EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Three, Number Four March/April 1994 CALL TO ACTION: ACT NOW TO STOP POISONING OUR HOME PLANET URGE USA TO END THE GLOBAL TOXIC WASTE TRADE The heavily industrialized countries of the North produce huge quantities of toxic waste, ranging from dioxins to PCBs to mercury wastes. Instead of investing in clean production methods at home, we have found hiding places for our unwanted poisons. Toxic dumping into the oceans was finally banned last year. Now the global dumping grounds are territories of developing countries or Eastern Europe. In 1989 an international treaty to control the waste trade was signed in Basel Switzerland (the Basel convention). But this has many loopholes and the trade continues to flourish. Another chance to ban toxic dumping will be the Conference of the Parties, meeting March 21-25 in Geneva . Only seven countries oppose a full global ban: Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States (labeled by Greepeace "the Sinister Seven"). Now is the time to stand in solidarity with the overwhelming majority of nations and to support a full, permanent ban on toxic waste trade. Write to Warren Christopher, Secretary of State, 2201 C St. NW, Washington DC 20502, (202) 647-5291. URGE CONGRESS TO HELP US STOP POISONING OUR OWN WATER SUPPLIES In 1972 congress overrode President Nixon's veto to pass the Clean Water Act, and began the task of cleaning up decades of industrial pollution, improving the treatment of urban sewage and stop the runoff of chemical wastes and silt from farming, logging and mining industries. After 20 years there has been some reduction in toxic industrial pollution, but urban and agricultural runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) continues to degrade "more than 125,000 miles of rivers, nearly 2 million acres of lakes, about 1.2 million acres of coastal water, and some 5,000 square miles of estuaries", according to a National Resources Defense Council study. Pollutants include sediment, nutrients, fecal bacteria, oxygen-demanding substances, and toxic chemicals. The Senate and House versions of the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Act are in their respective committees. There is increased emphasis on preventing nonpoint source pollution, which will place additional burdens on small farmers. Currently the bills require states to adopt nonpont source management plans, to provide incentives and education for farmers, and penalties for polluters. Now is the time to write your own Congresspersons and Senators in support of a strong Clean Water Act. Home     Table of Contents