Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 22:38:59 -0500 (CDT)
From: Mark Graffis <ab758@virgin.vip.vi>
Subject: Black American Groups Take Environmental Racism Issue to UN
Article: 60221
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Message-ID: <bulk.11814.19990409181530@chumbly.math.missouri.edu>
GENEVA, April 7, 1999—A group of African Americans have traveled
to Geneva this week to appear before the U.N. Commission on Human
Rights and to seek international support in their struggle against
environmental racism.
The Inter Press Service, a news agency of
Rome that often reports on environmental and non-governmental affairs,
reported that the group is accusing the United States Government of
allowing ethnic minority and low-income communities to be
disproportionate targets for toxic waste dumps or polluting factories.
According to the article, the group, which represents community and
environmental organizations, says this neglect is a human rights
abuse. The article also said the delegates will testify before the
Commission that the health problems and environmental damage their
communities have suffered are a direct result of living near toxic
chemical facilities.
Most members of the group traveling to Geneva are from communities
along the Mississippi River in the state of Louisiana known as
Cancer Alley
because of the presence of more than 140 oil
refineries and chemical plants. Representatives from Greenpeace and
the Earthjustice Defence Fund are also accompanying the group to
provide legal and administrative guidance.
1. http://www.unhchr.ch/
2. http://204.255.211.112/ColdFusion/news_top10.cfm?start!