TL: GREENLINK, GREENPEACE NEWS #2 93 SO: Greenpeace Canada (GP) DT: August 1993 Keywords: greenpeace newslettters gp canada digests / NEWS FOR GREENPEACE MEMBERS IN CANADA VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2, 1993 BRAZILIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS ASSASSINATED! This spring, two Brazilian activists were assassinated for their work dedicated to the environment and human rights. These two murders add to the tally of over 1,500 environmental, social, and labour activists who have been killed in Brazil in the last 10 years. On April 30th, biologist Paulo Vinha was found dead on the sands dunes -- part of a coastal ecosystem he was working to protect. He died from bullet wounds to the head. Four days later, we received word that Arnaldo Ferreira, president of the Rural Worker's Union of Eldorado, was killed as he slept in his home. He left nine children. Paulo Vinha had dedicated himself not only to the struggle to preserve the sand dunes, but was also a critic of the activities of Aracruz, a powerful pulp and paper company in Brazil. Arnaldo, together with local workers, was defending land sought by a sawmill owner and farmer. These two men have since been arrested and imprisoned for having ordered the murder. Following the murder of Arnaldo, Greenpeace Brazil sent these words in a greenlink to Greenpeace offices: "All these words, however, cannot give you a true picture of the integrity of this man of the land and nature. It's impossible not to remember Chico Mendes and all the others who were killed in their fight for agrarian reform, human rights and against the destruction of nature in the Amazon and other areas of Brazil. "The disregard for human life that is present in this and many other murders causes us deep anger. These killings have been against those who defend the quality of life of our planet. Who will be next? "... The forces of destruction should not prevail over the forces of life and love in Brazil. The only thing we can do is to renew our fight with even more force in order to honor the memory of all those who were killed by the enemies of life in this planet." -- Greenpeace Brazil GREENPEACE STAFFER RECEIVES DEATH THREAT Greenpeace Argentina campaigner Juan Schroder who has worked relentlessly against the nuclear industry received a death threat in late June. The anonymous note was the second threat against Schroder's life and arrived just a week after Greenpeace held a press conference on shoddy safety and labour conditions in the Atucha I nuclear power plant. Cristina Davini who also works with Greenpeace Southern Cone declared, "The forces issuing these threats evidently think that they will be able to stop the public debate around nuclear power. However, we are committed to carrying on this campaign in order to protect the long term interests of the Argentine public." DESIGNS ON THE PLANET We're searching for a special image, design, or artwork for a Greenpeace gift card. If you have a visual image that reflects your hope for the planet, please send your design or drawing, along with your name, address, and phone number by September 30, 1993 to: Design Contest Greenpeace 185 Spadina Ave. 6th floor Toronto, Ontario M5T 2C6 If you would like us to return your design, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. In Memorial: Karen Gamble In early April Karen Gamble died after being hit by a truck while riding her bicycle in Toronto. Karen, a talented folk singer and songwriter, was 27 years old. Greenpeace extends our sympathy and condolences for her tragic death. We also would like to thank Karen's friends who made donations in her memory. A BLOW TO NAFTA Court decision the first sane step to stopping trade deal The campaign to stop the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) received its biggest boost to date in July. A United States federal court blocked NAFTA's passage until the Clinton administration carries out an Environmental Impact Assessment. The assessment could take anywhere from a few months to years to complete. The U.S. government can still appeal the decision. Cam Duncan, co-ordinator of Greenpeace's NAFTA campaign, praised the court ruling saying, "This decision means that trade negotiators must put environmental interests above short-tem corporate profits. At last we have a sane attempt to stop NAFTA long enough to figure out how damaging it might be to the environment." Regardless, trade negotiators in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are forging ahead to finalize environmental and labour side deals. Social and environmental activists, meanwhile, are continuing to work against the deal. Speak Out Against NAFTA NAFTA could be the key election issue this fall. Be part of the effort to get this deal cancelled. Write your MP, write letters to the editor, and write the leaders of all political parties. Be sure to contact: Jean Chretien Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada 180 Wellington Street, Room 145 Ottawa, Canada K1A 0A6 Fax: (613) 995-5980 and Audrey McLaughlin Leader of the NDP House of Commons Ottawa, Canada K1A 0A6 Fax: (613) 996-9584 WAKING UP THE WORLD Midnight Oil Joins Clayoquot Summer '93 "I can't believe that the forestry practices here are as primitive and as barbaric and as butcherous as they are." With these words, Peter Garrett, lead singer of Midnight Oil, began a day charged with protest, music, and celebration in the rainforests and clearcuts of Clayoquot Sound. The popular Australian band had come to Vancouver Island to express outrage over the corporate logging of one of the largest temperate rainforests remaining in the world. By day's end, Midnight Oil and Garrett, who is also a member of Greenpeace International's Board of Directors, had focussed world attention on the ecological ruin in the ancient forests of Clayoquot Sound. As day was dawning at 5:30 a.m., the band members arrived at the Kennedy River Bridge, the key protest site in the battle to preserve the temperate rainforest on Vancouver Island. In an unequalled show of strength, over two thousand people had assembled. Two hours later, elated organizers announced that MacMillan Bloedel was not arriving and trees would not fall in Clayoquot Sound on this day. Midnight Oil's Concert at Dawn became a celebration. After manoeuvring through a counter blockade set up by Share B.C., an industry-funded anti-environment organization, Midnight Oil reached the stage and performed for a cheering, dancing audience. The RCMP estimated the crowd at 5,000. Clayoquot Sound is home to towering spruce, fir, and cedars, some more than 1,500 years old. A diversity of wildlife, birds, marine mammals, and fish all live in the Clayoquot ecosystem. In April, the B.C. government gave the companies MacMillan Bloedel and Interfor the licence to log Clayoquot Sound. Just before the announcement, the B.C. government had purchased $50- million in MacMillan Bloedel shares, making it the company's largest single shareholder. Combined with the more than 20% of Clayoquot rainforest that has already been logged, it's estimated that the B.C. decision will mean that 74% of the old-growth temperate rainforest in Clayoquot Sound will be turned into timber, paper, and other wood products. As owners of MacMillan Bloedel, the B.C. government stands to profit from the logging of Clayoquot. The B.C. government should not be making this decision. Greenpeace is working internationally to put pressure on Canadian governments and MacMillan Bloedel to protect the Clayoquot Sound rainforest. You can help by writing B.C. Premier Harcourt and telling him that his actions on Clayoquot are unacceptable. Mike Harcourt Premier of British Columbia Legislature Buildings Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 Alcan's Damming the Environment by Catherine Stewart, Fisheries Campaigner Alcan is destroying my life, my future, my land, along with my culture. For what reason? The only answer I have is: to provide electricity for sale to a place I have never known. -- Sharon Cahoose, Age 17, Cheslatta Band, May 1993 In a remote northwestern corner of British Columbia, a massive sell-out of the environment is underway. The destruction of an ecosystem, the potential devastation of salmon stocks, the privatization of a river -- all are taking place to reap corporate profits from electricity sales to the United States. Alcan's Kemano Completion Project -- the final stage in the damming of the Nechako River - will bear staggering environmental and social costs if allowed to proceed. The once wild Nechako, a major tributary of the Fraser River, will be reduced to 12 percent of its original flow. Twenty percent of the Fraser River's prized sockeye salmon will be under severe threat from lowered water levels and temperature changes that can affect spawning. Chinook and sturgeon are threatened as well. The Cheslatta t'en nation, whose homes were confiscated and ancestral graveyards were flooded in the first stage of Alcan's project, will suffer more loss. Their efforts to re-build lives, reclaim traditional lands and rehabilitate habitat would be rendered impossible by the Kemano Completion Project. Prime Minister Kim Campbell was in the Tory cabinet that chose to exempt the project from environmental assessment. Despite the cabinet directive, an all-party Commons-Senate Scrutiny Committee has labelled the exemption illegal and unconstitutional. The House of Commons has endorsed the Committee's findings. While the provincial NDP has agreed to hold limited impact assessment hearings, the federal government is refusing to participate. The Kemano Completion Project must be stopped! Write, fax or phone Kim Campbell and tell her to use federal powers to cancel the project. Contact your own MP and ask what s/he is doing about Kemano. Prime Minister Kim Campbell House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 ALBERTA NEW HOME FOR GREENPEACE'S CLIMATE CHANGE OFFICE by Kevin Jardine, Climate Change Campaigner Western Canada has always been a major source of support for environmental activism. Greenpeace began in western Canada, and today the region contains one third of our supporters. So when we decided to create a full time campaign on climate change, whose ultimate goal is the phase-out of fossil fuels, it made sense to open our first campaign office on the Prairies -- in the heart of the oil patch. The Calgary Climate Change office was officially opened on April 27, with a press conference and the release of a major new Greenpeace report on a Fossil Free Future. (See sidebar for more details.) The campaign has a lot of work ahead in the effort to stop our reliance on fossil fuels and the release of greenhouse gases. Billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are building up in the atmosphere and gradually changing the Earth's climate -- threatening to cause increased drought, sea level rise, massive forest decline, and more frequent hurricanes. Although Canada's conventional oil reserves will dry up in the next decade or so, there are plenty of other fossil fuel developments to be concerned about:  Natural gas wells are being tapped along the foothills and Eastern Slope of the Rocky Mountains, even to the outskirts of Calgary. Although the fossil fuel industry likes to promote natural gas as a "green" fuel, it simply is not. Burning even a fraction of the known world reserves would likely release enough carbon dioxide to cause catastrophic climate change.  Millions of dollars of government funding are being poured into research and development into the exploitation of Alberta's tar sands, which are potentially the largest single source of oil in North America.  TransAlta Utilities, already the largest producer of greenhouse gases in Canada, continues to increase its emissions. TransAlta's giant coal-fired Sundance Thermal Generating Station spewed out over 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide last year - more than twice as much as all the cars in Alberta combined. Since the opening of the Calgary Climate Change office, the phone has been constantly ringing with groups asking for information and Greenpeace supporters offering to volunteer their time. Thanks for all the encouragement and support! TOWARDS A FOSSIL FREE FUTURE [sidebar] Just after Climate campaigner Kevin Jardine moved to Calgary, he made Greenpeace's new Climate Change office known with the release of a new study: Fossil Fuels in a Changing Climate: How to Protect the World's Climate by Ending the Use of Coal, Oil and Gas. The study concludes that there is enough renewable energy available in the world to phase-out nuclear power by 2010, cut fossil fuel consumption in half by 2030, and then phase it out completely by the end of the next century. Greenpeace has sent copies of the study to all of Canada's environment ministers, along with three steps to a cleaner energy future: 1. Cut the billions of dollars in subsidies for dirty energy -- the fossil fuel and nuclear industries. 2. Ban inefficient products like gas guzzling cars and inefficient appliances. 3. Reform electric and gas utilities to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Copies of the study are available from Greenpeace's Climate Change Office. Please send $15 to: Greenpeace Canada Climate Change Campaign 223 12th Ave. S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 0G9 Tel: (403) 261-1630 Fax: (403) 265-1980 NO NEED FOR NUCLEAR Bill and Boris -- Stop Nuclear Tests: At the U.S.-Russian Summit in Vancouver this April, Greenpeace took to the waters calling on Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin to ban nuclear testing. A team of Greenpeace climbers hung four banners proclaiming "Stop Nuke Tests" in Russian and English from a downtown tower. The message couldn't have been more timely. Two months later, as the U.S. moratorium on nuclear testing expired on July 1, Clinton announced an extension on the ban through September 1994. Clinton did add the caveat that if another country launches a first test, he will appeal to Congress to resume U.S. testing. However, the U.S. decision has already offset a potential explosion of weapons testing by other countries -- Russia, France and the U.K. have indicated they will match Clinton's commitment to no first tests. Greenpeace, meanwhile, is keeping a close watch for any wavering on the commitment to no first tests and will continue our push for a Comprehensive Test Ban on nuclear weapons. Russian Commission Admits Nuclear Dumping At Sea A daring report has been released by the Russian government in the wake of a Greenpeace campaign to uncover nuclear dumping in the Arctic. The Yablokov Commission report reveals the staggering extent of nuclear dumping in Arctic waters: 18 nuclear reactors were dumped into the Kara Sea and the Sea of Japan between 1965 and 1988, six containing highly radioactive fuel. As recently as 1992, solid nuclear waste was dumped into the Sea of Japan. "You have in your hands a very powerful document," Commission chair Alexei Yablokov told Greenpeace, saying the contents of the report indicated the openness of the Russian government. Greenpeace called on Russia to take the lead in ensuring that radioactivity from the sunken reactors doesn't leak into the marine environment. Russian president Boris Yeltsin set up the Yablokov Commission three days after the Greenpeace ship SOLO was released by Russian officials last year. The SOLO and crew were arrested when they attempted to document the dumping of nuclear reactors and the sinking of a submarine in the Kara Sea, off the Arctic island of Novaya Zemlya. To: Greenpeace Offices, Allships From: MV Solo Date: TUE 1-JUN-93 13:51:08 GMT Subject: Update 1 - THORP Campaign ---------- Dear All, THE BEGINNING OF THE END - FOR THORP Solo arrived off the Cumbrian coast early yesterday morning. We are just picking up the anchor ready to sail for The Netherlands. Everyone on board is geared up for the campaign and this morning began the serious business, together with the UK team, of collecting radioactive mud from contaminated beaches near Sellafield. Readings of the level of radioactivity have been recorded (up to 300 counts per second - average background is 5 counts per second) and the mud loaded into the flasks ready for delivery back to those who sent their waste here. Everyone is committed and taking this extremely seriously with all the necessary equipment and protection. We know it has been, and continues to be, a long struggle, but, if we put whatever it takes into this campaign, we do stand a real chance of stopping this monster from taking its first breath. This really is the beginning of the end - for THORP. Love and best wishes to all Simon and Paul STOP THORP The Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant -- also known as Sellafield 2 -- is slated to open this fall. THORP is the second phase of the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNFL) complex. A reprocessing plant is already in operation at Sellafield. If THORP goes ahead, radioactive pollution from Sellafield will increase ten-fold, resulting in 60 deaths from radioactive exposure for each year of operation. Greenpeace has special concerns for child leukaemia which is already ten times the U.K. average around the Sellafield area. Greenpeace is pulling out all the stops to ensure that THORP does not start up. Here's a summary of some of the actions we've taken: Return to Sender -- Greenpeace collected radioactive sand from the beaches near Sellafield and packaged it for delivery to European countries which have signed contracts to send radioactive waste fuel reprocessed at THORP. The Greenpeace ship Solo transported the sand which had radioactive levels so high that it's classified as radioactive waste in some European countries. This is the same sand that provides a playground for children around Sellafield. Transport of Nuclear Materials -- Following our protest against the infamous journey of the "plutonium ship", the Akatsuki Maru, Greenpeace has continued to scrutinize the transport of nuclear waste in international waters. The MV Gondwana followed the Pacific Pintail through the Panama Canal and the waters of the Caribbean to draw attention to these dangerous and clandestine shipments. Now, the International Marine Organization (IMO) is set to pass a code allowing the transport of nuclear waste and plutonium transported on passenger vessels! Greenpeace will be lobbying hard and attending IMO meetings to stop it. (See the Greenlink from Damon Moglen.) Political Lobbying -- In addition to these activities, Greenpeace has continued our outspoken lobbying of governments around the world. Activists hung an anti-THORP banner at a meeting of European Community environmental ministers in Denmark. We attended the Paris Convention meetings in Berlin, and fought for and won a declaration against any increase in radioactive pollution into the Northeast Atlantic. We've also held protests at U.K. embassies in several countries. To: Nukes, Media Group From: Damon Moglen Date: TUE 1-JUN-93 20:56:00 GMT Subject: Nuclear transport code ---------- Dear Friends, As a number of you know, despite opposition, the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee, May 24-28, passed the Code of Practice for the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high level nuclear waste. While the Code must now go before the Maritime Environment Protection Committee (July), and in turn to the IMO Assembly for final passage (Oct/Nov), it is very, very likely that the code will go into effect given the MSC's blessing. This is really OUTRAGEOUS -- discussion of the Code began on the basis that greater safety was needed and now instead the way has been cleared for nuclear materials to be transported on passenger ships and cargo vessels! This is really a case where Greenpeace can play a critical role in revealing the cynicism and irresponsibility of the nuclear industry and supporting nations. If we generate enough public opposition to this decision, we may be able to convince enough countries into opposing the Code at the upcoming meetings of the IMO. Best regards and good luck, Damon A Glossary of Terms, Players, And Agreements in the Nuclear Game: Plutonium -- among the most toxic substances known to humankind, a one millionth of a gram of plutonium can cause fatal cancer. Plutonium is the key radioactive ingredient in thermonuclear weapons, and was once thought to be an alternative to uranium in nuclear power production. Plutonium does not occur naturally. Uranium -- the heaviest natural element, uranium is the radioactive fuel in commercial nuclear power plants. Mining and milling of uranium has produced hundreds of millions of tonnes of acidic radioactive waste in Canada. CANDU -- abbreviation of CANadian Deuterium Uranium, CANDU reactors are designed by the Canadian reactor company Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (see below). Recent Greenpeace research has uncovered significant safety flaws in the design of these reactors, flaws which led to the downrating of four reactors in Ontario to 60% of full power. Tritium -- the radioactive form of hydrogen (H), tritium (H3) is produced when 'heavy water' (deuterium, or H2) in a nuclear reactor captures an extra neutron. Tritium was intentionally produced for use as a radioactive trigger in nuclear weapons, and unintentionally produced in very large amounts in CANDU nuclear reactors in Canada. Tritiated water dumped into Lake Ontario and Lake Huron from nuclear plants finds its way into people's bodies, delivering a radiation dose from right inside living cells. Reprocessing -- the chemical separation of unburned uranium and newly-produced plutonium in spent fuel rods from a nuclear reactor. "Reprocessing" magnifies the radioactive waste problem by multiplying the volume of waste by ten times. Plutonium and other radioactive elements are discharged into the environment in the plant's operation. REM -- stands for 'Roentgen Equivalent Man', a measure of biological harm caused by exposure to ionising radiation. The REM is now being replaced by the 'Sievert', an SI unit. AECB -- Atomic Energy Control Board is the government body charged with setting standards for and regulating all aspects of the nuclear industry in Canada. AECL -- the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited is the Crown corporation which designs, markets, and sometimes builds, CANDU nuclear reactors in Canada and abroad. AECL is also the Government's nuclear research agency and receives hundreds of millions of dollars in funding from Parliament. IAEA -- the International Atomic Energy Agency, responsible for implementing nuclear materials safeguards and the promotion of nuclear power, both under the auspices of the NPT. The contradictory nature of the Agency's role in both promoting and trying to control nuclear technology has often been strongly criticised, particularly after the Chernobyl disaster, which the IAEA had claimed was 'virtually impossible'. IMO -- the International Marine Organization sets standards for marine interests, including the transport of hazardous, radioactive materials on international waters. Comprehensive Test Ban (CTB) -- an agreement that has not yet been reached, a CTB would ban the testing of nuclear weapons worldwide. London Convention (LC) -- an international treaty which oversees the dumping of toxic and radioactive waste at sea. Formerly the London Dumping Convention, The LC put a moratorium on the dumping of radioactive waste at sea in 1983. For an expanded version of this nuclear glossary, please contact Greenpeace in Toronto. To: Media Group CC: Nukes From: Sue Adams Date: TUE 18-MAY-93 15:58:45 GMT Subject: Moscow's first action ---------- Dear everyone, Tomorrow morning the Moscow office does its first action, protesting against the proposed expansion of nuclear power in Russia - 26 new reactors over the next 20 years. There are several possible scenarios for the action, the news release on the one that actually happens will be sent out in the morning. A background paper is being sent to nuclear campaigners. So sit back and enjoy the action ... Sue To: Greenpeace Offices From: Sara Wood Date: FRI 23-APR-93 18:19:22 GMT Subject: First ever action in Turkey ---------- Dear all, Today the Med Project and Toxic Trade campaign carried out the first ever action in Turkey. The action was against the transfer of hazardous waste in the form of a ship called the S.S. United States brought to Turkey to take advantage of the cheaper labour and disposal costs involved in the stripping of more than 15,000 square metres of asbestos on board. This type of work is one of the dirtiest and most dangerous of asbestos work, and in comparison, scientists in the U.S. report an almost 50% mortality rate for insulation workers. The idea was to hang a 120 metre banner reading "Toxic Waste Return to Sender" (in Turkish and English) from her port side. This plan was stymied after three hours of hard work -- by the appearance of the shipyard owner and friends in a powerful private launch who then proceeded to ram our two inflatables, attempted to attack one of the climbers with a boat hook and finally pulled the banner on board their boat and shredded it with knives. Two climbers were left hanging on the side of the boat. The shipyard owner left promising to return with the authorities. While he was away our heroes hung a small Greenpeace banner on the side of the ship and painted "NO ASBESTOS" in English and Turkish. A symbolic action was carried out in tandem in the United States, with a 5 foot papier mache replica of the ship being delivered to the office of its owner. We wanted to share the news of an important day for the Med project with you! Cheers Sara To: Executive Directors, Greenpeace Offices From: Greenpeace Mexico Date: MON 22-MAR-93 22:30:24 GMT Subject: Greenpeace Mexico - press conference ---------- Dear all, This quick message is to let you know that today, Greenpeace Mexico had its first public act -- this means that it opened its doors. It was a press conference denouncing a shipment of toxic waste coming from England. The conference was covered by almost all national media and provoked a lot of interest among the reporters. All for now, Abrazos Rafael VICTORY FOR WHALES Antarctic Sanctuary On Its Way Thanks to all of you who wrote or sent postcards to urge the world's governments to support the creation of a Whale Sanctuary for the Antarctic. The Antarctic Whale Sanctuary was accepted -- in principle -- at the May meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Kyoto, Japan. Next year, Greenpeace will be working to ensure member countries will vote to see the Sanctuary through at the IWC meeting in Mexico. MEANWHILE... NORWAY GOES WHALING The international support for the Whale Sanctuary was marred by Norway's determination to resume commercial whaling. Ignoring the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling, the Norwegian government set a combined hunt quota of 296 minke whales for their commercial and so-called "scientific" hunt. The boats took to the waters of the Northeast Atlantic at the end of May. Greenpeace has begun a vigilant protest to urge Norway to reverse their decision. As the hunt got underway, six Greenpeace activists chained themselves to Norwegian whaling boats to try and stop the kill. We've carried out direct actions, demonstrations, and launched a boycott of Norwegian products in key European countries. A Norwegian newspaper, however, ran an article saying that letters of protests against the whale hunt are fewer than anticipated. The paper reported that there is increasing optimism in Norway that the whaling issue is not as critical as was feared. Norway needs to hear from you now! Please write and tell them to stop the hunt: Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland P.O. Box 8001 Dep N-0030 Oslo 1 Norway Mr. B. Cristvik Norwegian Ambassador to Canada Royal Bank Centre 90 Sparks St. Suite 532 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 3B4 Chlorine-Free Campaign Gears Up for IJC Meeting by Jay Palter, Chlorine Campaigner The International Joint Commission (IJC) will hold its Seventh Biennial Meeting on October 21-24 in Windsor, Ontario. The meeting is one of the most important in the global campaign to protect the environment from chlorine-based poisons. Chlorine-based chemicals are the root cause of widespread dioxin contamination and ozone depletion. Research is linking chlorine- based poisons to cancer, reproductive and immune system damage. The biennial IJC meetings have become an important forum for Greenpeace and citizens on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border to pressure our governments to stop the poisoning of the Great Lakes. The results of these meetings are telling:  In 1989, the IJC heard the people and told the governments to start implementing zero discharge in Lake Superior.  In 1991, the IJC heard the people and told the governments to target chlorine for phase-out in the Great Lakes.  In 1993, the IJC must hear the people and tell the governments to put that policy into action. Start phasing out chlorine-based poisons NOW! Public support is crucially needed to counter the well-funded campaign by the chlorine industry to kill the 1991 IJC chlorine phase-out recommendations. Led by chemical giants DOW and Du Pont, the industry is mounting a massive PR effort to promote chlorine use at the risk of human and environmental health. Greenpeace, along with numerous other Great Lakes organizations, is mobilizing a strong public presence to support the IJC's call for a complete chlorine phase-out. Please join us! Come to one of our Chlorine-Free Members' Forums listed below. Attend the IJC meeting in Windsor and participate in the public events (see Events listings). Want to Protect the Great Lakes? Learn and Help Organize! Attend one of these Members' Forums: Hamilton Toronto Saturday September 18, 1993 Tuesday September 14, 1993 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. For more information or to register, contact Beth Jones at (416) 345-8408 Ext. 3008 [box] Attend these Chlorine-Free Events at the IJC RALLY FOR ZERO DISCHARGE! SATURDAY OCTOBER 23, 1993 12:00 Noon Dieppe Park, Windsor Rally on the day of the IJC meeting and show your support for a chlorine phase-out. GREAT LAKES CHLORINE-FREE DEBATE THURSDAY OCTOBER 21, 1993 7:00 - 10:00 PM Canadian Club Room B, Cleary International Centre, Windsor An international panel will explore issues arising from growing environmental demands for a phase-out of chlorine-based industrial chemistry. For more information about the Chlorine-Free campaign and the citizen mobilization for the October IJC meeting, contact: Jay Palter or Yvette Ali, 185 Spadina Ave., 6th Floor, Toronto, ON M5T 2C6. (416) 345-8408. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Greenlink invites readers to write us about the issues that you're working on, and comments about Greenpeace's work or this newsletter. We'll try our best to print a selection of the letters we receive. Assiniboine River for Sale When the last river has stopped flowing, and when the last tree has been cut down, only then will you know that money can't be eaten. The Assiniboine River is in jeopardy of becoming no more than just a trickle if the government of Manitoba has its way. At issue is the proposed diversion of the river to the south eastern part of Manitoba to meet a projected increase in domestic consumption of water. Proponents of the project believe that the area will see an increase of 240% in population, when in fact Manitoba has seen a net decrease in population in the last several years. The Coalition to Save the Assiniboine, made up of 31 organizations, has asked that a basin wide study be conducted to look at the cumulative environmental, social, and economic impact of the project. The City of Brandon and Winnipeg both oppose the project based on the minimum flows that these urban centres need. Farmers along the Assiniboine also depend on the river for potable use and First Nations People use the river as a source of drinking water. Until now, our request for an environmental assessment has fallen upon deaf ears. We are asking the public to help us to demand the federal government to conduct a Federal/Provincial Assessment by an independent review panel. By writing a letter to the following Federal Ministers asking them to review this project, you will add to the many collective voices in Manitoba who already oppose this diversion scheme. The Hon. xxxx The Hon. Pierre Vincent Minister of Agriculture Minister of the Environment The Hon. xxxx The Hon. Ross Reid Minister of Transportation Minister of Fisheries & Oceans at House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Greenlink received this letter from Don Sullivan of the Coalition to Save the Assiniboine, Rm 503-275 Broadway, Winnipeg, M.B. R3C 4M6. Tel: (204) 944-9408. Fax: (204) 942-7396. Opinions in the Letters column are not necessarily those of Greenpeace. Due to space considerations, we may edit letters. ACTION LOG Four Years Later... Exxon's Still Misleading the Public London, U.K. (24 March) -- Less than 10% of the 40,000 tonnes of oil spilled in the Exxon Valdez spill in Prince William Sound has been cleaned up, Greenpeace estimates. On the 4th anniversary of the devastating spill, Greenpeace says the cleaning techniques used often did more harm than good and much of the research on the effects of the disaster is either buried or tied up in litigation. Nuclear Reactors Cracking Up London, U.K. (26 March) -- More than half of the nuclear reactors in the western world have a higher risk of meltdown due to new "cracking" phenomena, says a new Greenpeace study. The cracking occurs in the reactors' primary containment systems and has already affected pressurised water reactors in France, Sweden, Switzerland, and Belgium. Greenpeace International is calling for the immediate shutdown of any reactors with cracks and a close inspection of all others. A Green Ribbon Day Winnipeg (19 April) -- Greenpeace Winnipeg and community activists protect some urban trees slated for axing. After tying symbolic green ribbons around the trees, Greenpeace supporters took their message to City Hall. "It's a few trees here and an acre every 12 seconds across the country," said Susanne Sadler who heads up the Winnipeg office. City councillors were convinced and most of the trees were spared the axe. Car-Free Cities Worldwide (17 May) -- In a car-free day of action, Greenpeace holds simultaneous direct actions in Zurich, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Sydney, and Schwerin, Germany. A new report, Car Free Cities was released in London, U.K. naming cars as a major threat to the global climate and calling on governments and citizens to oust the "plague of the cities." Greenpeace offices in Austria, Vancouver, and Toronto hosted their own Car-Free days this month. Banning the Burn in the USA Washington D.C. (17 May) -- Martin Sheen joins Greenpeace and dozens of activists at the White House to protest the WTI hazardous waste incinerator in East Liverpool. Protestors were handcuffed to a mock 16-foot incinerator smoke stack. Sheen and 55 other protestors were arrested. At the end of the day, activists welcome the last-minute announcement from U.S. President Clinton of an 18-month moratorium on new toxic waste burners. However, the East Liverpool incinerator remains exempt from the ban. Safety First Vancouver, B.C. (29 May) -- Activists take the first step in planning for protests in Clayoquot Sound this summer. Over 70 people came to an outdoor training session to hear Greenpeace and Friends of Clayoquot Sound teach the principles of non-violent civil disobedience and safety on the protest lines. Earth Summit, Year One: No Cause for Celebration London, U.K. (1 June) -- The Earth Summit was one year old today, but Greenpeace wasn't celebrating. Instead, Greenpeace International Executive Director Paul Gilding declares that nothing has changed since the Rio conference. Gilding says that tackling problems like overfishing, climate change, over- consumption in industrialized countries, trade and economic reform, toxic waste, forests destruction, nuclear weapons and power, and biotechnology have all taken a back seat to "business as usual". Helicopter HiJinx Ottawa (12 June) -- While delegates prepare to sweat it out at the Tory leadership convention, Kim Campbell receives a sharp rebuke on Canada's defence policy. The Canadian Peace Alliance and Greenpeace paraded a pork barrel, making certain Campbell heard the public disapproval of her $5.8 billion helicopter deal. A Human Right to a Healthy Planet Vienna (22 June) -- At the United Nations Human Rights Conference, Greenpeace calls for "the right to a healthy and intact environment." Greenpeace cites several examples of how human and environmental rights are intertwined: millions of indigenous peoples are displaced by logging and forced "development" projects; tens of thousands of people are affected by radioactive fallout from Chernobyl and other nuclear accidents; massive hydro-electric dam projects threaten the communities of hundreds of thousands of people. "These are not natural catastrophes -- these are human-made disasters and could be avoided," says Greenpeace Austria's Wolfgang Pekny. Fishy Business New York (19 July) -- "UN: Stop Fishing For Excuses -- Protect Our Common Oceans" Greenpeace tells delegates to an international United Nations conference on global fisheries. The MV Greenpeace sailed outside the conference site bearing a huge banner with the call to protect the world's fisheries. According to Greenpeace staffers in attendance, the banner message was the "talk of the town". The UN conference is looking at a number of issues which affect Canada's collapsed East Coast fishery including fishing quotas, global overfishing, and needed reforms to fisheries management. Greenpeace Founded in Canada, 1971 Fonde au Canada, 1971 Greenpeace is an international organization with offices in 30 countries worldwide. Greenlink is Greenpeace Canada's newsletter providing updates about environmental activism in Canada and around the world. Editor: Andrea Imada Production Co-ordinator: Mona Coulavin Graphic Design: Brian Cartwright For ideas, contributions and assistance, thanks to: Sue Adams Rubem Almeida Mona Coulavin Paul Horsman Kevin Jardine Beth Jones Jeanne Moffat Damon Moglen Rosemary Oliver Jay Palter Steve Shallhorn Con Squires Tamara Stark Catherine Stewart John Willis Sara Wood Greenpeace Argentina Greenpeace Brazil Greenpeace Mexico Greenpeace Moscow Greenpeace Ottawa Greenpeace Vancouver Greenpeace Winnipeg