And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: My apologies if this is a duplication.. >X-Authentication-Warning: garcia.efn.org: isco owned process doing -bs >Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 21:46:46 -0700 (PDT) >From: Indigenous Support Coalition of Oregon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], Local Activists List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: UN Dioxin POPs Urgency (Fax by Friday)- Corrected Version > >This is really important! Send your messages now and through Friday! >Dioxin POPs are one of the most toxic substances, they need global >regulation. Please do it for the health of future generations! >Beth, ISCO > > >Forwarded Message-- >Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 00:05:54 -0500 >From: Indigenous Environmental Network <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >/snip long list/ >Subject: UN Dioxin POPs Urgency > >INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK URGENT ALERT! > >U.S. Department of State Bows to Chemical Industry; Will Propose >Plan But No Action in Global POPs Treaty > >U.S. Department of State Fails to Fulfill Secretary of State Madeleine K. >Albright's Committment on July 14, 1999 to Consult American Indians and >Alaska Natives in the Shaping of Foreign Policy When It Affects Treaty >Rights, Health and Resources of Indigenous Peoples. > >Send an Urgent Fax to U.S. Secretary Madeleine K. Albright before Friday, >September 3rd! > >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). >Indigenous Peoples from throughout the world including North America >Indigenous delegates will be participating along with over 50 other >non-governmental organizations (NGO's). > >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. > >This is an issue that disproportionately affects Indigenous Peoples of the >U.S., especially those tribes that still maintain subsistence culture. >High levels of dioxin poisoning have been found in fish populations in the >traditional territories of the Yakama (Northwest), Penobscots (Maine), and >many tribes within the Great Lakes water basin region and villages in >Alaska. Indigenous Peoples already have weakened immune systems from >diabetes and alcoholism causing more concern for greater health risks. The >United States nor any of its federal agencies have never consulted the >tribes and villages of the U.S. on it's policy position concerning dioxins >and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs). > >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 Department of State briefing last week, the U.S. >delegation on POPs put forward its proposal for treaty language going into >negotiations in Geneva next week. As outlined, the U.S. position on dioxin >(or more generally, the by-product POPs) is extremely weak. Under intense >pressure from industry lobbying groups including the Chemical Manufacturers >Association and the Chlorine Chemistry Council, the U.S. State Department >plans to propose removing existing language from the draft treaty, and >replacing it with language that would require countries ONLY to develop >action plans for dioxin and other by-products. While action plans are >important and necessary, they are not a substitute for real action. There >would be NO obligation to actually implement these action plan strategies >or to achieve any emission reductions. Without bold steps to reduce dioxin >emissions in all countries, we would be left with a treaty that takes no >action at all on dioxin! > >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. Representatives with the Indigenous Environmental Network will be >there. But what is really needed is pressure from concerned citizens and >tribes at home. > >Call, fax or e-mail a letter to Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright >before the close of business, Friday, September 3, 1999. Send a copy of >the letter via fax to the lead Department of State negotiator, Brookes >Yaeger, at his hotel in Geneva. The fax number of his hotel in Geneva is >listed below. 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 letter, e-mail or faxes sent this week from the States will >be waiting for the head of the U.S. delegation, Brookes 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 UNITED STATES - DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS HEARD THE VOICE OF INDUSTRY-NOW >THEY MUST HEAR THE VOICES OF CONCERNED TRIBES, NATIVE ORGANIZATIONS, TRIBAL >CITIZENS AND HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY! WE >DON'T WANT THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY TO WRITE THE FIRST GLOBAL TREATY ON >DIOXIN. MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT MUST RESPECT HER COMMITTMENT TO CONSULT WITH >INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE U.S. AND FOR HER STATEMENT FOR INCREASED >RECOGNITION AND RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AFFECTED BY MAINSTREAM FOREIGN >POLICY ISSUES (statement made July 14, 1999 to U.S. Tribal Leaders, find >at: <http://secretary.state.gov/www/statements/1999/990714.html> > >SEND YOUR FAXES, LETTERS OR EMAIL ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 3RD! > > >IMPORTANT: Because of Labor Day holiday, we're asking you send faxes on or >before this Friday. > >For more information on the issues of POPs, dioxin, and the UN Treaty >Meeting on POPs: > >http://irtc.unep.ch/pops >www.psr.org/IPEN-Homepage.htm >www.essential.org/cchw/campaign/campaign.html >www.epa.gov/nceawww/dioxin.htm >www.greenpeace.org/toxics.html >www.worldwildlife.org/toxics >www.alphacdc.com/ien > > > > > >THIS IS THE SAMPLE FAX -----> (you could re-format to your need, e-mail it, >or snailmail) > >FAX > >To: Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State Fax: (202) 647-7120 >cc: Brooks Yeager, U.S. Department of State, > c/o Intercontinental Hotel, Geneva, Switzerland > Fax: 011 41 22 919 38 38 > Trigg Talley, U.S. Department of State, Ofc of Environmental Policy > Fax: (202) 647-5947 > >From: [ENTER YOUR NAME, ORGANIZATION OR TRIBE HERE] > >Re: POPs Treaty/U.S. Position on Dioxin > >Date: September 3, 1999 > > >Dear Secretary of State, Madeleine K. Albright: > > On July 14, 1999, you established rapport with American Indian and Alaska >Native leaders by making a commitment to Indigenous Peoples as summarized >in your quote, "As Secretary of State, my commitment is to ensure that this >Department consults and works in good faith with you, just as I know you >want to do with us. Because my mission is a foreign policy for America >that reflects the aspirations of all the peoples in our midst." > > I am writing to express my concern about the proposed U.S. position on >dioxin and other by-product POPs in international negotiations taking place >next week in Geneva toward a treaty on reducing or eliminating persistent >organic pollutants (POPs). This is the third treaty making session of the >United Nations Environmental Programme's International Negotiating >Committee (INC3) scheduled for September 6-11, 1999. 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. > > I am concerned about the elevated impact and greater health risk that >dioxin contamination has upon our American Indian/Alaska Native population. >Those tribes that still maintain subsistence and land-based culture are in >great danger if action isn't taken that either reduces or totally >eliminates dioxin emissions. Dioxin and other by products of POPs impacts >almost all tribes that hunt, fish, gather, and that maintain livestock and >agricultural practices. It is unfortunate the U.S. Department of State >didn't consult with tribal leaders on this important issue that concerns >the healthy future of tribal nations and the inherent right of tribes to >practice traditional culture. > > 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 the Department of State's proposal that countries >develop national action plans without reduction targets and timetables >falls far short of this goal. As intergovernmental negotiations next 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 phase-out of dioxin-producing materials and >technologies. Emission reductions should be required where possible, and as >soon as feasible, with the ultimate aim of elimination. This issue is a >life and death issue to many of the Indigenous Peoples within the Arctic >circle, the greater part of North America and throughout the world. > > Thank you for your attention to this very important issue. > > Sincerely, > > > > > > > >Contact names and addresses of the US Department of State delegation: > >Ms. Madeleine K. Albright (not going to be in Geneva) >Secretary of State >U.S. Department of State >2201 C. Street NW >Washington, DC 20520 >Tel: (202) 647.5291 >Fax: (202) 647.7120 >e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Mr. Brooks Yaeger (head of U.S. Team) >Office of Environmental Policy >U.S. Department of State >2201 C Street NW >Washington, DC 20520 >Tel: (202) 647-2232 >Fax: (202) 647-5947 >His email address is: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >He is on leave this week and will be going directly to Geneva...fax him a >copy at: >International Hotel, Geneva, Switzerland >Fax: 011 41 22 919 38 38 > >Mr. Trigg Talley >Office of Environmental Policy (OES/ENV rm. 4325) >U.S. Department of State >2201 C Street NW >Washington, DC 20520 >Tel: (202) 647-5808 >Fax: (202) 647-5947 >e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Mr. Brian Muehling >Office of International Activities >US Environmental Protection Agency >Washington, DC 20460 >Tel: (202) 564-6468 >Fax: (202) 565-2409 >e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Mr. Dick White >Office of Pesticides, Prevention & Toxic Substances >US Environmental Protection Agency >Washington, DC 20460 >Tel: (202) 260-3046 >Fax: (202) 260-1847 >e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >The Plan is to direct your comments to Ms. Albright. The U.S. team >will be meeting today and tomorrow, so your comments are important! > > > > > >Indigenous Environmental Network >P.O. Box 485 >Bemidji, Minnesota 56619-0485 USA >Phone (218) 751-4967 >Fax (218) 751-0561 >email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Internet Web Site: http://www.alphacdc.com/ien > >"An alliance of Indigenous Peoples empowering Indigenous communities >towards sustainable livelihoods, environmental protection of our lands, >water, air and maintaining the sacred Fire of our traditions." Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ UPDATES: CAMP JUSTICE http://shell.webbernet.net/~ishgooda/oglala/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
