***URGENT DIOXIN ALERT***
U.S. Government Bows to Chemical Industry; Will Propose
Plan But No Action in Global POPs Treaty
In just a few days, the U.S. and more than 100 governments will meet in Geneva, Switzerland to continue international negotiations toward a treaty meant to reduce or eliminate persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
POPs are a class of chemicals that includes highly toxic dioxins. These inadvertent by-products of waste incineration and other industrial processes have become common pollutants around the world. They have made headline news in Europe in recent months at the center of a food contamination scare, but are also a problem in the U.S.
In fact, most Americans now carry enough dioxins in their bodies to cause serious health problems, including cancer and immune system disruption.
The United States has an opportunity to take a leadership role in moving the world toward reducing and eventually eliminating man-made sources of toxic dioxins. But in a meeting with public interest groups in Washington last week, State Department negotiators did not demonstrate a willingness to take on that role. Under intense pressure from industry lobbying groups including the Chemical Manufacturers Association and the Chlorine Chemistry Council, the State Department is planning to propose that countries do no more than develop national action plans to monitor dioxin releases. While action plans are important and necessary, they are not a substitute for real action. Without bold steps to reduce dioxin emissions in all countries, we would be left with a treaty that makes no progress toward dioxin elimination!
There is still time to influence U.S. negotiators before they put their proposals on the table in Geneva. Representatives of environmental and public health groups from the U.S. and 30 other countries will be in Geneva, but what is really needed is pressure from concerned citizens at home.
You can play a role in Geneva without ever leaving home — here's how:
This Friday (September 3), send a fax to lead State Department negotiators at their hotel in Geneva. Tell them that an action plan without any action is no plan at all. If you like, use the attached sample letter — but be sure to personalize your message for greater impact, and include your full name and address. Your faxes sent on Friday from the States will be waiting for the head of the U.S. delegation, Brooks Yeager, when he arrives in Geneva over the weekend for negotiations that start on Monday morning. Just 100 faxes calling for real action to eliminate sources of dioxin will make a powerful statement at a key moment in the negotiations!
THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS HEARD THE VOICE OF INDUSTRY—NOW THEY MUST HEAR THE VOICES OF CONCERNED PHYSICIANS AND DIOXIN ACTIVISTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY! IF YOU DON'T WANT THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY TO WRITE THE FIRST GLOBAL TREATY ON DIOXIN, SEND YOUR FAXES ON SEPTEMBER 3!
IMPORTANT: Because of the Labor Day holiday, we're asking that you send your fax on or before Friday. Please make sure to note on your message that hotel staff should hold the fax for Mr. Yeager, who won't arrive until the weekend.
A sample fax follows, with all the information you need. Thank you in advance for your help!
**********
Urgent Fax
**********
To: Mr. Brooks Yeager (HOTEL STAFF - PLEASE HOLD FOR MR. YEAGER)
U.S. Department of State, c/o Intercontinental Hotel, Geneva, Switzerland
From:
Re: POPs Treaty/U.S. Position on Dioxin
Fax: 011 41 22 919 38 38
Date: September 3, 1999
Dear Mr. Yeager:
I am writing to express my concern about the U.S. position on dioxin and other by- product POPs in global negotiations on persistent organic pollutants (POPs). As you know, dioxin is a pollutant of particular concern around the world, including in the U.S., where 46 states have issued advisories against eating local fish because of dioxin contamination. The average American adult receives 300 to 500 times the daily "safe" dose of dioxin through diet, and breastfeeding infants receive 50 times that amount. Dioxin has been linked to serious health problems, including cancer, immune system disruption, and reproductive and developmental problems.
The United States has an opportunity to take a leadership role in moving the world toward reducing and eventually eliminating man-made sources of toxic dioxins. But your proposal that countries develop national action plans without reduction targets and timetables falls far short of this goal. As intergovernmental negotiations resume this week, please reconsider this proposal.
If it is to be effective, a global POPs treaty must require more than plans for action — it must require real action to eliminate sources of dioxin. The U.S. should propose treaty language that emphasizes pollution prevention and a gradual phaseout of dioxin-producing materials and technologies. Emission reductions should be required where possible, and as soon as feasible, with the ultimate aim of elimination.
Thank you for your attention to this very important public health issue.
Sincerely,
--
Karen Perry
Associate Director, Environment & Health Program
Physicians for Social Responsibility
1101 14th Street, NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005
(202) 898-0150 x249 (202) 898-0172 (fax)
For more on the global POPs treaty, visit: http://www.ipen.org