Philippine artists dramatize the dangers of pollutants from incineration.
Greenpeace and 126 community groups spanning 54 countries
demanded governments end waste incineration, and adopt recycling
instead. This global day of action was spearheaded by Greenpeace
and GAIA, the Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance. Demonstrations
swept across the globe, from Asia to Africa, Europe, North America
and Latin America.
"Incinerators are multi-billion dollar pollutors and waste the
planet's valuable resources," said Greenpeace toxics campaigner,
Veronica Odriozola.
In New Zealand, protestors climbed and capped the stack of that
nation's biggest incinerator. In Ankara, Turkey, climbers on ropes
descended the 127-metre Atakule tower and hung a giant banner
reading "Ban the Burn." In Basingstoke, UK and in Bilbao, Spain,
protestors stopped construction at the sites of two new municipal
waste incinerators. In Chile activists blocked the entrance of an
incineration plant, and in the Philippines actors demonstrated the
toxic effects of pollutants.
The day of action took place as leaders met in Geneva for the
first time since agreeing persistent poisons must be eliminated
under the Stockholm Convention. Despite the agreement to ban the
poisons, many governments are still promoting industries that
release them into the environment.
"To continue promoting incineration while agreeing to eliminate
persistent organic pollutants is sheer hypocrisy," said
Odriozola.
The Treaty identifies all waste incinerators as a primary source
of PCBs, furans and cancer causing dioxins, the most harmful
chemicals known to science. It obligates governments to give
priority to alternative ways to manage wastes.
Chemicals released from incinerators cause a variety of health
problems, including immune and reproductive system defects,
spontaneous abortions, respiratory diseases, diabetes, hormone
disruption and cancers. Some fish caught in European Union waters
are so contaminated with dioxins they have been declared unfit for
human consumption.