: Blacksmith Institute : July/Aug 2012

In this issue:

Global Alliance Forms To Tackle Pollution

Blacksmith Keeps Mercury Cleanup in Focus at INC4

Q&A: Visit Sunny Chernobyl, and more

Blacksmith's Annual Golf Benefit

Unprecedented Global Alliance To Tackle Pollution

Following a pivotal meeting organized by Blacksmith in July bringing together dozens of international representatives, a united stand against pollution has emerged that could be a game changer in the fight to stop one of the biggest global threats.

The newly formed Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) is the first-ever international, coordinated effort to fight pollution on a worldwide scale.

"We are here to assist any country that asks for help," says Blacksmith President Richard Fuller. "By banding together, we are creating the world's largest platform for launching efforts and innovations to fight toxic pollution."

The meeting was the third international gathering on pollution convened by Blacksmith at Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center in Italy. The Bellagio Center has incubated other far-reaching international efforts like the global AIDS vaccine initiative.

Coordinated by Blacksmith, the unprecedented alliance is supported by the World Bank, the European Commission and UNIDO, among other agencies.

"We expect GAHP to make an impact on global pollution cleanup by making it easier for countries to take concrete action," explains Fuller. " In a sense we are a one-stop shop. We can help match problems with programs and solutions."

GAHP is already starting to work. For example, GAHP members and observers recently came together to see what each could do to help the Philippines. The USAID Philippines mission expressed interest in dealing with artisanal gold mining issues, while the World Bank plans to support a US$50 million initiative to begin cleanup of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system.

GAHP membership is open to all.
To join GAHP or seek GAHP help, contact the GAHP Secretariat at info@gahp.net

Blacksmith Keeps Mercury Cleanup in Focus at INC4

On June 27 to July 2, Blacksmith attended the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) in Uruguay. Led by the United Nations Environmental Porgramme's (UNEP) Chemicals Branch, the mercury negotiations is working towards a legally binding international treaty to reduce and, when possible, eliminate mercury emissions to protect human health and the environment. Blacksmith's participation ensured that the identification and cleanup of contaminated sites was not left out of the discussion.

"Right now, it looks like the work to identify and cleanup contaminated sites might fall under the category of "voluntary" work. If this is the final decision to be adopted during INC5 next February, developing countries will find it very difficult to accomplish the letter of the treaty due to the lack of financial resources and technical assistance," says Lillian Cora, Blacksmith's government relationship advisor for South America.

"So our presence at INC4 was especially important because of the help we can offer with the new Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP). We want countries to know that they are not alone in tackling cleanup."

Under the letter of this new treaty, GAHP will have an important part to play in helping countries complete the assessment of toxic hotspots under Blacksmith's Toxic Sites Identification Program (TSIP) and evaluating the technical and financial resources available.

At the meeting, Blacksmith met with representatives from Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Surinam, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Santa Lucia, Bahamas, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago, among other countries, to explore GAHP collaborations.