Environmental Health
UK: Environmental Health Representing 23 Environmental health groups, The Green Network and the Environmental Law Centre have drafted a petition to establish dedicated environmental courts in the UK. Currently the courts are not equipped to assess the environmental health threats posed by GM crops, pesticides, mobile phone masts, water fluoridation, toxic waste dumping, and cumulative exposure to thousands of different chemicials.
Also see the Institute of Science in Society website:
Download the petition here.
This followed a three day conference entitled Science, Medicine, and the Law
Press Release - 3 February 2005 (from www.environmentalhealthfocus.co.uk)
Conference Reveals Shocking Pollution Death Toll
At a 3 day conference of doctors, lawyers, scientists, vets - and more than 22 British and overseas campaigning organisations - experts from Britain, France and America revealed shocking statistics on the deaths, disabilities and chronic ailments now being caused by today's unprecedented - but invisible - levels of pollution. They also revealed the gross inadequacies in standard methods of 'safety' testing and exposed the failure of governments, and of all political parties, to prevent such pollution or to ensure redress for its victims.
In conclusion, the conference delegates called for:
 governments to apply the precautionary principle to the use of all synthetic chemicals and man-made technologies; greater integrity and openness from politicians and officials at every level from the cabinet down to local government; changes in the law and legal procedures to make it easier for victims of pollution to obtain justice and for those on the boards of polluting companies to be held personally accountable. KEY POINTS:
Speakers gave strong scientific evidence that:
in every area of our domestic and working lives we are all routinely exposed to known carcinogens, nerve toxins and hormonal system disruptors; that current 'safety' regulations fail to allow for the special vulnerability of babies in the womb, the young, the sick and the genetically vulnerable; the latest research shows that serious harm can be done by some synthetic chemicals at levels far below supposed 'safety' levels; the current methods by which chemicals and drugs are tested for safety are based on outdated science and are grossly inadequate to protect the public; that current safety laws fail to take proper account of the increased potency of chemical substances when combined in �cocktail� formulations or in the human body; regulations on the incineration of toxic and radioactive waste are so weak that millions of people are being exposed to deadly substances by local authorities; inadequate training in toxicology, and insufficient information on the substances to which their patients may be exposed, prevent many doctors from recognising the symptoms of chemical toxicity; in consequence, conditions caused by chemicals are often wrongly attributed to other causes and inappropriately treated; this widespread lack of toxicological expertise in the curriculum of the medical profession makes it easy for companies and local authorities to dismiss, and cover up, the impact on human health of both accidental chemical exposure - through spills - and routine exposure from incinerators, factory chimneys, crop spraying near homes, or the use of pesticides by local authorities in public buildings and street cleaning. Moreover, the conference found the whole basis of decision-making and legislation in this field both inappropriate and unjust. For both combinations of synthetic chemicals and new technologies - such as GM - and new uses of technology - such as mobile phones - are generally assumed to be safe until proved dangerous. This leaves the public unprotected and puts the burden of proof on the affected and damaged individuals, rather than on the polluters. Hence the David and Goliath task, and unjust cost, of proving that a new chemical combination or a new technology has caused harm.
Media contact:
Andre Menache 01732-364546 ext.33
Note to editors:
SPEAKERS:
The speakers included:
Michael Meacher MP The Countess of Mar Prof Malcolm Hooper Martin Polden - Chair of the Environmental Law Foundation Dr Vyvyan Howard � author of �Cancer as an Environmental Disease� Dr Claude Reiss - founder of The European Workshop in Molecular Toxicology Dr Dick van Steenis Prof Paul Connett � visiting US critic of fluoridation Dr Jean Monro Dr Sue Mayer Dr Kartar Badsha Alan Meyer Dr Myron Stagman Vera Chaney, co-founder and chair, Green Network Charitable Trust Dr Jarrod Bailey Dr Mae Wan Ho Doug Cross Georgina Downs Andre MenacheChairs � Rosie Boycott, Moyra Bremner, Andre Menache
The conference was organised by The Green Network Charitable Trust in association with The Environmental Law Centre.
BRIEF QUOTE:
Vera Chaney, founder and Chair of The Green Network, said, ' In an election year politicians need to realise that if they want to regain the trust of the general public they must listen to people's concern at the dramatic increase in conditions like allergies, asthma and cancer which have direct links to pollution.
For too long politicians have only listened to industry, and to scientists with vested interests, who claim there is 'no scientific evidence' that pollution is killing people. Well, the doctors and scientists at this conference showed there is ample scientific evidence. And that thousands of men, women and children are falling sick and dying prematurely because of the shocking levels of invisible pollution in Britain.
What's more it doesn't just harm the sick. This pollution costs taxpayers millions in increased NHS costs, and costs British industry millions of pounds in lost working hours and in lost intellectual input. And, unless we do something about it, this pollution is going to get worse.'
VERA CHANEY FULL QUOTE:
Vera Chaney, founder and Chair of The Green Network, said, ' In an election year politicians need to realise that if they want to regain the trust of the general public they must listen to people's concern at the dramatic increase in conditions like allergies, asthma and cancer which have direct links to pollution.
For too long politicians have only listened to industry spokespeople, and to scientists with vested interests, and ignored both the research by independent experts and the clear evidence in human bodies. All over Britain men, women and children are falling sick and dying needlessly because of chemical pollution. Yet officials claim there is no scientific evidence that this is happening.
Well, this conference showed there is a mass of scientific evidence. And the independent experts speaking at this conference weren't talking about a few deaths here and there. They showed that thousands of men, women and children are having their health ruined and are dying prematurely because of the shocking levels of invisible pollution which politicians of all parties have allowed throughout Britain.
What's more it doesn't just harm the sick. This pollution costs taxpayers millions in increased NHS costs, and costs British industry millions of pounds in lost working hours and in lost intellectual input. And, unless we do something about it, it's going to get worse.'
And, if politicians can't understand the science maybe they should just look at the body count. If a dead soldier's body is riddled with bullets no politician is fool enough to claim the bullets didn't kill him. So how can any politician be fool enough to claim that when people's bodies are riddled with cancer-causing chemicals the chemicals aren't to blame when that person dies of cancer?
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