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Embargo until 1st Sept
August
31, 2004
WORLD UNITES AGAINST
INCINERATION ON GAIA DAY
CHASE to Support
VOICE Protest in Dublin on
Saturday
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More than 100 groups from 39 countries across the world
have united to launch the 3rd Global Day of Action (Sept
1st 2004) against unsustainable and dangerous waste disposal systems
citing the increasing health impacts of polluting waste disposal practices which
affect mainly children throughout the world.
Coordinated by the Global Alliance for Incinerator
Alternatives (GAIA)*, this year’s protest highlights recent evidence from the
World Health Organization which indicates that more than 3 million children
under the age of five are dying each year because of polluted air and water and
exposure to other environmental hazards.
“Incineration is a problem for communities across the
world. We in Ireland still have time
not to get stuck in the incinerator trap. The time is right for the Irish
government to drop incineration from their waste policy, and use viable safe
alternatives together with intensive waste prevention and recycling instead,”
said a CHASE spokesperson.
“To be really blunt about it, the worsening levels of
pollution worldwide are killing children. Governments are failing to protect
children and the human population at large from harmful chemical assaults
resulting from unsustainable and irresponsible practices such as incineration,”
according to Von Hernandez, Co-Coordinator, GAIA.
Incinerators are linked to serious environmental health
threats. Incineration
Ø Is responsible for 69
percent of global emissions of the notorious pollutant dioxin
which
Ø Is linked to cancer,
immune and reproductive system disorders, birth defects, and other health
threats.
Ø Incineration is also a
primary source of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, which builds up in the
environment - especially aquatic ecosystems- and affects the brain, spinal cord,
kidneys and liver.
Ø It is especially harmful
to pregnant women and children.
Ø Incinerators perpetuate
wasteful and unsustainable production and consumption systems and destroy
resources
To mark GAIA Day, CHASE will be participating in
Saturday’s VOICE-organized demonstration, which will see communities from across
Ireland united. The
demonstration will take place in Dublin on
Saturday, which will gather at the Garden of
Remembrance in Parnell
Square at 12.30pm.
*GAIA is an
international coalition across 75 countries of community-based organizations,
research and policy advocacy institutions, citizen pressure groups and other
nonprofit organizations and individuals working together to promote clean
production, zero waste and sustainable discard management systems.
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For further information
contact:
Linda FitzPatrick, CHASE
PRO Tel: 021 4374506 Mobile: 087
7410849
Mary O’Leary, Chairperson, CHASE Tel:
021 4811952 Mobile: 086
8177737
Will St Ledger, VOICE, Tel: 087 7426821
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