Philippines: Groups Hit Deportation of Waste and Climate Justice Activists

Push for Zero Waste for Zero Warming

Quezon City, 5 December 2007—Advocates for Zero Waste solutions to
climate change assailed the curtailment of free speech by the Indonesian
authorities, while insisting that the ongoing United Nations Conference
on Climate Change in Bali should support Zero Waste to cut greenhouse
gas emissions from wasteful consumption and polluting disposal practices.

Speaking on her ordeal, environmentalist Gigie Cruz of the Global
Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) lamented that she and two
other activists from India and the USA were detained and deported ‘for
speaking
in public without permission’ in a peaceful community assembly of over
2,000 people in the city of Bandung last 2 December 2007. The assembly
was organized by citizens’ groups opposed to a controversial
waste-to-energy incinerator project in Bandung.

“We came to Bandung to simply raise people’s awareness on the adverse
impacts of incinerating waste to community health, environment and the
climate and to let the community know about better alternatives.
Our undeserved deportation prevented us from campaigning for ‘Zero Waste
for Zero Warming’ in the Bali climate change meetings. We resent the
suppression of our right and responsibility to speak out and
take action against climate change. Free speech across borders is
non-negotiable if we are to succeed in the global effort to arrest the
greenhouse gas emissions responsible for heating up the planet,” Cruz
explained.

In a press briefing held a day after Cruz arrived in Manila from
Jakarta, GAIA pointed out that Cruz along with Shibu Nair of India and
Neil Tangri of the U.S.A. were unrightfully expelled from Indonesia for
speaking in
public about waste and climate change and the availability of ecological
and socially just solutions such as Zero Waste.

In light of the travesty of justice in Bandung as experienced by Cruz,
Nair, Tangri and the local community activists, GAIA called upon the
governments taking part in the historic UNFCCC in Bali to stand against
waste incineration, support Zero Waste, withdraw funds and subsidies to
dirty disposal technologies, and uphold democratic free speech to stop
the climate crisis.

In calling the UNFCCC to reject waste incineration, GAIA explained that
the destruction of resources by burning them in incinerators contributes
to climate change. Incineration requires a constant flow of resources
to be pulled out of the earth, processed in factories, shipped around
the world, and burned or buried in our communities, emitting greenhouse
gases polluting our environment at every step of the way.

On the other hand, Zero Waste strategies—including clean production,
product redesign, toxics use reduction, extended producer
responsibility, prevention, reduction, reuse, source separation,
recycling, composting
etc.—reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve energy, and are
indispensable for stopping climate change.

“Overconsumption is responsible for the waste and climate crises
confronting our societies today. A zero waste approach will not only
help ensure that resources are recovered and shared across generations, but
also avoid greenhouse gas emissions coming from destructive waste
management practices,” explained Von Hernandez, Campaigns Director,
Greenpeace Southeast Asia and a member of the GAIA Steering Committee.

“At the UNFCCC meeting Greenpeace is additionally calling on governments
to set and agree on an urgent action plan needed for the very survival
of the planet. This must be an action plan that drastically cuts
emissions from fossil fuels and ends deforestation, a massive
contributor to CO2 emissions,” Hernandez added.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Gigie Cruz, +63 917 825 0802
Von Hernandez at +63 917 526 3050
Lea Guerrero, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Media Campaigner, +63 920 950 6877

–
Lea Guerrero
Media Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
tel: +63 2 434 7034 loc 121
fax: +63 2 434 7035
mob: +63 920 950 6877
skype: leaguerrero
lea.guerrero@greenpeace.org

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