GAIA is an expanding international alliance of individuals, non-governmental
organization, community-based organizations, academics and others
working to end the incineration of all forms of waste and to promote
sustainable waste prevention and discard management practices. Since
GAIA members are committed both to ending incineration and to promoting
alternative safe, economical and just discard management systems,
the name GAIA represents both a Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance
and a Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives.
GAIA is the culmination of a series of gatherings about incineration
and alternatives held around the world in recent years. The Global
Alliance was initially conceived by participants from Africa, Asia,
North and South America and the Middle East at an International
Clean Production Training at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
in June 2000. Two months later, a number of the Lowell participants
joined a larger group of civil society representatives in Bangkok
to launch Waste Not Asia, a platform linking incineration to broader
issues of material policy and citizen participation in governance.
In December 2000, over 75 individuals from 23 countries met in South
Africa to develop GAIA's initial structure and goals.
GAIA members work both through regional networks and through issue
workgroups which provide the opportunity to transcend national and
regional borders to collaborate with others around the world. The
initial three GAIA workgroups are focused on specific waste streams:
Municipal Discards/Zero Waste, Hazardous Waste, and Medical Waste
(GAIA's medical waste work is implemented in conjunction with Health
Care Without Harm). Each workgroup undertakes projects to prevent
incineration and to promote alternatives. In addition, GAIA has
identified its first global campaign goal to stop the World Bank
from funding incinerators around the world and to support local
communities targeted by the Bank for incineration to instead promote
alternatives.
GAIA is co-coordinated by a Northern and Southern coordinator and
an international Steering Committee. To join any workgroup, or for
more information, email: gaia@essential.org
or contact one of the GAIA Initial Planning Committee members below:
Czech Republic:
Jindrich Petrlik
Deti Zeme
Frydek-Mistek, Na kopci 2685
738 01 Frydek-Mistek,
Czech Republic
India:
Madhu Dutta
Toxics Link
H-2 Jungpura Ext.
New Delhi 110014
India
Mexico:
Olinca Marino
LaNeta
Alberto Zamora
126 Col. del Carmen
Coyoacan
04100 Mexico DF
Philippines:
Von Hernandez
Greenpeace SE Asia
121 D Tuazon St
Sta Mesa Hts, Quezon City
Philippines
South Africa:
Linda Ambler
and Bobby Peek
groundWork
P.O. Box 2375
Pietermaritzburg, 3200
South Africa
USA:
Neil Tangri
Essential Action
P.O. Box 19405
Washington, D.C. 20036
USA
Ann Leonard
Multinationals Resource Center
P.O. Box 19405
Washington, D.C. 20036
USA |
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