[All] REMINDER: GREN PUBLIC FORUM WED. APRIL 6: Pollution Vs. Human Rights: Free Public Forum

[Susan Koswan]

Free Public Forum
Pollution Vs. Human Rights

Aamjiwnaang First Nations and Ecojustice allege the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's ongoing approval of pollution in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley is a violation of Canadian Human Rights. A lawsuit has been launched which asks for the province to assess the cumulative impacts of ongoing pollution on local residents prior to approving new air pollution sources. The Applicants are not seeking compensation for past environmental harm, but instead asking the Court to ensure that pollution is more carefully controlled in the future. 

The plight of the Aamjiwnaang people first came to light after finding that only a third of babies born in Aamjiwnaang between 1999 and 2005 were male. The ratio is normally closer to 50:50.  The suspected cause of the skewed sex ratio is exposure to industrial pollution from the many oil refineries and chemical plants that surround Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

This lawsuit can set a precedent for all communities in terms of forcing the government to take into account the cumulative impacts of contaminant discharges when issuing permits to specific polluters. Learn the details of the alarming impacts of pollution on community and environment in this landmark case and find out how you can help. 

Date: Wed. April 6 2011, starting at 7pm
Location: First United Church, 16 William Street West, Waterloo Ontario

Speakers include: 

·         Ron Plain & Ada Lockridge, Aamjiwnaang residents 

·         Justin Duncan, Ecojustice staff lawyer 

·         Dayna Nadine Scott, Co-director of the National Network on Environments and Women's Health 

·         John Jackson, Spokesperson of the Grand River Environmental Network (GREN) 


Admission is Free, but donations payable to Ecojustice are welcomed.

This event is sponsored by the Grand River Environmental Network and First United Church Outreach Committee of Waterloo. 

The Grand River Environmental Network   http://www.gren.ca/ is the proactive voice for the environment in the Grand River watershed.  
 
For more information about the event contact event coordinator Lulu at gren.ca or by phone at 519-885-7619. For information about GREN, please contact John Jackson john at gren.ca 

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