FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Spanish Language Contact: Magdalena Cerda
(619) 235-0281 Date: June 12, 2000 CLEANUP OF ABANDONED LEAD SMELTER DEMANDED |
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(Tijuana) - Rallying in
solidarity with their representatives in
Dallas, Tx, residents of Colonia
Chilpancingo met on the doorstep of
SEMARNAP’s Tijuana office and demanded
the clean up the 6,000 tons of hazardous
waste abandoned over 6 years ago on the
industrial mesa above the community at the
lead smelter, Metales y Derivados.
More than 50 residents waved posters and chanted their demands "clean up now!" "Lead is poisoning our children," explained Lourdes Lujan, a resident of Chilpancingo. "For our children’s health, we are pleading with the government to take immediate action." Over 500 residents of Colonia Chilpancingo signed letters requesting a face-to-face meeting with the Mexican Minister of the Environment (SEMARNAP), Ms. Julia Carabias. Copies of the letters were presented to the SEMARNAP’S Tijuana office. The original copies of the letters were presented to Ms. Carabias at the 7th Regular Session of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) in Dallas, Texas being held from June 11-13 by representatives of EHC and Colonia Chilpancingo. The CEC consists of the three cabinet level ministers of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The community request is being made in light of the May 16th unanimous decision by the CEC to conduct an independent investigation ("Factual Record") on San Diego-based New Frontier Trading Corporation’s abandoned lead smelter known as Metales y Derivados. The decision by the NAFTA-created institution was the result of a petition filed against Mexico for its failure to enforce its environmental laws brought by EHC and Comité Ciudadano Pro Restauración del Cañón del Padre. "The United States and Mexico have finally come to understand that his case is emblematic of the environmental reality of our border caused by irresponsible business practices," stated Magdalena Cerda of EHC. "This is the opportunity for the CED to fulfill its obligation: to protect the environment and health of North America. Now that they have taken the right step by initiating an independent investigation, the next challenge is executing the clean up solution in a timely manner. For additional comments on the meeting in Dallas, please contact: César Lunda, EHC, (972) 929-8400 (Dallas, Tx) through June 13, 2000 (Room 1104) |