Saving Great Guana Cay P a I D Eugene, Oregon Permit No
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Phone: (541) 687-8454 Fax: (541) 687-0535 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.elaw.org AUTUMN 2008 1877 Garden Avenue Protecting the Nonprofit Eugene, Oregon 97403 Environment Through Organization USA Law Across Borders U.S. Postage Saving Great Guana Cay P a i d Eugene, Oregon Permit No. 686 Return Service Requested IN THIS ISSUE: Sustainable Development for the Caribbean Saving Great Guana Cay (pgs. 1-2) Jamaica For Sale (pg. 2) LIBERIA Holding Polluters Accountable (pg. 3) CHINA You may subscribe to an electronic version of the ELAW Advocate by e-mailing us at [email protected]. Program Report (pg. 3) 2008 ELAW ANNUAL MTG. Kenya Gathering Builds Global Collaboration (pgs. 4-5) VICTORY A Clean Air Act for Israel Protecting Public Interest Lawyers The northeastern tip of Great Guana Cay would be completely developed, with a golf course and homes. PHOTOS: Save Guana Cay Reef Association. Back in 1999, when Israel began to consider enacting legislation to protect air quality, (pgs. 6-7) Developers from around the world are transforming Caribbean coastlines into high-end tourist destinations, attorneys at the Israel Union for Environmental Defense called on ELAW for help. ELAW displacing local communities, destroying critical ecosystems, and forever changing a way of life. Projects are often BELIZE attorneys and scientists provided information about the U.S. Clean Air Act and lessons pushed through without local consent, with benefits going to foreign investors and tourists, but not local people. Protecting Mayan learned from efforts to protect air quality in the U.S. ELAW is working with grassroots advocates in the Caribbean to help communities have a say in decisions about Villagers Later, through the ELAW network, advocates from Sri Lanka and the Czech Republic coastal development. ELAW is also helping communities across the region share lessons and strategies. sent examples of their country’s Clean Air legislation, and partners in Europe provided (pg. 7) information about the Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control Directive, which the Bahamas Threatened coastal development which promotes tourism and European Union adopted in 1996. A tiny barrier reef island in the Bahamas provides second homes for Floridians and foreign Once the Israeli law was in draft format, ELAW partners in India, the U.S. and Canada is currently under threat from a mega-tourist investors at the expense of the local environment. provided guidance on specific regulations regarding their country’s permit processes. development. The Discovery Land Company, based “ELAW is working alongside leading coral reef ELAW partner Tamar Gannot at the Israel Union for Environmental Defense sent good in Scottsdale, Arizona, is in the process of building scientists and marine ecologists, as well as Bahamian news in late July: a 450-unit gated community, which will include a golf course, a large marina, tennis courts, a hotel, and international environmental organizations, ”Finally, after a few years of struggle, the Israeli Knesset has and a destination spa. If the development continues to stop the destruction of Great Guana Cay,” says to move ahead, critical and unique ecosystems will Mark McLaughlin, a law student and ELAW volunteer approved last week a Clean Air Act for Israel! As always, this be destroyed, the reef could be devastated, and 150 who worked with Frederick in the Bahamas this struggle was supported by this wonderful network and especially by islanders, whose ancestors settled here 200 years summer. Mark helped review case files and identified the amazing people at ELAW U.S. who helped us with legal reference, ago, would be swamped by hundreds of tourists. inadequacies in the public participation process for scientific data and shared experience. A million thanks to you all! ELAW is working with Bahamian attorney Frederick local communities. Smith and the Save Guana Cay Reef Association to I can’t imagine doing this without you!” challenge the project, which was approved by the Tamar Gannot “Our environment and local rights will not be government without proper permits or local consent. sacrificed at the altar of the almighty dollar.” Environmental groups in the Bahamas have retained Frederick Smith ELAW invites you to become an Environmental Hero by making a donation to ELAW. Frederick to help protect islands from inappropriate THINK GLOBALLY. ACT GLOBALLY. Please send a check or credit card donation in the enclosed envelope. Or, you can make a charitable gift by gifting a security. Consult with your tax and investment advisors about CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Please visit www.elaw.org/give to make a secure, online donation. the amount and types of securities you wish to give and then call ELAW at 541-687-8454. AUTUMN 2008 LAW advocate AUTUMN 2008 LAW advocate ELAW U.S. Staff Saving Great Guana Cay (continued) Ethiopian Advocate Released Bern Johnson Executive Director In 2006, ELAW Staff Attorney Jennifer Gleason Netsanet Demissie was others, including Netsanet, were charged with crimes “You guys are Lori Maddox and Frederick joined Diana McCaulay, Director of released from an Ethiopian and faced the death penalty. Associate Director the Jamaica Environment Trust, to co-host an amongst the first prison in March, after nearly ELAW Staff Attorney Jennifer Gleason traveled Maggie Keenan environmental law workshop in the Dominican persons I would two and a half years in jail. to Ethiopia in 2004 to work with Netsanet on Communications Director Republic. Valuable lessons and strategies have loved to Netsanet is the founder of the environmental and human rights issues. “Netsanet Rita Radostitz were shared to help protect coastal resources meet at the gate Organisation for Social Justice made an incredible sacrifice to defend the rule of Director of Philanthropy throughout the Caribbean. Diana’s organization of the prison. in Ethiopia. OSJE was chosen law. We applaud his courage and are thankful that Jennifer Gleason I extend my by civil society organizations in this travesty of justice has come to an end. We will Staff Attorney has inspired grassroots advocates around the world through its effective use of the law and community Diana says: deepest Ethiopia to be the secretariat now pick up where we left off!” says Jennifer. Liz Mitchell gratitude.” Staff Attorney education to protect Jamaica’s natural heritage. “Jamaica has seen an expansion of large scale, of a 35-member network to monitor Ethiopia‘s May Many thanks to ELAW‘s friends and partners high impact, all inclusive hotel development of an Netsanet Demissie 2005 elections. Following that contentious election, around the world who responded to calls from ELAW Chris Wold of Counsel Jamaica For Sale unprecedented scale and speed over the past five thousands were arrested. Most were released, but and sent letters to Ethiopian authorities demanding Netsanet’s release. Mark Chernaik The Jamaica Environment Trust is working with years. This development has taken place despite the Staff Scientist filmmakers, ELAW, and communities to protect existence of a Tourism Master Plan for Sustainable Meche Lu this island nation from high-rise, Cancun-style Development which promoted a very different Belize: Protecting the Human Rights of Mayan Villagers Environmental Research Scientist development. Jamaica’s coastlines are under approach. It has also occurred without adequate Glenn Gillis assault. JET is using the courts and the media to infrastructure for tourism workers, with insufficient Information Technology Manager challenge shortsighted development and educate attention paid to the preservation of important ELAW partner Antoinette Moore has a lifelong The indigenous people in Belize are primarily Mayan. Kalindi Devi-Dasi Jamaicans about what’s at stake. natural resources and has displaced local people and commitment to defending the human rights of people living They reside in 38 villages in the south, bordering Bookkeeper denied them access to Jamaica’s beaches. Especially JET Director Diana McCaulay co-produced the in disadvantaged communities. She has lived and worked Guatemala. For the most part they remain subsistence Vannia Glasinovic film “Jamaica For Sale,” to get the word out. She in the north, our coastline is being transformed in Belize for 14 years. Through collaboration with the Program Assistant farmers. They fish and hunt, and gather materials in joined ELAW Executive Director Bern Johnson for into a concrete coast. We share concerns with many Belize Environmental Law and Policy Organization and other Lauren Ice a panel discussion about using law and film to other Caribbean islands and would like to work more the rainforest for building their houses. Office Manager grassroots organizations in Belize, she has championed the protect Jamaica for future generations at the 2008 closely with others in the region to advocate for rights of Mayan peoples seeking to protect their communal In recent years, there has been a pattern by the ELAW U.S. Board Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival in Seattle. a more Caribbean-style, low impact, inclusive and lands from the government and corporations seeking timber, Government of Belize to take their property or grant sustainable tourism.” Glenn Miller, Chair oil, and other natural resources. permits to companies to use their land and search Antoinette traveled to the U.S. in September for a Prosser- Mike Axline for resources. The government has never officially Jang Fellowship, to work one-on-one with ELAW staff and recognized the way in which these people own their John Bonine advance her work. Her son Kwame joined her. land. They own their land communally and they use Mary Lou Church Great Guana Cay: What’s at risk? During her Fellowship, Antoinette was interviewed on Cheryl Coon KLCC-FM, a National Public Radio affiliate in Eugene, Oregon. their land communally. Maisie Grace “Over a hundred acres of pristine mangrove To the right are excerpts from her interview. We have been negotiating with the Government David Hunter forest have already been devastated, burnt of Belize for over a decade, to recognize the rights Penelope Pierce or completely dredged away.