Headlines: E-LAW in the News, Spring 2006

Jingjing Zhang speaks with residents of Xiping Village, Fujian Province.

China`s Brockovich

E-LAW partner Jingjing Zhang is called "a dead ringer for Erin Brockovich" in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ("Focus on Women: China`s `Brockovich` works for poor, environment," March 1, 2006, Craig Simons for Cox International). Jingjing was recently in Eugene, working with E-LAW U.S. staff to protect Chinese citizens from environmental hazards. Jingjing directs the law program at the Beijing-based Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims. In January, Jingjing helped win one of the biggest settlements in Chinese history when a court in China`s Fujian province ordered the Rongping Lianying Chemical Factory to compensate more than 1,600 villagers. Toxic releases of chromium and chlorate from Rongping`s chlorine plant have polluted waterways, rice paddies and bamboo groves.

Caption: Jingjing Zhang speaks with residents of Xiping Village, Fujian Province.

Pollution`s Youngest Victims

A two-part program on CBS News (March 5-6) reports that children in La Oroya, Peru, are suffering serious health problems due to lead emissions from a smelter owned by the St. Louis-based Doe Run Corporation. Doe Run Peru originally agreed to reduce emissions by January 2007, but has asked the Government of Peru for an extension until 2011.

E-LAW U.S. worked with partners at the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law and the Civil Association Labor to conduct soil sampling, review technical reports, support an intervention plan by the Centers for Disease Control, and help the community make its case to authorities. E-LAW partners are providing legal support in a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of ten La Oroya residents, alleging that factory operations are violating their human right to a healthy environment.

Energy Maquiladoras

E-LAW partner Carla Garcia Zendejas was interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle about the environmental impacts of U.S.-owned power plants and natural gas terminals in northern Mexico. The majority of the energy generated by these plants is destined for U.S. markets, while Mexico gets the pollution and risks. Carla said: "You know that saying, `Pobre Mexico! So far from God and so close to the United States`... You can put things you don`t want in your backyard, and your backyard is us." ("On The Border," December 10, 2005, Tyche Hendricks.)

Carla is a Tijuana-based environmental attorney. She helped start the Border Power Plant Working Group. She has been collaborating with the E-LAW network since 1998.