Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS)

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Resource Pointer #259
June 20, 2001

For copies of the following resources, please contact the appropriate publishers or organizations directly.

*National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Web site on Contaminants in Breastmilk* http://www.nrdc.org/breastmilk. Educational tool helps parents and others make informed decisions about breastfeeding and babies’ health. Focuses on the adverse effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as well as some metals and solvents in breastmilk. Topics include how breastmilk becomes contaminated with hazardous chemicals, problems with infant formula, benefits of breastfeeding, tips for breastfeeding mothers and suggestions for action. Also contains detailed, information on a range of POPs and many useful links regarding POPs and breastfeeding. Contact NRDC, 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011; phone (212) 727-2700; fax (212) 727-1773; email nrdcinfo@nrdc.org; Web site http://www.nrdc.org.

*Behind Closed Doors, 2001* Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), Stop Dioxin Exposure Campaign. Provides evidence of the chemical industry’s efforts to keep the dangers of dioxin (cancer risk, birth defects and other health impacts) hidden from the public. Includes sections on how the chemical industry worked to discredit and stall the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Dioxin Reassessment, attempted to block local anti-dioxin initiatives, and exercised influence in United Nations’ POPs treaty negotiations. Also reveals the link between the chemical industry and electoral politics, with an appendix on campaign contributions. A timeline highlights major dates in anti- and pro-dioxin campaigning in the Unites States. Available free at http://www.safealternatives.org/behinddoors.html. Contact CHEJ, P.O. Box 6806, Falls Church, VA 22040; phone (703) 237-2249; email mrohde@chej.org; Web site http://www.chej.org.

*Patterns of Achievement: Africa and the Montreal Protocol, 2001* United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Highlights the successful contribution of African countries in fulfilling the conditions of the Montreal Protocol. Six stories illustrate African countries’ commitment to ozone protection, industry’s significant reduction in consumption of ozone-depleting substances, the role of newly-created national and regional institutions in implementation and compliance, cooperation between various stakeholders, the role of international assistance and African nations’ successes in raising awareness domestically. Produced as an informational tool to help developing nations meet their Montreal Protocol obligations. Free. Contact UNEP Energy and OzonAction Unit, Tour Mirabeau, 39-43 quai André Citroën, 75739, Paris, Cedex 15, France; phone (33-1) 4437-1450; fax (33-1) 4437-1474 ; email Lucy Ursulet lucy.ursulet@unep.fr, ozonaction@unep.fr; Web site http://uneptie.org/ozonaction.html. Copies should be available on the OzonAction website soon.

*Beyond POPs: Evaluation of the UNEP Chemical Substitutes of the POPs Pesticides Regarding Their Human and Environmental Toxicities, 2001* Pesticide Action Network (PAN)-Germany. Critiques the United Nations Environment Programme POPs Database on Alternatives that proposes potentially toxic chemical substitutes for nine POPs pesticides. Reveals that 60 proposed chemical substitutes are dangerous to human health and the environment, do not constitute sustainable alternatives. Considers that the use of chemical substitutes would take place under conditions of poverty. Argues that the database dedicated too little attention to non-chemical alternatives and suggests how to prioritize research on non-chemical alternatives to pesticides. Available free at http://www.pan-germany.org (click “Downloads” on sidebar). Contact Pestizid Aktions-Netzwerk e.V. (PAN Germany), Nernstweg 32, D – 22765 Hamburg, Germany; phone 49(0)4039-9191-00. fax 49(0)4039-075-20; email pan-germany@t-online.de; Web site http://www.pan-germany.org.

*POPs: Poison in the Heart of Europe II, 2001* European Working Group of International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN). Compiles available information on production, use and legislation of POPs throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Presents case studies from Czech Republic, France, Romania, Russia and Slovakia. Also brief descriptions of the POPs situation in Belarus, Bulgaria, Poland and Ukraine. Includes sections about impacts on the environment and human health, as well as recommendations for legislation and further action. Available free at http://bezjedu.detizeme.cz/index.php?inc=odbornikum/index (Czech language site, but the first link at the top of the page leads to an English version of the document). Contact Deti Zeme (Children of the Earth), Chlumova 17, 130 00 Praha 3, Czech Republic; phone/fax (4202) 227-800-52; email jindrich.petrlik@ecn.cz; Web site http://www.detizeme.cz.

We encourage those interested in having resources listed in the PANUPS Resource Pointer to send review copies of publications, videos or other resources to our office.

PANUPS is a weekly email news service providing resource guides and reporting on pesticide issues that don’t always get coverage by the mainstream media. It’s produced by Pesticide Action Network North America, a non-profit and non-governmental organization working to advance sustainable alternatives to pesticides worldwide.

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