Cleaning up Polluting Industries

I am pleased to report that victories are following on victories in our work with Ritwick Dutta in India!

Last year, we worked with Ritwick to secure a big win for a large urban area suffering from toxic industrial emissions:

One million people live in and around the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) complex, 12 miles south of New Delhi.  Thousands of families are exposed to a barrage of chemicals emitted into the air and discharged into the water daily by more than 100 factories in NOIDA.  Ritwick petitioned the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for relief and the NGT responded positively: It banned the expansion of existing factories and the establishment of new factories, and ordered the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to provide a full accounting of toxic pollutant releases from all factories in the complex.

ELAW has continued to work with Ritwick to ensure that the Pollution Control Board is indeed making pollutant release levels available to the public, and identifying violators.  I worked with Ritwick to analyze the latest figures and identified many facilities not complying with standards and releasing dangerous levels of pollutants.  Ritwick shared this information at the National Green Tribunal.  Last  Tuesday, the NGT ordered 18 of the worst-polluting facilities to close until they can prove they are complying with environmental standards.

Congratulations to Ritwick for his perseverance and commitment to clean air and water for all.

Mark Chernaik
Staff Scientist

Saving Lions in India

Panthera leo persica

Yesterday I posted an eBulletin about a terrific victory in India.

There are only 400 Asiatic Lions left in the world and they all live in and around Gir National Park in the State of Gujarat. ELAW partner Ritwick Dutta was concerned, because with all the lions living in one place, an epidemic could wipe out the entire population.

ELAW’s science team provided Ritwick with numerous scientific studies that support the idea of separating populations to prevent disease outbreaks from devastating entire populations (in some cases, species).  Ritwick used this information to win a landmark Supreme Court ruling that will help save the lions.

He wrote this week that the Court ordered the government to re-locate part of the lion population to the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining forest in the State of Madhya Pradesh:

“I am happy to share with you the Judgment of the Supreme Court of India on protection of the Asiatic Lion and other endangered species. It has been a 7-year legal fight at the Supreme Court.  On many different occasions I sought help from the ELAW network on various scientific and legal issues concerning re-introduction of species.  I received lots of input, which became part of our submissions. Thanks for all your help and support!”

Ritwick says the ruling not only directs the translocation of the Asiatic Lion from the state of Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh, but expands the meaning of the right to life to include the protection and conservation of wildlife.  The judgment also calls for the reinterpretation of the Principle of Sustainable Development “in a manner which is more eco-centric.”

Ritwick is an attorney at the EIA Resource and Response Centre. Together with his colleagues in India, he helped host the 2012 ELAW Annual Meeting, held in Goa.

Congratulations Ritwick on this hard fought victory for the lions!

Maggie Keenan
Communications Director

Turning the Tide on Ocean Waste

Cigarettes, plastic bags, food containers, caps, plastic bottles, and more litter the beaches in Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. In a new report, ELAW’s science team found that inadequate management of waste at the local level poses a regional challenge.

“Waste management in Belize, Guatemala and Honduras is not just an aesthetic issue, it is a serious public health and environmental problem, says ELAW Staff Scientist Meche Lu. “Data from Belize indicate that approximately half of the waste there is not collected. Much of it is burned or disposed in waterways.”

Elito Arceo, Chairman of Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development (ACCSD) in Belize, concurs: “The amount of garbage that ends up on our beaches and reef is unbelievable. This is not what our tourists come here to see.”

ELAW’s science team recently published: “Ocean Waste in the Gulf of Honduras: Where it goes and what to do about it.” The report was a collaborative effort with organizations in the region working to turn the tide on ocean waste.

“This report shows that first of all we need to take responsibility for our own garbage,” says Arceo. “It’s time for all of us to change our habits. Education is the going to be the key.”

ELAW is helping local partners in Belize, Guatemala and Honduras hold community workshops to call attention to this problem and protect the Mesoamerican reef from further destruction.

Check out the full report here.

Maggie Keenan
Communications Director

The Next Generation of Environmental Defenders

ELAW partner Kenneth Kakuru, Executive Director of Greenwatch in Uganda, celebrates with his daughters. Samantha (front) is following in her father’s footsteps as a public interest attorney.

Here at ELAW, we often talk about how to build the next generation of environmental defenders. How will the skilled professionals around the world who are part of the ELAW network pass their knowledge on to future generations? How will these newer generations become engaged and find ways they can share their unique gifts with the world?

Last summer, ELAW Information Technology Manager Glenn Gillis blogged about the importance of being outside and enjoying scenic places with his young son, Aiden.

For Earth Week, ELAW Donor Liaison Michele Kuhnle wrote about teaching the next generation to protect the planet as one of ELAW’s guiding principles.

Every year, new legal and science interns and volunteers who want to make a positive difference in the global community collaborate with ELAW and gain new skills.

Last week, ELAW Staff Scientist Mark Chernaik had the opportunity to share his passion for science while volunteering at a local middle school. He came back to the office after a day of explaining molecular biology to seventh graders with a smile and renewed appreciation for teachers.

Whether in a classroom, at an organization, or outside in the elements, there are lessons to be learned and appreciation to be had for this precious planet and the cultures it nourishes. The more experience and knowledge that can be openly shared, the closer we will be to a truly sustainable future.

Click here to see the “Central Dogma Song Sing along” video that Mark shared with young students to help emphasize the biology lesson.

Melanie Giangreco
Office Manager

Protecting the Planet

Last week, ELAW partners in Belize won a stunning victory for critical marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. The Belizean Supreme Court declared six offshore oil concessions null and void.

All of us at ELAW are inspired by victories like these, and we hope you are too.

As we celebrate the 43^rd Annual Earth Day, people around the world are working to make a lasting difference for the planet.  At ELAW, a  few key principles guide our work helping communities meet environmental challenges:

• Work locally. We always work with local partners, who know about the environmental challenges their communities face and how best to craft solutions.
• Take on the root causes of environmental abuses.  By strengthening environmental laws and bringing sound science to bear, we are changing the way we make decisions about the environment, preventing future environmental abuses.
• Teach the next generation to protect the planet.  We are empowering  the next generation of environmental advocates and building a corps of committed advocates who will work to protect critical ecosystems for years to come.

ELAW teams up with local partners to win victories for clean air, clean water, and healthy ecosystems around the world.

We look forward to winning more victories for the planet in the year ahead. Check back for more news!

Happy Earth Day!

Michele Kuhnle
Donor Liaison

Averting Catastrophic Global Warming

On April 16, ELAW published an ELAW Spotlight that contained incorrect information.  We have removed that blog post and we post a corrected version below.

An environmental lawyer in Turkey, Yakup Okumusoglu, challenged the EIA of a coal fired power plant called Zetes.  Due to the great efforts of Mr. Okumusoglu, a judge issued an interim injunction against the plant.  ELAW was in error not mentioning his name in our earlier post and in mentioning others.

Mr. Okumusoglu informs us that this is only a small step, however, and the threats are immense since there are a total of 9 coal fired power plants planned.  Three coal fired power plants are already in operation in the region of Turkey near the city of Zonguldak along the Black Sea, which has deposits of anthracite coal.  Five more power plants are going through an environmental assessment (EIA) process, in addition to the Zetes plant which Yakup already challenged.  These plants will use even more coal than is available in the region (about 40,000 tons of coal per day production).  Therefore, these plants will lead to importing coal from elsewhere to this beautiful area of the Black Sea.

ELAW apologizes to everyone involved for its earlier mistakes and congratulates Mr. Okumusoglu and the local citizens in the Zonguldak region of Turkey for this important interim victory in their fight against these destructive projects.

________________

Dr. James Hansen

Dr. James Hansen is one of the world’s most prominent climate scientists calling for urgent action to avert catastrophic global warming. Last week, he announced that, at age 72, he is retiring from his position as Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies to devote more time to activism to limit greenhouse gases.  Dr. Hansen’s decision to devote his efforts to full-time activism was cause for me to reflect on my meeting with Dr. Hansen in 2010 and ELAW’s role in averting catastrophic global warming.

I had the good fortune of meeting Dr. Hansen when introducing him at a conference here in Eugene to educate public interest lawyers in the U.S. and around the world about using legal tools, such as an extension of the Public Trust Doctrine, to induce courts to compel governments to take stronger action to avert climate change.  At the end of the conference, I asked Dr. Hansen the following question: If lawyers are successful in convincing courts that they have a duty to compel their governments to take stronger action on climate change, then what actions should the lawyers be asking for?  After thinking for a while, Dr. Hansen said two things are needed: 1) a price on carbon emissions high enough to change the way countries generate energy; and 2) a ban on new coal-fired power plants.

I’m happy that we are working hard with our partners around the world to halt the construction of ill-conceived coal-fired power plants. These plants are bad for the global climate and bad for the surrounding communities, which suffer the greatest harm from dirty coal.  Our partners have recently challenged coal-fired power plants in countries such as India, the Philippines, Mongolia, and Bangladesh. ELAW is helping  partners make the case why coal-fired  power plants should not be built, including information about the external costs of carbon dioxide emissions.  We are providing guidance on how our partners can uncover serious flaws in the Environmental Impact Assessments of proposed coal-fired power plants.

Grassroots lawyers are winning victories for communities and for the climate.   The National Green Tribunal in India has halted construction of multiple coal-fired power plants along the coast of Tamil Nadu.  

We see hope in these victories and we are eager to do all we can to protect communities and the global climate.

Mark Chernaik
Staff Scientist

Good News from India!

Cattle grazing in the Amrit Mahal

We have great news to share! This week, ELAW partner Leo Saldanha wrote to us about a victory to protect ecologically fragile grassland ecosystems in Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) established an expert fact finding committee to investigate community concerns about a proposal to build India’s largest defense, nuclear, industrial and infrastructure complex. Local communities say the proposed projects would destroy 10,000 acres of ‘Amrit Mahal Kaval’ or traditional pasture grassland and forests.

Read the full press release from Leo’s organization, Environmental Support Group.

Congratulations, Leo!

Michele Kuhnle
Donor Liaison

Environmental Heroes

Things are quiet around the office since we said goodbye to 40 ELAW partners from 27 countries. These environmental heroes came to Oregon late last month for the 2013 ELAW Annual Meeting and the 31^st Annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference.

Before he flew home, longtime partner Kenneth Kakuru from Uganda said, “This is a pilgrimage. I come to renew my zeal!”

We traveled to a conference site in Blue River and built foundations for lasting collaboration using law, science, and economics to protect communities and the environment.

We explored old growth forests, learned about local efforts to defend ecosystems, and cooked great meals together.

Many colleagues met face-to-face for the first time, including Goldman Prize winners Thuli Makama from Swaziland and Ikal Angelei from Kenya.

Enjoy profiles of the international partners who attended our annual gathering and a cover story in the Eugene Weekly, “Fighting for Africa.”

Maggie Keenan
Communications Director &
Fellows Program Coordinator

Thanks, Eugene!

Environmental leaders from around the world at ELAW’s reception at the PIELC

ELAW recently welcomed environmental leaders from 27 countries to Eugene for the 2013 ELAW Annual Meeting and the 31st Annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC). While here, these advocates shared strategies and worked together to protect clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment.

The Eugene community offered tremendous support for our Annual Meeting and our reception at the PIELC. We would like to thank the following local businesses for their in-kind contributions to support our work.

On behalf of environmental leaders across the globe, thank you!

Nick Warren
Intern

2013 ELAW Annual Meeting

ELAW Partners at the 2012 Annual Meeting in Goa, India

Tomorrow, ELAW will welcome environmental advocates from more than 25 countries to Eugene for the 2013 ELAW Annual Meeting. These environmental defenders have been working tirelessly in their home countries to protect clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet. Some have been part of the ELAW network for years; others are representing an up-and-coming generation of environmental lawyers and will be participating in an ELAW Annual Meeting for the first time.

During their visit to Oregon, ELAW partners will be gaining skills and inspiration, building lasting ties with each other, and connecting with the local community.

ELAW partner Dana Tabachnik from Adam Teva V’Din (Israel Union for Environmental Defense) works to promote sustainable energy in Israel and protect the Dead Sea ecosystem from industrial pollution. She will speak at a special event, “Protecting Israel’s Environment: Challenges and Opportunities” at Temple Beth Israel (1175 E 29th Ave in Eugene) on Sunday, March 3^rd, at 6:30 p.m.

During the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC- February 28^th-March 3^rd) ELAW partners will be speaking about their work, including preventing mining abuses in Latin America and the Caribbean and protecting freshwater and coastal ecosystems. The PIELC is organized by the University of Oregon student organization Land, Air, Water (LAW) and is open to the public. For more information, visit www.pielc.org.

Look for updates on our blog throughout the Annual Meeting.

Melanie Giangreco
Office Manager