|
|
CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Earthlife Africa Statement of Belief - Preamble
Principles Environmental objective
Chapter 3: Earthlife Africa Congress Policy Statements
Pre-amble
Introduction to policy statements
Policy statements
• Green economics
• Protection of the environment
• Land use and exploitation
• Indigenous peoples and land rights
• Mining
• Forestry
• Antarctica
• Energy
• Nuclear Energy
• Global Climate Change
• Zero waste
• Industrial effluent and Hazardous (including radioactive) waste
• Consumer pollution and waste recycling Incineration
• Air pollution
• Water justice and fresh water pollution
• Marine pollution
• Noise pollution
• Discrimination
• Workplace environments
• Educational priorities
• Population
• Animal ethics
• Vivisection
Chapter 4: Earthlife Africa Organisational Structure
Branch structure
ELA Council
ELA Congress
Discipline
ELA Funds
Affiliation with other groups
Annex A: annual congress decisions
Annex B: annual Congress resolutions
Chapter 1 : INTRODUCTION
Earthlife Africa is a Green organisation with a vision of the future which we offer to people as a goal. This vision informs our work and provides us with an agenda as a proactive group.
To better understand the nature of this document it may be useful to place a Green organisation such as ELA within the context of the broader environmental movement, which may be defined as a continuum of philosophies roughly divided into three perspectives:
The first is that of orthodox conservationism, which sees conservation as simply the act of identifying that which needs protection, and affording it that protection, generally by separating it from whatever is seen as being the threat. This is the classical game reserve type of approach, but can occur on any scale. The tools of conservation have all the trappings of a masculine, militarist society: fences, guns, uniforms and hard scientific facts and numbers. Social or political analysis is entirely absent - conservationists may and often do argue that their actions are apolitical or above politics.
A recognition that conservationism is socially naive may lead to an environmentalist position which attempts to accommodate what are perceived to be the needs of people and the needs of nature. In attempting to be realistic environmentalists do not challenge the status quo of an economic and social system. Instead the environmentalist places faith in "proper management" as the solution to the global ecological crisis. The tools of environmentalism include impact assessments and cost-benefit analyses.
The third phase in the continuum is the truly "Green" position. Greens do not ignore the concerns voiced by conservationists and environmentalists. Many of their concerns are our concerns, however, Greens recognise that ecological stress is a logical and inevitable consequence of the economic and social status quo. Greens believe that we are a part of nature and not above nature. We must therefore transform society socially and economically to develop new patterns of action which see us working from within our place in the natural system, rather than competing against it.
The Green approach is varied. Internationally, and especially in the south, there is an emerging sense of unity among Green non-governmental organisations and community based organisations. Communication and networking between them increases daily. They find common roots in the suspicion of ruling cliques and the activities of Trans National Corporations. Local situations of social or ecological stress are frequently the result of decisions taken in the boardrooms of highly industrialised countries. As Africans we cannot ignore the historical impact of colonialism, and the impact of neo-colonialism and racism.
Greens find common goals in their pursuit of justice, access to information and a society which fosters personal empowerment. We believe that if people have access to information and control over their lives, they will make ecologically appropriate choices. Greens regard the desire of individuals or groups to have power over the lives of others as unacceptable. For this reason a larger proportion of women are active in the Green movement than in conservation or environmental groups.
This document attempts to encapsulate the concerns, the motivations and the beliefs of members of Earthlife Africa. It is not a static document, but is updated on a regular basis, following each annual Congress of Earthlife Africa. This document identifies ELA members while it still provides for the diversity of opinion which is one of the strengths of the organisation.
Chapter 2 : EARTHLIFE AFRICA STATEMENT OF BELIEF
PRE-AMBLE
Earthlife Africa (ELA) was launched at a time of social upheaval and planetary devastation. We believe that humankind is responsible for this situation and that we have an accountability that extends beyond the present. ELA is a broad-based activist group with a shared commitment. We seek to understand the complex and interdependent relations between human beings and the environment.
PRINCIPLES
ELA aims to uphold and realise the following principles:
a) Reverence for the Earth: developing an attitude and behaviour which is respectful of and nurturing towards the environment in all its diversity.
b) Grassroots Democracy: equal and active participation by all in decision making and mutual responsibility for implementation in all human and environmental relations.
c) Rejection of Discrimination: ELA rejects all forms of discrimination.
d) Solidarity: Solidarity and co-operation with people struggling against oppression and exploitation particularly through democratically organised representative organisations.
e) Non-Violence: promoting peaceful solutions to conflict.
f) Ending Exploitation: fundamentally rejecting abusive power relations.
g) Freeing of Human Potential: encouragement of spiritual development, personal and social growth and the freeing of human potential.
Within the bounds of the above, individual members remain free to associate themselves with the political, spiritual or philosophical orientation of their choice.
ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE
In recognising that all are totally dependent on the biosphere's life support systems, we aim to promote the careful and sustainable interaction of humans and our environment.
Process of Achieving Objective
ELA does not subscribe to any political party or organisation, but understands environmental issues to be embedded in power relations. ELA seeks to stimulate environmental awareness, to create innovative methods of practical action and to forge links with like-minded groups. In looking for viable alternatives and solutions, ELA will promote attempts to understand and research the problems facing our universe.
ELA will encourage a change of attitude by using the information and resources at our disposal to:
a) educate the members of Earthlife Africa,
b) inform the general public,
c) encourage formal environmental education,
d) provide resources for other organisations, groups, authorities and interested individuals.
ELA will facilitate action by:
a) paying attention to our own lifestyles.
b) undertaking projects
c) supporting the initiatives of other groups, and
d) discussion of problems and lobbying,
e) organising petitions and protests,
f) resorting to legal measures where necessary.
Chapter 3 : EARTHLIFE AFRICA CONGRESS POLICY STATEMENTS
PRE-AMBLE
Policy statements adopted by the annual Congress of ELA are an affirmation of common values, are binding for our organisation and should serve as guidelines for individual members.
INTRODUCTION TO POLICY STATEMENTS
The following principles are accepted:
a) the right of all to be informed and free access to information,
b) the need for an independent environmental enforcement agency,
c) the need for an environmental ombud,
d) that any future environmental legislation shift the burden of proof from the exploited to the exploiter, and from control to prevention,
e) though calling for the prevention of pollution, rather than control, legislation should also include the concept of "the polluter pays",
f) a recognition that waiting for "conclusive" scientific proof regarding the disputed impact of pollutants discharged into the environment may result in irreversible damage to the environment and human suffering. Therefore we recommend that legislation adopt a principle of "precautionary action" as a basis for the prevention and elimination of pollution,
g) we approve of the principle of mandatory independent environment impact assessments, but wish to emphasise that participation must include all affected communities, groups and interested parties throughout the assessment process.
POLICY STATEMENTS
Green Economics
Recognising that existing exploitative economic systems have had catastrophic effects on our environment, we call for the development of a socially responsible Green economic system. Green economics is based on a principle of efficiency and equity; the satisfaction of genuine human needs (as opposed to socially dictated wants) with the minimum disruption to natural systems. Green economics differs from conventional systems in that it explicitly recognises that economic activity is a subset of human activity and thus depends on the continued functioning of unimpaired ecological systems. Potential for stress on natural systems (including social systems) should be the major criterion in deciding the acceptability of economic activities. The responsibility of proving that actions are ecologically sound should lie with the proponent of an action rather than forcing opponents of an action to provide evidence of negative impacts. Following these steps will ensure that long term economic and social functions are not disrupted by the pursuit of short term gain.
Internalising Social and Environmental Costs: given that economic activity takes place within an ecological framework, there is no reason to believe that all ecological functions can be reasonably or appropriately assigned financial values. Even so the prices of goods and services must reflect the total cost of production and eventual disposal, including the cost of restoring damaged natural systems. Where no values can be measured, estimates must be made, erring on the side of caution (imputing greater rather than lesser values to natural functions). Green Economics is opposed to existing economic systems which assume natural resources to be free goods. Further, the pricing of goods and services must be informed by full Life Cycle costs, based on the above principles, including the costs associated with 'waste' for the full life of its existence.
Freedom of Action: Green economics does not assume centralised control of an economic system, nor does it dictate what people should and should not have or do. Instead it assumes that a member of society has a responsibility to that society and its members, as well as to the planet and the natural systems which keep it functioning. A principle requirement of a Green economic system is access to balanced information. Green economics assumes that given real prices and access to all information regarding the production of goods and services, individuals will make ecologically and health sensitive choices. This implies that producers and suppliers have a responsibility to inform their customers of both the positive and negative aspects of their goods and services, and that purchasers have a right to be reliably informed as opposed to merely being allowed access to information on demand.
Social Goals: Present economic systems induce wants in people which are often not genuine needs, creating a consumerist society. It is assumed that the "trickle-down" system of wealth distribution is sufficient to satisfy these perceived wants in all members of society. This system has been shown to be a failure today. These systems are structured in such a way that the majority of people are often unable to voice or fulfil the genuine needs they have. Green economics encourages the members of a society or community to define for themselves their genuine needs and then establish the most efficient and equitable way of meeting these needs to the satisfaction of all members in that community. Actions by groups or individuals which deliberately or accidentally constrain the abilities of other groups or individuals to satisfy genuine needs shall be discouraged.
The above would imply doing more with less and reducing the production and consumption of non-essential products. It also implies that as a concept, development includes not only purely economic values, but also social, cultural, political and ecological values.
Furthermore, ELA objects to the existing structure of the World Economy which encourages and supports the continued exploitation of so-called underdeveloped countries by multinational corporations in order to maintain their affluence and that of their countries of origin.
Protection of the Environment.
Whilst protection of the environment is best achieved through individual and community action and is created by sustained educational and awareness programmes, legislative protection must be made sufficiently effective to prevent environmental degradation and encourage enhancement. These protections should be enshrined constitutionally.
Land Use and Exploitation
It is crucial that the conflict around land tenure be resolved in southern Africa before there can be any hope of long term environmental restoration. ELA opposes all policies which pressure rural people into destroying the environment for survival. Rural areas should be nurtured as areas where food is produced, as opposed to being treated as a resource for the extraction of profit. Methods of food production should enhance the quality of land, not sap it. Every effort should be made to promote and respect the integrity and diversity of biotic systems. Cities should be greened by the intensive growing of trees and adequate provision of natural public areas to improve living conditions and health of inhabitants.
ELA supports the view that the use of land should be based on the principle that land is not inherited from our predecessors, but is borrowed from our children.
Indigenous Peoples and Land Rights
Preamble
This policy is aimed specifically at groups of multi generations living in a particular environment. People who have previously been oppressed and discriminated against and who have suffered at the hands of colonialism and apartheid, and are now the most environmentally, politically, socially and economically vulnerable to future oppression and discrimination.
Problem
The increasing pressure placed on tribal people by lethal combinations of powerful multinationals, the World Bank and IMF and dysfunctional governments, who provide no protective legislation for indigenous people's rights to ownership of their land and mineral titles has resulted in widespread genocide, torture, landlessness, poverty and wage labour. Hazardous mining and deforestation are destroying natural resources and fragile ecosystems that provide communities with nourishment and spiritual sustenance. Industrial pollution from the siting of production facilities (in the name of providing job opportunities) and rubbish dumps, often negatively impacts most on such peoples.
ELA's position and possible solutions
• Security of tenure guaranteeing indigenous people rights to their ancestral lands - to be placed in the trusteeship of the whole community.
• Legislation to be passed guaranteeing indigenous communities rights to a safe and clean living environment.
• Government structured development programmes must recognise and respect indigenous cultures and methods of environmental protection.
• Legislation must insist that communities of indigenous people have full control over their natural resources.
• Indigenous people must be involved in all decisions that impact on their land e.g. the granting of mining, oil exploration and logging commissions, with the right to veto such decisions.
• Legislation must insist that indigenous people are allowed access to balanced and fair information, the right to know and the right to be informed.
• A fair share of all profits from the mining, drilling and timber operations within their territorial boundaries as well as fair compensation for any destruction of the environment, with full rehabilitation costs being borne by the developer at closure. Such monies must be gauranteed through the existence of insurance policies, that will cover all costs, even in the event of the company undergoing liquidation.
• Environmental literacy programmes to educate indigenous people about their rights (social, political, cultural, environmental and economic).
• Eco-tourism is a less viable option; however, the possibility of building fair and fruitful partnerships between indigenous communities and eco-tourism developers cannot be overlooked. Ultimatums should not be used by well doers forcing people to choose between eco-tourism and the destruction of their lives and environment by hazardous industry. Communities must be full partners in any eco-tourist enterprise, that generates a substantial share of the profits (51% +) for the benefit of local communities. The current practice of "allowing communities to sell curios" and creating a few jobs, is no solution at all.
• Adoption of guidelines guaranteeing the rights of those displaced or otherwise negatively affected by mining, oil exploration, logging and dams and recognising the special problems caused by the displacement of indigenous people.
• No new exploration or mining concessions to be granted until the above mentioned demands have been implemented.
• Strict prison sentences and exorbitant fines for multi-nationals who continue to destroy the environment
• Appropriate taxes for extractive process, for the benefit of communities owning those resources
Plan of action
• Actively campaign against exploiters who deny indigenous people their rights.
• Encourage and support organisations in their work to assist in claiming their land and human rights.
• Campaign for the rights of indigenous peoples at all levels.
• Lobby for alternative systems of land tenure that suits the needs and aspirations of indigenous peoples.
Mining
Earthlife Africa recognises that mining is by its very nature not sustainable. It must be stressed that mining is a transitional land-use. The current situation where mining takes precedence over other land uses and ever accelerating mineral exploration and extraction is not sustainable. While there are sophisticated management tools to predict the lifetime of deposits, there is generally very little thought given to the long term when all mineral deposits have been exhausted. Mining more and more economically marginal deposits with less money becoming available for environmental control, rehabilitation and worker safety is not justifiable.
Mining does have the potential for severe and extensive environmental damage. The rights of the environment to exist in its own right must be recognised and mining in ecologically sensitive areas should not be allowed. Earthlife believes that the mining industry has the duty to minimise environmental damage. Exploration must be based as an approach that plans around and conserves a finite resource and rehabilitation must include groundwater rehabilitation.
Mining also has social impacts. These include the disruption of community life, displacement of local indigenous population, and also the creation of temporary communities. Mining is a temporary activity with most mines lasting, at most, a few decades. After closure workers are displaced, become unemployed and their lives are further disrupted. Earthlife believes that mines have the duty to integrate social and economic sustainability into their planning so that mine staff are adequately catered for should mines be faced with closure.
Where mining does take place it must be stringently controlled so that it is:
1. based on an environmental ethic, not economic imperatives alone,
2. totally transparent with respect to potential and real impacts,
3. open to public scrutiny and review,
4. accessible to people, in terms of language and process, who will be affected.
Earthlife will actively:
• lobby to ensure that mining companies mine with due respect for the lives and safety of workers,
• build a working relationship with labour unions to share ideas on mine safety, especially in the area of environmental health,
• lobby to encourage trans-disciplinary integrated environmental planning,
• lobby for the recognition of land rights before mineral rights are allocated, especially where communities have been historically dispossessed of their mineral rights by colonial powers,
• lobby for a tax on unused mineral reserves in order to discourage mining monopolies from denying communities access to productive land where mining companies hold the mineral rights,
• research artisanal mining and its environmental impact,
• encourage environmental management be effected at catchment scale,
Earthlife will campaign for:
• for increased safety in mining,
• for the application of uniform safety and environmental standards for mining companies and multinationals in all their areas of operation and the encouragement of the use of alternative and recycled materials in place of present day mined mineral products,
• security of land tenure taking precedence over mineral rights,
• responsible mining that ensures that the profits from mining reach the whole population not just the powerful monopolies,
• compulsory risk management.
Forestry
The rapid and unchecked expansion of the large national and transnational forestry industry into biologically sensitive areas is having severe negative impacts on both land and water resources. Labour practices of the forestry companies are especially exploitative. Rapid destruction of watersheds and catchment areas through afforestation with invasive plants like eucalypts and others is of grave concern. Forestry colonialism is disguised as social forestry. Conflict of income generation versus food production has become apparent as forestry companies attempt to justify their pollicies in terms of income generation for marginal communities.
The transboundary activities of the transnational corporations must be subjected to the scrutiny of an independent public watchdog. Impact assessments must be mandatory and commissioned by the developer. The process and product must be reviewed by an independent source, vetted by public interest groups. The forestry industry must be forced into accepting responsibility for the damage they cause and future activities must factor in all externalities into forestry operations.
Respect for and protection of current indigenous forests must be built into the plans of all forestry companies. Policies and practices of both government and industry must display a deliberate move away from monoculture. A clear plan to preserve natural woodlands and existing natural forests must be displayed on request by the public and other interested and affected parties. Industry must display a clear intention via their activities to stop clear-felling practices and move sustainable means of forestry practice.
ELA is opposed to the rampant and unchecked expansion of the forestry industry, which consumes productive agricultural land and water resources. Excessive water consumption by the industry by planting water hungry species and use of inappropriate technology is not justifiable.
Old growth forests are continental assets and must be protected. Earthlife rejects the role that transnational corporations are playing in clear felling old growth forests. Earthlife firmly believes that old growth forests should only be harvested by indigenous people who are part of the ecosystem. The resource that exists must be used as a finite resource that it is.
In addition the negative impact that the afforestation in one country has on the water supply to neighboring countries is not borne by the forestry companies themselves. This must be remedied and industry must reflect the true costs of their operations by internalising the costs, or externalities. The industry's labour practices do little to support the true development of the marginal communities from which they draw their labour and the resultant exploitation is not justifiable in light of the social costs. This must be remedied by industry and government and a clear program of auditable action must be put in place. The expansion in to neighbouring states under the guise of development and economic empowerment must be stopped until the full implications of such forms of colonialism are fully understood and studied.
In addition local forestry and paper and pulp companies must be placed in a situation where they have to provide extensive impact assessments and full, acceptable economic motivations for their intended expansion. Furthermore local companies must provide evidence that their plants are running at full capacity in order to justify the continued existence of marginal operations.
Earthlife will:
• Campaign for the forestry industry to move away from planting invasive species to planting indigenous forests,
• Build its own internal capacity around forestry issues,
• Link with campaigns and other NGOs and CBOs to build alliances,
• Campaign for participatory social assessments prior to start-up of any forestry activities,
• Campaign to limit the adverse impacts of the paper and pulp industry.
• Lobby for comprehensive legislation to force the industry to convert to clean technology and internalise costs,
• Expose the relationship between the forestry industry and the conservationist bodies and their representatives who sit on boards of the industry,
• Clarify the difference between tree mining and tree planting in education projects,
• Demand clear guidelines on the identification of areas for forestry development from both industry and government,
• Support indigenous tree planting projects,
• Promote the reduction, re-use and recycling of paper and pulp products,
• Encourage the upgrading of recycling technology,
• Investigate alternative paper and pulp resources.
Antarctica
In recognising the unique ecological, scientific and aesthetic value of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, ELA supports the call for the granting of "World Park" status to this area. We accept that the World Park concept is based on the following principles:
a) the wilderness character of the area must be preserved and the conservation of its wildlife should under all circumstances be given priority. The exploitation of Antarctic resources is unacceptable;
b) its position as a site of non-damaging scientific research and international co-operation is encouraged. All territorial claims to the region are rejected.
c) Antarctica should remain a region of peace and a demilitarized, nuclear-free zone.
Energy
Issue:
Current energy use is mostly unsustainable and causes unacceptable impacts on people, natural resources and our ecosystem as a whole, as well as entrenching centralization and corporate appropriation of the global commons. Millions of people lack sustainable access to affordable energy services and both globalisation and 'liberalisation' of services undermine efforts to achieve universal access.
Vision:
ELA believes that a just transition to sustainable energy in the shortest viable timeframe is necessary, including decentralization, aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency and conservation, development of renewable technologies with local production and participation of communities in the provision of locally appropriate energy services. This will include phasing out of fossil fuels and ensuring that all dams be subject to full application of the guidelines established by the World Commission on Dams
Outcomes and Objectives:
ELA supports policies and measures to initiate and enforce a just transition to sustainable energy, and:
• Minimum standards for energy efficiency, including for appliances, buildings and industrial processes;
• Mandatory requirements for the use of solar water heating;
• Grid feed-in law for electricity generated from renewable resources utilized in a sustainable manner (e.g. without industrialized and input-intensive biomass production, avoidable pollution or irreversible damage to ecosystems or communities);
• Exclusion of 'waste to energy' projects involving thermal treatment of toxic and/or hazardous waste and/or thermal processes that produce persistent organic pollutants (POPs) or serve to entrench unsustainable waste management practices;
• Subsidy transformation to level the playing-field for sustainable technologies and practices;
• Integrated development planning to avoid unnecessary transport and other energy service requirements.
ELA further supports agreements and actions to achieve a just transition to sustainable energy, including:
• Taxation of fuels used in international trade, such as 'bunker fuels' for sea and air freight;
• Targets for renewable energy and financing.
ELA will:
• Raise awareness, build capacity, develop information materials and campaign for the adoption of policies and measures to initiate and enforce a just transition to sustainable energy, including equitable and affordable access to energy services;
• Participate in policy formulation, environmental impact assessments and other processes to support the use of best available technology and resist further dependence on conventional energy and abuse of market mechanisms (e.g. the Clean Development Mechanism) and other instruments having sustainable development as their objective;
Nuclear Energy
ELA believes that nuclear power is uneconomical and unnecessary. It is characterised by danger and deceit, and is inextricably linked to militarisation and unrepresentative government. We believe that there is no absolutely safe way to dispose of radio-active waste, especially the products of nuclear fission, that plutonium, a component of the waste from nuclear reactions, is the raw material for nuclear weapons and that a cloak of secrecy exists around all aspects of the nuclear industry.
We therefore resolve :
a) to oppose the development of the nuclear power and nuclear weapons industries as a step towards a nuclear free Africa;
b) to campaign for the right of the public to be informed about all aspects of the Southern African nuclear industry; and
c) that all existing high-level waste should be clearly marked, stored as safely as possible above ground and monitored. No other solution is appropriate.
d) To act in solidarity with and support persons and their families who have been negatively affected by radiation.
e) to monitor and campaign against the proliferation of nuclear weapons by individuals, governments and corporations and ensure that Africa is nuclear free.
f) to campaign for fully transparent public health studies of the impacts of the nuclear industry, particularly on workers and local communities
Nuclear research supporting the nuclear industry is inappropriate and we believe that the money allocated to this would be better spent implementing sustainable energy options. Southern African countries produce uranium, posing threats to workers, the environment and the general public. The uranium is exported to industrialised countries and benefits mostly foreign companies. ELA believes that African natural resources should be utilised, or, in the case of potentially dangerous substances such as uranium, not utilised for the benefit of Africa and its people.
Global climate change
Issue:
Human activity has and continues to release high levels of greenhouses gasses (GHGs), as well as destroying ecosystems' natural capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, causing accelerating climate change and global warming. The impacts of climate change will be most severe for poor countries and communities, particularly in Africa, while primary responsibility for climate change from human activity rests with industrialized nations. The window period for adequate action to avert dangerous (even catastrophic) climate change is less than 20 years and the necessary long-term global reduction of GHG emissions is greater than 60%. Historical GHG emissions, compounded by the movement of polluting and energy-intensive industries from North to South and unfulfilled commitments to 'technology transfer', mean that environmental and social justice issues are central to responses to global climate change, including international (South-North), intra-national and intergenerational equity.
Vision:
Humanity needs to act urgently to ensure that global warming stays below 2 degrees Celsius (measured against pre-industrial levels), without compromising human rights and the elimination of poverty. This requires profound changes, from development planning, land use and domestic energy policy through to international trade, with international collaboration and legally binding agreements. Such changes would be fully consistent with moving to sustainable development and would also provide benefits at the local level.
We call for accelerated implementation of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change and ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by all countries (noting the obligation for industrialized countries to lead in capping and reducing greenhouse gas emissions). The Kyoto Protocol is recognized as a small but significant step in developing a multilateral system to address GHG emissions; a flawed instrument that does not address equity issues or constitute an adequate response to the challenges, but nevertheless provides the basis for mainstreaming climate change issues and starting to address the carbon intensity of production and consumption, as well as a precedent for legally binding instruments.
ELA will:
a) Raise awareness, build capacity, develop information materials and campaign for the adoption of national policies and measures for climate change mitigation, as well as adaptation to the impacts of climate change, including the undertaking of mitigation commitments at the international level post 2012;
b) Work with other organisations for development and enforcement of an equitable global system for climate change mitigation, as well as for international collaboration to address adaptation needs;
c) Oppose the use of climate change concerns or responses to legitimize or entrench unsustainable development practices by seeking to off-set other impacts against GHG emission reductions;
d) Support the development of a more equitable multi-lateral regime for responding to climate change.
Zero Waste
Issue
Existing models of resource extraction, transport, manufacture, use and disposal are unsustainable. The rate of depletion of resources, the toxicity of production processes, emissions to the environmnet, and unsound disposal practices such as dumps and incinerators, are all harmful to health and wellbeing, as well as leading to the destruction and non-availability of scarce resources.
Vision
ELA believes that it is possible to re-design products, processes, services, commodity pricing and development planning such that peoples needs are sustainably provided for, without the above mentioned negative impacts. This may be achieved by the implementation of a Zero Waste economy:
• the process of redesigning our economy so that we follow a closed-loop production, use and re-use system;
• the use of toxic and hazardous materials is banned or phased out, with associated negative health impacts on our people halted.
•
In this way more sustainable jobs are created; raw material extraction is minimized; and unsustainable energy consumption, and excessive consumerism halted. ELA calls for the registration and testing of all potentially toxic and hazardous substances.
Outcomes & objectives
ELA supports all initiatives aimed at implementing Zero Waste wherever possible, and will promote and lobby for a Zero Waste future.
ELA will initiate, support and where possible implement Zero waste programmes, with the relevant partners in each process.
Industrial Effluent and Hazardous(including radioactive) Waste
ELA calls on industry to implement, and legislative authorities to enforce, a change over to clean production technology. Clean production technologies have been shown to be economically and technically justifiable measures which minimise generation of waste through process redesign and optimisation as well as using every opportunity for recovery for recycling, re-use or energy production.
Clean production:
- uses the minimum amount of raw materials and energy to make a product;
- does not produce hazardous waste during the industrial process;
- ensures the final product itself does not create a waste problem after use.
All existing waste disposal practices create new problems themselves and are not long-term solutions. We are therefore opposed to the development of a hazardous waste processing industry, since it encourages more pollution. With regard to present waste production, ELA calls for a system of waste auditing whereby hazardous waste production and disposal can be monitored with a compulsory system of receipts and that all information regarding hazardous waste be made freely available to the public. All existing high level radioactive waste should be clearly marked, stored as safely as possible above ground and monitored. The only possible reason for international trade in hazardous waste is the cutting of costs at the expense of somebody else's environment. ELA is therefore absolutely opposed to the cross-border transportation of hazardous waste.
Incineration
Issue
Incineration of waste is hugely problematic, as the process produces significant amounts of Dioxins and furans; destroys valuable resources; simply moves the pollutant from one medium to another (land to air); and generates a demand for waste.
Vision
ELA believes that such practice must be eliminated and a philosophy that designs waste out at source be implemented by government.
Outcomes & objectives
Noting that the trend towards incineration is growing, ELA supports the immediate banning of all forms of incineration, with a view to implementing sound waste avoidance, minimisation, re-use, reduction and recycling, and the simultaneous phasing out of products that cannot be sustainably manufactured, re-used or recycled.
ELA will oppose all forms of incineration, and show why the alternatives will prove more sustainable.
Consumer Pollution and Waste Recycling
ELA believes, given the finiteness of the world's resources, that the waste of these resources is unacceptable. In this regard southern Africa does not possess a recycling policy either locally or nationally. We believe that society should make the sustained use of raw materials a priority through immediate legislation. All consumer products and product packaging should be reduced in bulk and should be re-usable, either intact, or through effective collection and recycling of product components.
ELA calls for the immediate enactment and enforcement of legislation to facilitate optimal, sustained use of the world's resources. ELA believe it essential that environmentally friendly conscious consumers should use their united power to support those who are producing goods in environmentally sound ways. Furthermore, ELA call for an independent monitoring body to be established to vet all produce that claims to be "organic", "biodynamic", "natural" or "environment friendly".
Air Pollution
ELA believe in the right to clean air, acknowledge that this right is under threat from carbon dioxide, ozone depleting substances, acid forming oxides, hydrocarbons, smoke, noxious odours, toxic substances, petro-chemical smog, drift of biocide sprays and many other sources. While recognising the complexity of air pollution dynamics, and the need for a concerted and broad-based approach to the problem, we identify the following priorities:
a) A ban on all ozone depleting substances.
b) Introduction of clean Renewable Energy Technologies, such as wind, wave, tidal, solar thermal, solar PV, micro-hydro, bio-mass and geothermal sources, and regionally co-ordinated policy of energy conservation.
c) The removal of direct and indirect subsidies to fossil and nuclear fuels. Clean renewable technologies should be given a boost by receiving subsidies previously allocated to fossil fuels and nuclear power.
d) The rationalisation, improvement and promotion of public transport systems and phase out the use of fossil fuels in all applications.
e) Stringent and effective legislation based upon the "polluter pays" principle with ambient air quality and point source emissions standards and comprehensive monitoring and enforcement.
Water Justice and Fresh Water Pollution
Water is a human right and access to clean and potable water is an essential need. Southern Africa is a semi-arid area and therefore it is necessary that resources be conserved and protected.
In conserving and protecting water we must ensure that integrated water management such as demand side management is practiced or it will result in construction of further large dams, resulting in social and environmental problems. Manipulation of watercourses must be planned to limit harmful effects. We encourage the use of natural means to store and reticulate water. Attention is drawn to the need to restore the earth's natural filtering capacity by ensuring adequate and appropriate vegetative cover and the restoration of wetland systems.
We express concern at the human-induced unequal distribution of water resources in southern Africa and its consequent ecological damage. We recommend that the World Commission on Dams (WCD)' report and strategic priorities be used in any new dam project. The WCD's recommendation to review existing dams should also be carried out, and include reparations for dam affected communities.
We are concerned by the continued promotion and use of large-scale hydroelectric schemes without fully understanding the social, economic and ecological cost of such projects. We will actively campaign against large-scale hydro schemes, while at the same time recognizing that small scale hydro of under 10MW (micro hydro) is sustainable and should be used.
We support the concept of Free Basic Water as a means of supplying water to formally disadvantaged communities while at the same time ensuring that capacity is built to support integrated water management. We support the WHO call for a minimum of 50 litres per day per person.
We are opposed to the introduction of any contaminant into fresh-water systems including groundwater. We are especially concerned with the pollution of fresh-water resources by industrial and domestic effluents, the intentional introduction of toxic contaminants like fluoride and the eutrophication and salinisation of fresh water by agricultural mismanagement including intensive animal farming.
The unacceptably high levels of fecal contamination in inland water can only be reduced by ensuring adequate water supplies, environmentally sound human waste treatment facilities for all, and by finding solutions to socio-political factors which underlie these problems.
Marine Pollution
ELA opposes discharging pollutants into marine ecosystems. ELA believes that the marine ecosystem has a finite assimilative capacity for all contaminants. This threshold has been exceeded in many coastal regions of southern Africa and immediate legislation is required to combat this situation. ELA believe that all legislation be based upon the "polluter pays" principle. The release of radio-active material, heavy metals, petroleum, polychlorinated biphenols, sulphides, heat and other substances is directly poisonous to marine ecosystems, whilst domestic effluents, garbage and agricultural run-off lead to an imbalance in marine community structures and the destruction of ecosystem diversity.
Noise Pollution
ELA believes appropriate measures need to be introduced to limit the consequences of noise, vibration and shock to acceptable magnitudes. We call upon the responsible authorities to apply legislation effectively in this regard.
We note:
a. that excessively high decibel levels are potentially harmful to the hearing mechanism;
b. that constant sound has a cumulative irritating effect which, in extreme cases, may cause or exacerbate mental disorders;
c. that people, especially factory workers, are forced to live and/or work in conditions where noise levels exceed safe limits; and
d. that excessive noise is an infringement of basic rights.
Discrimination
All political, economic and social rights and opportunities shall apply equally to all, irrespective of race, gender, creed, colour, language, physical abilities, religion, political or other opinion, sexual preference, property, birth or other status. ELA is opposed to all forms of exploitation.
In relation to people, discrimination is often used to justify exploitation. ELA is fundamentally opposed to racism.
The drive for competitive power and the profit incentive have become the dogma of our society, and led to attempts at justifying all forms of exploitation. Males have traditionally been required to express traits of dominance, aggression and exploitativeness. The values of our society are thus seen to be a symptom of male domination, as is the ecological devastation which we now face. In order to prevent complete devastation, the expression of traits which are traditionally regarded to be feminine (for example caring and nurturance), need to be developed in all people. This cannot take place while women are required to adopt "masculine attitudes" in order to compete in the work environment.
Workplace Environments
Problem
The work environment may expose workers, their families and surrounding communities to unpleasant, unhealthy and at times hazardous conditions. Workers and their families have a right to a workplace environment that is not harmful to health. The workplace has become separated from the living and home environments as well as the natural environment both physically (most people travel away from home to work) and in terms of the priorities given to acceptable levels of health and safety.
A lack of information exists around the health and safety risks encountered in the workplace.
Even if people have access to the knowledge that their working environments may carry risks to their health and safety, they are often forced to run the risks in order to remain employed and support themselves and their families.
Victims of corporate negligence are ill compensated for their suffering whilst the culprits are allowed to get away with minimal fines. These fines do little to enforce any standards but merely give "minimal price" to a workers life, which often results in the corporations deciding to forego spending in large amounts on safety issues in favor of much lessor fines imposed.
Solutions
The same standards, which we impose on our living and home environments as well as the natural environment, should hold true for our working environment. Workplaces should be conducive to worker comfort, and be adequately lit and protected from weather and extremes of temperature.
Employers must set up environmental health and safety reports as part of their annual financial reports and these must be open to public inspection and scrutiny.
Penalties for transgressors of occupational health and safety legislation must be significantly increased above the appallingly low fines that currently exist. The burden of proof must also fall on employers to prove that they have not impacted negatively on employees environmental health, or that of the surrounding communities, and as such employers must foot the bill for this process.
Trade unions organising workers should ensure that their constituencies enjoy information on and protection from hazards without prejudicing unorganised workers in other areas who may be forced to work in industries with poor health and safety levels due to lack of pressure to clean up.
Workers and surrounding communities should be encouraged to report bad health and safety practices.
ELA position
An independent occupational health and safety monitoring and enforcement mechanism is vital and must be set up under the sponsorship of both government and industry.
Employers must provide independent environmental health and safety reports as part of their annual reports and training as well as up-to-date information on health and safety issues must be made available.
Compensation to victims of corporate mismanagement must be increased and punishment to transgressors equally increased beyond mere token amounts that currently act only to encourage transgressors to opt for fines rather than extensive health and safety measures in their places of employment.
Trade unions have an enormous role to play in informing their members about health and safety risks. In campaigning for broader workers' rights as well as health and safety rights, we believe that the trade union's responsibility should stretch further than just the workers they organise. In squeezing bad practices out of a workplace, the effect may be that of transferring the problem to neighboring communities or other work environments. Trade unions should remain aware of this and track occupational health and safety issues both within and outside their structures.
ELA's plan of action
• ELA calls on all employers to allow the establishment of health and safety committees in all work places and on workers to establish these committees.
• ELA will continue to share all information we have concerning health and safety issues with both organised and unorganised workers and with communities neighboring workplaces.
• ELA will campaign with alliance partners such as trade unions and community groups to have the penalties for breach of health and safety regulations stepped up, as well as compensation for injured workers and their families to be drastically increased.
• ELA will campaign to have an independent regulatory and monitoring mechanism established to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.
Educational Priorities
ELA recognises the need for a strong environmental emphasis in education. This is especially clear given the educational crisis in which the majority of southern African children are educated in an inadequate social environment. Environmental education must impact on this situation in several ways:
a) there must be input into the structure of the overall curriculum;
b) there must be a major intervention into both pre-service and in-service teacher education;
c) there must be a greater emphasis on practical activities involving direct interaction with the environment.
The idea that environmental education is much more than an awareness about conservation issues must be stressed; environmental education provides a philosophical base to knowledge which is integrative rather than fragmenting. The curriculum consequences of a holistic philosophy of knowledge in terms of children learning through their own experiences in a way which combines traditional school subjects must be explored fully.
Non-formal education: This vast area outside the arena of formal education needs to be addressed alongside changes within the schooling system. The same philosophical basis should apply and emotionalism alone is not likely to bring about changes to peoples' commitment to the environment. Indeed, in rural communities there are often no choices available to environmentally destructive practices.
Non-formal education must be linked to job creation schemes, both within the formal and non-formal economic sectors. In addition, use must be made of existing educational projects and agencies to avoid duplication and conflicting messages. The media play a vital role in non-formal education. A less sensational and deeper analysis of environmental issues should be a major goal.
Population
ELA believes that given the finite nature of Earth's resources, population size and distribution are essential factors in creating and maintaining harmony between humankind and the environment. ELA believes that the population growth rate is determined by prevalent economic circumstances. The accumulation of wealth and over consumption of finite resources, both of which are encouraged by industrialism, have contributed to social injustice and global environmental degradation.
ELA advocates that the following will be beneficial in creating and maintaining harmony between humankind and the environment:
a) women's control over their own fertility. Half of the population of the world is female, yet many women do not have control over their own lives, socially, culturally, economically, and politically;
b) improved education, including facilitating the empowerment and development of all people; and
c) social and economic justice.
Animal Ethics
Earthlife Africa rejects exploitation in the form of abusive power relations. We are committed to developing an attitude which is respectful of and nurturing towards the environment in all its diversity. We believe that people have the duty to ensure that all living creatures are treated in a compassionate, dignified and respectful manner.
Vivisection
Vivisection directly contradicts the ELA statement of belief. We thus commit ourselves to campaigning to end this practice. We demand that vivisection be replaced with alternative methods.
Chapter 4 : EARTHLIFE AFRICA ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
1. BRANCH STRUCTURE
1.1 Adoption of Common Statement of Belief for all Branches.
All branches of ELA shall adopt and adhere to the above Statement of Belief and Policies and this should be made explicit in each branch constitution.
1.2 Definition of an ELA Branch.
An ELA branch consists of a group of more than two volunteers who:
a) subscribe to ELA's Statement of Belief and Policies,
b) have made contact with all other branches of ELA and where possible, met with the branch nearest them;
c) are ratified by ELA Council and confirmed by Congress,
d) are annually re-affiliated to ELA at Congress (See 3.2.1),
e) are an autonomous group responsible for developing their own branch structures and constitution.
Each branch is accountable to its own members and to the Congress of ELA.
1.3 Provision for Democratic Procedures within Branches
ELA requires the provision of democratic procedures within each branch constitution to permit modification of branch constitutions, censure of members for misconduct and the election of office bearers.
1.4 Administration of Branch Funds
ELA requires that branch funds be deposited in a bank account(s) administered by at least two co-signatory elected office bearers. A summary financial statement should be circulated to all members at least once a year, and the full statement and books made available to branch members upon request. Branches are required to provide financial statements and records to ELA Council on request.
1.5 Branch autonomy
ELA believes that every branch desires autonomy of action within its own sphere of influence, but requires that branch constitutions should accommodate the guidelines stipulated in 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 above.
2. EARTHLIFE AFRICA COUNCIL
2.1 Structure
We reject the concept of a centralised executive hierarchy, but believe in the establishment of representative democratic structures, which ensure accountability to the broad-based membership. Each branch shall elect one contact person, and one alternate contact person, who, within the bounds of the constitution, will have a mandate to participate in inter-branch communication on behalf of their branch as members of ELA Council. Each branch will be represented by only one seat on Council at any time.
2.2 Responsibilities
ELA Council members will, in consultation with appropriate branch structures and Council members of other branches, be able to issue press statements, co-ordinate project funding, make representations to other groups, and provide inter-branch response to crises on behalf of ELA Council. ELA Council members are also responsible for seasonal inter-branch communication.
2.3 Process of communication
2.3.1 between council contact person and their branch
If the Council contact person is unsure of what branch consensus on the issue may be, it must be referred back to all office bearers of that branch for arbitration. If the office bearers are unsure of what branch consensus might be, they are required to table the issue for the next branch meeting before reporting back to Council. Any council decisions made by the mandated contact persons, or the branch office bearers, must be reported back at branch meetings.
2.3.2 between council members
The Council itself will decide communication processes between representatives.
2.4 Decision-making
Council decisions are made by consensus or failing that by a two-thirds majority of affiliated branches.
2.5 Inter-branch Communication
2.5.1 The elected ELA Council members will be responsible for inter-branch communication. These communications must include the circulation of seasonal (four per year) inter-branch communiqués based on summarized branch minutes, branch financial statements and project budgets, in the case of large projects (With a budget larger than the amount decided annually at Congress - see Annex A) to all affiliated branches by post.
2.5.2 The ELA Council inter-branch contact persons shall facilitate Congress communications.
2.5.3 When branch office bearers and contact persons are changed all other branches must be notified in writing by post within one month.
2.5.4 Each branch of Earthlife Africa must have a post office box in its name to be used exclusively for Earthlife Africa business.
3. EARTHLIFE AFRICA CONGRESS
3.1 Definition
ELA Congress is an annual meeting of branch representatives for the purpose of formal affiliation of branches to ELA; and to inter-alia consider modifications and/or additions to policy, review the effectiveness of interbranch communication and strengthen a common sense of purpose.
3.1.2 At least one delegate from each branch must be mandated and empowered to represent their branch in all decision-making processes at Congress.
3.2 Affiliation of branches to Earthlife Africa
3.2.1 Branches are annually re-affiliated to Earthlife Africa at the Earthlife Africa Congress. It is the responsibility of the branch hosting Congress to initiate the affiliation process of the other branches. The decision by Congress to affiliate a branch to ELA must be made by consensus, or if necessary by a two thirds majority of affiliated branches.
Branches whose re-affiliation is denied will have the right to appeal against this decision through Council within 6 weeks.
3.2.2 Criteria for affiliation at Congress
3.2.2.1 New branches will be affiliated as full branches of Earthlife Africa if:
a) they have made requests to all branches in writing to be affiliated to Earthlife Africa;
b) they have developed a constitution in keeping with the Earthlife Africa ethos and guiding documents, and have circulated it to all branches;
c) two thirds of affiliated branches approve the affiliation of the new branch.
3.2.2.2 Branches re-affiliating to Earthlife Africa must:
1) have sent seasonal communiqués to all other branches by post in the year preceding congress.
2) bring the following to congress (or send it to the congress hosting branch):
a) a branch report summarising activities of the preceding year,
b) branch financial statements,
c) a copy of their constitution if it has been amended.
3) be accountable to Congress for commitments made at the previous Congress.
4) Be able to motivate for re-affiliation on the basis of their actions and activities over the past year.
3.2.2.3 Branches that have not fulfilled the criteria for affiliation, but have otherwise acted in accord with the ELA Gu |
|
|