Headlines: E-LAW in the News, Winter 2002

Managing a marine reserve in Brazil
January 9, 2002 -- TV Com, Channel 36 (Florianópolis, Brazil) broadcast a live debate between stakeholders living in and around the Arvoredo Biological Reserve -- a group of three islands a few miles off the coast of Santa Catarina. Attorney Rafael Costa, President of APRENDER (Action to Preserve Natural Resources and Promote Sustainable Development) stressed the importance of local communities participating in the management of the reserve. The debate included a representative of the local fishing community, a representative of local diving companies and the government manager of the Reserve. APRENDER is a new environmental law organization based in Florianópolis. E-LAW is working with APRENDER to educate local communities about their rights to protect the local environment.
Chilean activists win freedom of information case
January 7, 2002 -- The Santiago Times (Chile) reports that organic farmers won Chile`s first ever ‘freedom of information` case when a Santiago court ordered Chile`s Cattle and Agricultural Service to disclose information concerning the location and ownership of farmlands planted in transgenic crops.
"This is a landmark decision in Chile, where government has traditionally hidden behind the long skirts of secrecy and `national security` to keep the citizenry ignorant about certain matters," said Miguel Fredes, an attorney at Centro Austral de Derecho Ambiental (CEADA). CEADA brought the case on behalf of organic farmers and non-governmental organizations. The plaintiffs first requested the information in 1994.
E-LAW U.S. has worked with Miguel since 1999. Visit CEADA`s web site at http://www.ceada.org.
PNG landowners challenge World Bank
December 19, 2001 -- The Inter Press Service reports that the World Bank has approved a forestry project loan for Papua New Guinea, despite protests by landowners in the Kiunga-Aiambak area of the Western Province.
Damien Ase, Executive Director of Papua New Guinea`s Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc. (CELCOR) says: "We feel that the bank is not doing enough to address the governance problem so far as the forestry industry is concerned. This has caused irreversible harm to the claimants` land and forests."
CELCOR represents more than 300 affected landowners. The E-LAW network has assisted public interest lawyers in PNG for many years with their efforts to ensure that World Bank programs respect the environment and the rights of indigenous peoples living in and around forests.
Ugandan advocates seek to protect Butamira Forest
December 3, 2001 -- The New Vision (Uganda) reports that a government proposal to cultivate sugar cane in Butamira Forest has come under fire from Attorney Irene Makumbi at the Uganda Wildlife Society. At a public debate, Makumbi said that the government proposal violated the Constitution. "The proposal to grow sugar cane in the forest reserve is illegal and subject to challenge," she said.
Attorney Kenneth Kakuru of Greenwatch represented the local group defending the forest. Kenneth reports that the case was withdrawn after his clients were intimidated by government operatives, paving the way for the forest`s destruction. 210 plaintiffs have come together to file a new suit.
Attorney Godber Tumushabe, of the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), is working with Kenneth and Irene on a rigorous campaign to protect the forest reserve. E-LAW has worked with Kenneth, Irene and Godber for many years.
Belize dam project gets approved
December 2001 -- EcoAméricas reports that Belize`s National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) has approved a Canadian-owned power company`s plan to build a dam on the Macal river in western Belize. Sharon Matola, the Director of the Belize Zoo, says: "There have been projects that NEAC has approved that haven`t gone forward. We do not consider this a final say."
Opponents say the dam would inundate wilderness containing threatened wildlife and yet-to-be excavated Mayan ruins.
Much has been written about the ill-advised Chalillo Dam project. The Guardian (Belize) reports that 400 people turned out in Belmopan on November 13 to oppose the dam. Opponents believe the project is good for Fortis, but bad for Belize (November 18, 2001). Fortis is a Newfoundland-based power company that owns a controlling interest in Belize Electricity Ltd.
The National Post Online (Canada) reports that Fortis "is creating havoc" with its plans to build "a wildly uneconomic hydro dam in the rain forests of Belize" (October 31, 2001). Maclean`s (Canada) reports that domestic opposition to the project is growing (August 27, 2001).
E-LAW U.S. staff attorneys and scientists helped Belizean advocates critique the project`s environmental impact assessment.
Police raid offices of Lawyers` Environmental Action Team
November 26, 2001 — The Guardian (Tanzania) reports that police have raided the offices of the Lawyers` Environmental Action Team in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The raid followed LEAT`s call for an independent investigation into alleged killings of artisanal miners at the site of the Bulyanhulu gold mine in Kahama, Tanzania.
LEAT is East Africa`s leading public interest environmental law and human rights organization. Lawyers at LEAT have worked with communities in Tanzania to win major victories for the environment and public health. E-LAW U.S. has worked with LEAT since 1995. Visit LEAT`s web site at http://www.leat.or.tz.
Advocates in Tanzania challenge Portland Cement
October 23, 2001 — The Guardian (Tanzania) reports that residents in Dar es Salaam are threatening court action against a cement company that is releasing dangerous quantities of cement dust and sulfur dioxide. Residents living near the factory are suffering from respiratory disorders and burning eyes.
E-LAW advocates at the Lawyers` Environmental Action Team (LEAT) are representing over 5,000 affected residents in the Boko, Tegeta and Kundichi areas.