Many grassroots advocates work in isolation, without access to the legal and scientific tools they need to protect communities and the environment. ELAW Fellowships provide ELAW partners with critical skills and resources, and enhance international collaboration so they no longer feel so alone. More than 100 grassroots advocates have traveled to Eugene to work with ELAW as Fellows.

The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide is working with partners around the world to meet the challenge of protecting our global climate.

In the Philippines, Ipat Luna worked with school groups in Lipa City to test air quality near piles of burning garbage in school neighborhoods. Instant readings showed high levels of particulate matter, which leads to respiratory diseases and other problems.

In August, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board literally pulled the plug on two of the worst offenders: Tagros Chemicals and Shasun Drugs and Chemicals Ltd. The Pollution Control Board cited repeated failures by these companies to comply with the law, issued closure notices, and shut off their electrical power!

The Bangladesh High Court has ruled that more than 1,000 polluting tanneries and other industries in Bangladesh will be closed if they do not put pollution control systems in place by February 2010. The people of Hazaribagh have been complaining about the tanneries for so long that they almost gave up hope. They will celebrate when the pollution stops,” says Rizwana Hasan, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).