Action Alert

Rotterdam Convention Alliance - Support NGO position on the Rotterdam Convention

Dear friends,

The Rotterdam Convention deals with environmental justice by providing a legally binding right for countries to be informed about hazardous chemicals and pesticides that have been banned or severely restricted in the industrialized world and that are increasingly being exported to countries in the Global South.

The Convention empowers countries with the right of Prior Informed Consent so that they must be at least informed about the hazards and have the right to refuse hazardous chemicals and pesticides, if they so wish.

In 2006 Canada brought the Rotterdam Convention to its knees by refusing to allow chrysotile asbestos to be listed as a hazardous chemical that requires Prior Informed Consent. 95% of Canada's asbestos is sent to countries in the Global South.

The asbestos issue will be put forward again at the Rotterdam Convention Conference of the Parties, Oct. 27-31 and may cause the Convention to be demolished, if Canada continues to obstruct and to represent industry interests, not people's health.

I attach the Joint NGO Position Paper for the Conference. The global right to be informed about hazardous chemicals and pesticides is at stake, as is the refusal of Canada to co-operate to uphold international rights.

REQUEST: Will your organization sign on to the attached Paper? We need to show that Canadian civil society supports the right to Prior Informed Consent and rights under international Conventions.

Please send an email to kruff@bulkley.net before October 11th, if you do, and give the name of your organization and location.

Please also forward this to as many organizations as possible.

With thanks and in solidarity,

Kathleen Ruff
Co-ordinator, Rotterdam Convention Alliance