IPEN COP 5

For Immediate Release: 3 May, 2011: Debate over export of toxic flame retardant chemicals erupts at UN meeting

ipen_admin — Fri, 06 May 2011 21:31:43 +0000

Africa pushes developed countries to stop the export of toxic flame retardant wastes that can cause nervous system damage in infants and toddlers New IPEN study highlights the presence of toxic flame retardants in carpet pads commonly sold to consumers in the USA and other countries.

Read the entire press release.

For immediate release: 29 April, 2011: Endosulfan to be Phased Out Globally

jfederico — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:57:36 +0000

KILLER PESTICIDE ENDOSULFAN TO BE PHASED OUT GLOBALLY

GENEVA: Gathered in Geneva for the Fifth Conference of the Parties this week, the nations of the world agreed to add endosulfan, an antiquated persistent insecticide, to the Stockholm Convention’s list of banned substances. Environmental health and justice organizations from around the world who have been working towards a ban welcomed the decision.

Read the entire Press Release Endosulfan

For immediate release: 25 April, 2011: Hazardous Waste on Your Living Room Floor

jfederico — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:54:54 +0000

In the first publicly available study of its kind, a type of foam carpet pad commonly sold in the USA and other developed countries was demonstrated to contain levels of flame retardant chemicals that raise concerns about human health. The substances, PentaBDE and OctaBDE, resemble PCBs in structure and toxic effects.

The study, conducted by IPEN, an international organization working on toxic chemical issues, examined levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in foam carpet pads commonly used in developed counties, including the United States.

IPEN Brominated Flame Retardants in Carpet Foam press release 25 April 2011

Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) wins 2011 PEN Award

jfederico — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:46:00 +0000

IPEN Participating Organization Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) from Nepal has received the 2011 PEN (PCBs Elimination Network) award in the category of cross-cutting issues. Ram Charitra Sah, Executive Director for CEPHED, accepted the award at a ceremony at the Stockholm Convention’s 5th Conference of the Parties, held in Geneva from 24 – 29 April, 2011.

The purpose of the awards is to honor outstanding achievements in the environmentally- sound management of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). CEPHED has been working to minimize the use of PCB-contaminated transformer oil through research, information sharing, awareness-raising, model workshops, campaigning and advocacy with the concerned government agencies and others.

Congratulations CEPHED!

For Immediate Release, 26 April 2011: NGOs Host Endosulfan-free Café for Stockholm Convention Delegates

jfederico — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:01:40 +0000

Health & community groups around the world call for an end to endosulfan

Health and community leaders from across the globe are serving organic coffee, cashews and chocolate — free of the pesticide endosulfan — to Stockholm Convention delegates in Geneva. At the gathering this week the governments will decide whether to include the persistent insecticide in the Convention, which would ban it in the 173 countries that are Parties to the treaty. Annex A Cafe Press Release 26 April, 2011

IPEN Quick Views of Stockholm Convention COP5

jfederico — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 01:28:39 +0000

IPEN has released its “IPEN Quick Views of Stockholm Convention COP5.”

This document succinctly outlines some thoughts and observations about the meeting, focusing on the issues that represent IPEN’s main concerns.

Please visit the “Positions” section of the website for this paper in multiple languages.

Alternative Destruction Technologies for POPs Waste

jfederico — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 01:26:57 +0000

IPEN’s Dioxin, PCB and Waste Working Group has created a new factsheet for COP5:

Alternative destruction technologies for POPs waste

Find it on the “Documents” page, where additional new work will soon also be posted.

Indigenous Peoples Caucus Side Event

jfederico — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:03:03 +0000

The Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus attending COP5 hosted a side event in Geneva during lunchtime on Wednesday, 27 April:

“THE STOCKHOLM CONVENTION AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ HUMAN RIGHTS, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SURVIVAL: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS TEN YEARS AFTER THE POPS TREATY ADOPTION”

Salmon from Alaska was served to attendees as well as organic, endosulfan-free coffee.

Presenters included:

Andrea Carmen, Yaqui — International Indian Treaty Council, North America Region
Vi Waghiyi, Yupik — St. Lawrence Island, Arctic Region
Lucy Mulenkei — Indigenous Information Network, Africa Region

See the flyer: Indigenous Peoples Caucus side event

….and presentations from the event:

The Stockholm Convention and Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights, Community Health, and Survival (Challenges and Solutions Ten Years After the POPs Treaty Adoption), given by Vi Waghiyi.

Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and the Stockholm Convention, given by Andrea Carmen

Stockholm Convention 5th Conference of the Parties

jfederico — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:05:51 +0000

The Stockholm Convention’s Fifth Conference of the Parties (COP5) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 25 – 29 April, 2011.

Representatives from numerous IPEN Participating Organizations will attend and participate. Stay tuned for IPEN COP5-related positions and other media.

For more information about the Conference, see:

http://chm.pops.int/Convention/COP/hrMeetings/COP5/tabid/1267/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/870/EventID/109/xmid/4351/language/en-US/Default.aspx