Headlines: E-LAW in the News, Autumn 2001

Belching buses in Delhi

September 28, 2001 — "I never thought I would have to suffer for so many years," says E-LAW advocate M.C. Mehta in a New York Times article on efforts in India to banish polluting buses. Sixteen years ago, M.C. filed a public interest lawsuit to reduce vehicle emissions. The New York Times reports: "More than two years ago, the court — India`s main catalyst of environmental reform — ordered authorities to replace Delhi`s entire diesel fleet with 10,000 buses that run on cleaner compressed natural gas. A rococo bureaucracy and a lackadaisical political establishment simply have not done it." The Supreme Court extended to October 18 the deadline for buses to switch to cleaner fuel. E-LAW U.S. has worked with M.C. since 1993.

Kenyan court halts mining project

September 24, 2001 — Reuters reports that plans by a Canadian company seeking to mine titanium eight miles from Kenya`s Indian Ocean coastline have been halted by the court. Tiomin Resources Inc. had asked the Kenyan government for permission to begin the $165 million project.

In a related story, The Nation (Kenya, September 22, 2001) reported that scores of farmers from Maumba and Nguluku, represented by Attorney Ngibuini Gikandi, had challenged the project for its inadequate relocation plan and inadequate environmental impact assessment. E-LAW U.S. Staff Attorney Jennifer Gleason met with Gikandi in Mombasa earlier this year and reviewed part of the project`s environmental impact assessment.

Pesticide safety in the U.K.

September 10, 2001 — Reuters reports that a biotechnology company is challenging a request by Friends of the Earth U.K. for information on the environmental and health effects of glufosinate ammonium, a pesticide used on genetically modified crops. E-LAW advocate Peter Roderick, the group`s legal advisor, says: "People have a right to know if pesticides being sprayed on GM crops are safe." Aventis CropScience says the information is commercially sensitive and has taken the British government to court over plans to make information about the pesticide available to the public.

Uganda unveils first anti-tobacco billboard

September 6, 2001 — The New Vision (Uganda) reports that E-LAW advocates at The Environmental Action Network Limited (TEAN) have unveiled the nation`s first anti-tobacco billboard at Kampala Rugby Football Club.

The billboard reads: "Be Cool, be a winner, don`t smoke: Tobacco is a danger to you."

E-LAW advocate Phillip Karugaba says, "Truth needs to be told. Tobacco is the world`s leading cause of preventable death. We are gratified that we are using the billboard that was used to advertise cigarettes on this rugby field."

Developments in a case filed by TEAN asking the High Court of Uganda to restrict smoking in public places have received considerable press. On August 29, The New Vision reported that Justice Herbert Ntabgoba overruled preliminary objections raised by the state seeking dismissal of the case. On July 14, The New Vision reported that British American Tobacco`s attempt to join the suit as respondents was also dismissed.

Brazil environmentalists fight to preserve Amazon

September 7, 2001 — Reuters reports: " A Brazilian congressional commission approved a bill that environmentalists say could accelerate destruction of the Amazon jungle, the world`s largest tropical forest, if it becomes law.... [the bill] calls for local environmental and land-use studies and proposes allowing current limits on logging on private land in the Amazon to be relaxed if the studies support the change."

In an earlier Reuters report on the bill (August 28), André Lima from Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) said: "In practice, this implies the possibility for the complete elimination of the obligation of maintaining a legal reserve set aside in the Amazon." E-LAW has been working for many years with advocates at ISA seeking to protect the Amazon.

Mining in Tanzania prompts calls for investigation

July 18, 2001 — The Guardian (Tanzania) reports that the Lawyers` Environmental Action Team (LEAT) has asked President Mkapa to form a team to probe allegations that small scale miners were killed in 1996 after they rejected a government order to evict miners in Bulyanhulu, 50 km south of Lake Victoria. LEAT is also calling for a review of an agreement between the government of Tanzania and Kahama Mining Corporation, a local company owned by Barrick Gold Corporation of Canada. Kahama Mining Corporation is owner of the mines. In his letter to President Mkapa, LEAT president Rugemeleza Nshala said: "It is obvious this investment is not of benefit to Tanzania but it transfers the country`s resources outside." LEAT is the home of E-LAW Tanzania.

Chilean activists say bilateral trade accord with U.S. benefits few

June 13, 2001 — The Washington Post Online reports that Chilean activists traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak with lawmakers about their country`s citizen opposition to U.S.-Chile trade negotiations. "Here they say we are in agreement" with the government`s position, said Miguel Fredes, president of the Southern Environmental Law Center, "but we are not."

Miguel and others claim Chile`s labor policies, dating back to the dictatorship of 1973-1990, favor business and have weak environmental protection. The activists say side agreements to the accord on those issues won`t be enough to enforce compliance without the weight of trade sanctions. E-LAW U.S. has worked with Miguel for several years.