The newsletter features updates from IPEN Participating Organizations on some of their work in the region, including from Nature University, BaliFokus, Medicuss Foundation, Consumers Association of Penang, Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand, and the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture.
Beijing – Serious environmental degradation in China has created a significant number of pollution victims, but there is no current legal framework to assist and guarantee their rights. In response, a multi-stakeholder conference in Beijing called for a new law to address this growing problem noting that China has already promulgated a series of laws for the rights and interests of certain vulnerable groups including the Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities, the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women, the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, and the Law on the Protection of Minors.
“The scope of the problems faced by pollution victims is huge,” said Mao Da, from Green Beagle. “But there is no corresponding law that addresses assistance and guarantees their rights. This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.” The conference entitled “Suffering and hope – an annual review of assistance to pollution victims” examined this issue in a concluding event of the EU-funded project “Strengthening the capacity of pollution victims and civil society organizations to increase chemical safety in China” (1). Conference participants included environmentalists, lawyers, journalists, monitoring specialists and representatives of pollution victims. After reviewing case study examples of pollution victims, the conference agreed by consensus to call for the promulgation of the Law on Assistance to Pollution Victims and the Assurance of Their Rights and Interests.
The Asian Lead Paint Elimination Project Partner Newsletter for January, 2015 is now available, and contains news about the new, mandatory 90 ppm standard that was established in Nepal at the end of December, 2014. Additionally, the newsletter comments on the launch of the new IPEN African Lead Paint Elimination Project. The Project will take place in four African countries – Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Tanzania.
Bangladesh Paint Manufacturers' Association (BPMA) has demanded an immediate ban on the import of lead pigments and dryer, which will encourage the medium and small manufacturers to begin producing lead-free paints. BPMA Secretary Md Shamsuzzaman also welcomed the collaborative initiative of green activist group - Environmental and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) and IPEN.
Environmental NGOs, Green Beagle (GB), Nature University (NU), IPEN and Arnika released today the Action Manual for Public Participation in EIA intended to help the public participate in the EIA process on an effective and rational basis.
Civil society representatives from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand have agreed to a declaration that calls to end the use of mercury in amalgam fillings in dental care in Asia.
The standard, published through a Gazette Notification, will be mandatory and will regulate all paints imported to Nepal, as well as produced, sold, distributed and used in Nepal. It will be effective six months from now, and will require labels that show lead content and provide a precautionary message in order to avoid occupational exposures.
Kathmandu, 24 December 2014, Government of Nepal, Ministry of Science Technology and Environment (MOSTE) as per the provision of Environment Protection Act 1997 (Section 7 and Sub-section 3) Ban of Import, Sale, Distribution and Use of Asbestos (Corrugated , Non Corrugated Sheet, Tiles , Insulators) by publishing a notice in Nepal Gazette (Khand 64, Number 30, Part 5, Date December 22, 2014, Notice No. 4).