dangers of living
in Edmonton. The protest action will start at the
local school, Raynham Terrace, with a talk among parents
about the effects of incineration. "Dead bodies"
will then be laid at the Angel corner. "No Incineration"
banners will be put across the North Circular. (Susan
Findlay, )
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| NORTH
AMERICA <back> |
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| Canada.
In British Columbia, the East Kootenay Environmental
Society – Creston Valley Branch plans to deliver
a total of 1,800 signatures against the building of
an incinerator in Bonners Ferry Idaho to the Kootenay
Tribe of Idaho and copies to US and Canadian relevant
agencies. American and Canadian taxpayers who are saying
NO to the construction of an incinerator on Indian land,
which is sovereign in Idaho State and which would preclude
further implementation of Zero Waste, signed the petition.
Along with their petition, the group plans to provide
a copy of the video documentary "Zero Waste: Idealistic
Dream or Realistic Goal" to the tribal council.
Canada.
On
Sunday, 16 June 2002, convoys of vehicles will take
the Trans Canada Highway as a show of force against
the Bennett hazardous waste incinerator proposal in
Kirkland Lake. The Public Concern Temiskaming is organizing
the unprecedented protest. Northern residents are
worried that the Ministry of Environment is attempting
to turn the Temiskaming region into a toxic dumping
and burning ground for US and Mexican waste. If the
Bennett project and the proposed expansion of Trans
Cycle Industries get the go ahead - it would mean
Ontario highways would be faced with nearly half a
million tonnes of toxic waste being shipped along
the roads every year to be burned in a residential
neighbourhood in Kirkland Lake. The procession of
cars will culminate in a rally and picnic in Earlton
featuring speakers from both Quebec and Ontario, as
well as Native drummers from the affected First Nations.
(pct@ntl.sympatico.ca)
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| Mexico.
The
Centro de Derecho Ambiental e Integracion Economica
del Sur (DASSUR) will organize a bike tour in Xalapa,
Veracruz that will finish in front of a government building
where participants will unfurl an anti-incinerator banner.
(Claudio Torres, dassur@prodigy.net.mx)
Mexico.
Greenpeace
Mexico will have an exposition on waste and incineration
for three days in three different strategic places.
The event will inform the public about the issues
and developments on incineration in Mexico and internationally,
and ask citizens to join the anti-incineration movement
by sending letters to the authorities. (Mariana Boy
Tamborell, mariana.boy.tamborell@mx.greenpeace.org)
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| USA.
Dioxin
elimination activists in the northern New York State
will protest against the dioxin poisoning of the fish
of St. Lawrence River. Led by the Cancer Action NY and
the St. Lawrence River Valley /Adirondac Greens, citizens
will converge at the Wilson Hill US Wildlife Refuge
in Massena, New York and demand for the immediate release
of the US EPA's dioxin reassessment, the banning of
open waste burning statewide and the end of incineration
of waste in New York State and the neighboring province
of Ontario. (Donald Hassig, canceraction@hotmail.com)
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USA.
Essential
Action is launching an e-mail/postcard campaign to
the US Congress to prevent legislators from classifying
waste incineration as “renewable energy source”
under the Energy Bill. Categorizing municipal solid
waste incinerators as renewable energy would be a
huge boon for the incineration industry, erasing the
tremendous steps taken against waste burners during
the last decade in the country. (Monica Wilson, mwilson@essential.org)
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USA.
In
Rochester, New York, members of the Citizens’
Environmental Coalition will deliver a few thousand
postcards to Eastman Kodak, one of the biggest corporate
polluters in the world, calling upon the company to
make a commitment to phase out their hazardous waste
incinerators. Similar events targeting Kodak are being
planned in Albany and the whole of New York State,
e.g., handing out flyers in front of shops selling
Kodak films. (Mike Schade, cecwny@buffnet.net)
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| USA.
Along
with the members of the East Kootenay Environmental
Society in British Columbia, the Boundary County Concerned
Citizens in northern Idaho are sending petition signatures
to the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and to the local government
to demonstrate a majority commitment against incineration
in this area. The group will also have an article in
the local newspaper about the Global Day of Action.
(Linda Langness, langness@coldreams.com) |
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| USA.
Members
of the Coalition Against the Incinerator in Pennsylvania
will "celebrate" the Global Day of Action
by attending a public meeting on a permit to rebuild
the Harrisburg incinerator, which the people are trying
to close down. (Wendi Taylor, ) |
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| SOUTH
AMERICA <back> |
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| Argentina.
Greenpeace
Argentina will send letters to government officials
asking for a phase out of incinerators in the country
and will conduct press work around the date. (Veronica
Odriozola, vodriozo@ar.greenpeace.org) |
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| Brazil.
Members
of the Associacao de Combate aos POPs/Associacao de
Consciencia a Prevencao Ocupacional (ACPO) will conduct
an information drive on waste and incineration. An ACPO
bulletin will be distributed widely among journalists
and ACPO’s network partners. Resources permitting,
copies of the bulletin will be disseminated in Sao Paolo,
heartland of the industries. (Jeffer Castelo Branco,
jeffer@acpo.org.br). |
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Uruguay.
Red
de Ecologica Social Amigos de la Tierra/Friends of the
Earth llevando a cabo una campaña permanente
en nuestro territorio contra los hornos incineradores
de residuos hospitalarios a partir de lo cual no se
pudieron abrir tres plantas en areas rurales del Depto.
Montevideo, Capital del Uruguay, 1) en el Dpto. de San
José, 1) en el Dpto. de Flores y se cerraron
2, 1) en el Dpto de Paysandú y 1) en el Dpto.
de Salto. (Nora Briozzo, )
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