Voluntary Practice Declaration to Reduce
Disposable Plastic Bags Use in Korea
Korea Zero Waste Movement Network
In Korea, since 1999, major shopping malls and markets have been prohibited from providing disposable plastic bags for free. The companies and the government launched Voluntary Practice Declaration for companies that sell plastic bags so that customers reduce waste from unnecessary plastic bags.READ MORE>
New Map Shows Over 100 Communities Threatened
by Rubbish Burners
22 July, 2008 - Campaigners today launched a new map of planned rubbish-burning sites across the UK revealing that more than 100 communities are threatened by the prospect of a polluting incinerator in their back yard - and Ministers have pledged more than £2 billion for these initiatives despite cutting recycling budgets by 30 per cent.
The map, published by a network of anti-incineration campaigners, shows the whereabouts of planned incinerators that would each cost many millions of pounds, burn thousands of tonnes of valuable resources and emit huge quantities of greenhouse gases. READ MORE>
Vente De L'Incinerateur De Belledune:
Aveu D'Échec DE La Part De Bennett
le 7 juillet 2008, Baie-des-Chaleurs, Canada. - La vente de l'incinérateur de sol contaminé de Belledune par Bennett Environmental Inc. est un aveu d'échec de la part de la compagnie. La construction de l'installation a coûté tout près de 30 millions de dollars. Pourtant la compagnie ne pourra en tirer que 2,9 millions. C'est un échec commercial flagrant.
Quand, en plus, on sait que les tests de brûlage ont révélé des déficiences majeures que le ministre de l'Environnement, Roland Haché, s'est empressé d'accepter, cela démontre à quel point l'ensemble du projet a été mal mené du début à la fin, autant par les gouvernements conservateur et libéral que par la compagnie elle-même. READ MORE>
2,000 March Against Incinerator in San Sebastian
Lately, many steps are being taken in Gipuzkoa with regards to waste management. Currently there are two approaches to the issue. The one we defend in the Coordinator of Platforms against Incineration in Gipuzkoa, backed by the communities of San Marcos and Debagoinea, seeks to separately collect different waste streams (especially organic waste, which represents almost half of the waste) and follows European regulations. On the other hand, there is the incinerator that encourages unlimited consumerism and no awareness in society, and produces harmful effects to public health, society, environment and economy.
No Incineration. At least 2,000 people march in the streets of San Sebastian in the Basque Region to protest against the construction of an incinerator.
Waste Framework Directive: End of the Road
On Tuesday, June 17, 2008, the European
Parliament approved a weak, industry-friendly Waste Framework
Directive. This result was a disappointment to GAIA members,
environmentalists, and advocates for public health, who had
put up terrific resistance. For more information, <CLICK HERE>
New report: waste
is large contributor to climate change
Action in Manila,
Philippines
June 5, 2008: The
publication of a new report on United Nations World
Environment Day offers tangible solutions to climate
challenge. It documents that minimizing waste and increasing
recycling and composting in the United States have the
same climate protection impact as closing one-fifth of U.S.
coal-burning power plants. The report links trash to the use of energy
and greenhouse gas emissions, and calls for action to trigger
change within a short period. A zero waste approach based on preventing waste
and expanding reuse, recycling, and composting is one of the
fastest, cheapest, and most effective strategies to protect
the climate. <REPORT WEBSITE>
Hear the authors and others discuss the
report's findings. [2.4MB mp3
file]
Statement against the industrial landfill in Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico
In the framework of the new governmental policies that consider more important to privatize our natural resources, on behalf of the socalled economic development, harming people´s social and environmental development. We declare ourselves against the industrial waste dumpster that the government of the state of Sonora is stubbornly trying to build in the municipality of Pitiquito. We reject the dumpster for the following reasons:
Because it´s not a project promoted neither by the municipal government nor by the local community,but it is the government of the state who is once again trying to impose it´s will, not paying attention to the people´s opposition or the municipal legislation. <READ MORE>
Naples: Zero Waste, Zero Problems
We write to seek your urgent support to call for the implementation of a genuine ecological waste management system in Naples, Italy. The national network RETE NAZIONALE RIFIUTI ZERO (Italian Zero Waste Network) has been pushing for Zero Waste as an ecological alternative to dumping and burning and therefore urge the Italian government to immediately implement SOURCE SEGREGATION as an initial step towards Zero Waste. We encourage everyone to support our Italian colleagues by signing up this petition addressed to Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on or before January 19, 2008.
Civil Society Statement on Free Speech
and Zero Waste for Zero Warming
We, the signers of this statement, are outraged that environmental activists Gigie Cruz from the Philippines, Shibu Nair from India, and Neil Tangri from the U.S.A - representing the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives / Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA) - were unrightfully detained, interrogated and deported from Indonesia by authorities at the eve of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC). They were standing with local community groups in a peaceful assembly in Bandung against waste incineration, and for climate justice.
We are also appalled with the detention of Indonesian nationals Yuyun Ismawati of Balifokus and Roni Tabroni of the People's Alliance against the Waste-to-Energy Plant who spoke on waste incineration and the community concerns.
The global climate crisis-which studies show will put Indonesia under water without dramatic action-demands that the right to cross-border action and free speech be protected by international agencies such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It also demands that the UNFCCC take seriously the strong connection between waste and climate change, a message that Gigie, Shibu, Neil and the local activists were unjustly prevented from saying in person at the Bali climate change meetings.
No Incineration. At least 1,500 people wearing "Tolak PLTSa" (Against PLTSa) attend the community forum organized by the People’s Alliance against Waste-to-Energy plant at the Griya Cempaka Arum, Bandung, Indonesia last December 3, 2007 in conjuction with the Civil Society Forum climate justice campaign and the Global Day of Action Against Waste and Incineration. (Photo by Gigie Cruz/GAIA)
Citizens’ Groups Reject Dirty Waste Technologies, Call for “Zero Waste for Zero Warming”
28 November 2007.: Quezon City, Philippines; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Berkeley, USA; Brussels, Belgium. As the
international community faces up to the looming climate change, public interest groups from over 30 countries across the globe are pushing for “Zero Waste for Zero Warming” as an urgent solution to cut back and combat greenhouse gas emissions from dirty waste disposal technologies.
To mark the annual Global Day of Action against Waste and Incineration, now on its sixth year, environmental health and justice groups took action to raise citizens’ opposition over the reckless marketing and financing for landfills and incinerators, highlighting the fact that dirty technologies will not clear the atmosphere of climate changing emissions. Together, the groups called for global support for Zero Waste alternatives to dumps, landfills and incinerators.
<Visit the GDA 2007 Website>
What is the Story of Stuff?
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
On Wednesday, 21 November, the South African National
Parliamentary Committee, the Portfolio Committee on Environment
and Tourism will be having public hearings on South Africa's
first Waste Management Bill.NGO's and community people in South Africa have raised concern
through all available means in the run up to the public hearing
on the Waste Bill, for incineration to be banned as a waste
management option. However, the Department of Environment and
Tourism, which has been mandated to produce the Bill has rejected
this concern.
We thus urge all allies globally and within South Africa to
support our call for the incineration to be explicitly banned
within the Waste Bill.<Read more>
World Bank: Stop Funding Toxic Technologies
Please Keep Guam Incinerator Free!
As the Ordot Dump in Guam reaches its full capacity in less than a year, the Solid Waste Law Review Commission headed by Senator James Espaldon moves to amend Public Law 25-175, a legislation that bans municipal waste incinerators and Waste-to-Energy facilities to address Guam's current waste problem. Public Law 25-175 further mandates that no public funds should be used for incineration.
These recent developments raised concerns from some government representatives and other civil society groups like the Recycling Association of Guam since they believe that incineration will not address the problem. These groups advocate for waste prevention and implementation of recycling programs as genuine solutions to Guam's problem.
We write to ask you to sign the petition addressed to the Solid Waste Law Review Commission to stress our stand against end-of-pipe solutions such as landfills and incineration. Please sign-up.<Read more >
19 Ocotber, 2007, Manila, Philippines. GAIA joins a citizens' protest outside the World Bank's office in Manila
to mark the Week of Global Action against Debt and International Financial
Institutions (IFIs). (Photo by Rei Panaligan)
Urgent Action Required if Minister Gormley Serious About Moving Away From
Incineration
Press Release issued by CHASE (Cork Harbor Alliance for a Safe Environment), Ireland 16 October, 2007, Ireland. Todays decision by An Bord Pleanala to grant permission to Indaver Ireland
for a 50,000 tonne increase to their proposed Meath incinerator flies in the
face of government declarations that incineration is no longer the
cornerstone of Irish Waste Management Policy.Environment Minister John Gormley needs to take urgent action if he is
serious about moving away from incineration."We are very disappointed in this decision by An Bord Pleanala. Building
incinerators before alternatives will ensure that Irelands waste industry is
incinerator dominated.
Moving away from incineration is recommended by both the September 2006
Oireachtas Report on Waste, and Dr Dominic Hoggs report - Waste Policy
Planning and Regulation in Ireland. The Hogg Report states that a mix of
Mechanical Biological Treatments (MBT) is more suitable for Irelands needs,
more economically viable and with a shorter lead in time, which would allow
Ireland to meet 2010 deadlines for landfill diversion" said a CHASE
spokesperson. <Read more >
Global Movement Call Out for Sustainable Alternatives
to Waste Incineration
28 September 2007, Hondarribia, Spain/ Buenos Aires, Argentina/ Berkeley, CA, USA/ Manila, Philippines. “We don’t want
incineration, we know there’s a better way!” This message resounded in a
song from the voices of 130 people from 39 countries at a meeting last
week by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) in
Hondarribia, in the Basque region of Spain.
Participants gathered from around the world to challenge the toxic impact
of waste incineration and to call attention to the strong connection
between waste disposal, climate change and social injustice.
Speakers exposed the large amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are
released into the atmosphere and the energy that is wasted when materials
are incinerated rather than repaired, reused and recycled. Strong
opposition was expressed against national and international policies that
are falsely promoting incineration as a source of renewable energy.<Read more >
GAIA Coordinator for Spanish Speaking groups Cecilia Allen, and dedicated activists Pilar Barquinl and Kepa Olaiz from Ekologistak Martxan call for the implementation of Zero Waste and other front-end solutions over incineration to address garbage problem. Ekologistak Martxan hosted the 2007 GAIA Global Meeting in Hondarribia, Spain last September 15-18,2007. (Photo by Gigie Cruz)
