Southeast Asia is a region of immense natural wealth. Its
magnificent biodiversity, mineral-rich lands, resplendent nature
spots and diverse cultures offer strong incentives for a broad
spectrum of economic activity. However, this mindless surge in
industrial development has assaulted entire ecosystems, spewing
poisons that now threaten the survival of its peoples.
Pollution
from industrial activity has reached alarming proportions in the
last three decades throughout the region in both urban and rural
areas. Toxic chemicals now taint its air, water and food sources,
putting at risk communities and workers exposed to these
substances.
Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila are some of
the most polluted cities in the world. Environmental quality in
these cities and elsewhere in the region are expected to worsen if
current patterns of economic development, including trade, persist.
A perception survey commissioned by Greenpeace in the region in
2004 identified air and water pollution as the topmost
environmental issues that Southeast Asians are most concerned
about.
The Greenpeace
Toxics Campaign has successfully secured international policies
that would eliminate or control production, use, recycling,
disposal and trade of some of the nastiest chemicals especially in
developed countries. Unfortunately, the victories in these
countries has also resulted in the migration of these toxic
technologies and products to Southeast Asia where environmental
regulations are lax or absent.
In the region, the Toxics Campaign aims to protect both the
environment and public health by eliminating threats posed by toxic
substances in industrial and agricultural processes. Concretely,
Greenpeace SEA engages companies and governments to push for a
clean production policy. This means, companies must redesign
products and production systems to exclude toxics, seek cleaner
substitutes and take individual responsibility for their products
for the entirety of its life cycle.
Greenpeace SEA is fighting for the enforcement of the ban on
waste trade put forth by the Basel
Convention. Greenpeace SEA is continually monitoring the
movement of hazardous and toxic materials to the region, (which are
sometimes disguised as legitimate recycling). Bilateral trade
agreements are posing a constant challenge to the Convention as
some of these agreements allow waste dumping. Greenpeace SEA is
working to prevent the region from becoming a garbage colony for
toxic waste and dirty technologies rejected by the developed
world.