Asserting the People s s right to Know and Be Heard

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Asserting the People

’

_’

s right

_{s right}

to Know and Be Heard

To participate around Toxic Waste issues in

Mozambique

By

By AnabelaAnabela A.LemosA.Lemos JA!

JA! JusticaJustica AmbientalAmbiental And GAIA member

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Introduction

This paper will try to describe how Mozambican civil society had

This paper will try to describe how Mozambican civil society had a a say in a process which could potentially have endangered the liv

say in a process which could potentially have endangered the lives es and environmental of many Mozambicans.

and environmental of many Mozambicans.

An environmental group gathered information and researched about

the effects and threats of proposed process and used internation

the effects and threats of proposed process and used international al networks to spread the information in the donor's country. Many

networks to spread the information in the donor's country. Many

international chemical agreements as well as the recently adopte

international chemical agreements as well as the recently adopted d Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management

Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management

(SAICM) call for public participation in chemicals management.

Both national and foreign donors should make real effort to incl

Both national and foreign donors should make real effort to include ude civil society in environmental decision

civil society in environmental decision--making through the relevant making through the relevant processes and instruments.

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In 1996 Mozambicans authorities requested

for

for Danida'sDanida's assistance to collect and assistance to collect and

dispose 900 tons of obsolete pesticides. In

response to the request, a three

response to the request, a three--year year

project was prepared with the objective to

assist Mozambique in complying with the

Basel Convention. In 1997, the

Mozambican authorities initiated a three

Mozambican authorities initiated a three- -year foreign

year foreign--assisted project to collect and assisted project to collect and dispose some the 900 tons of obsolete

dispose some the 900 tons of obsolete

pesticides in the country. It was the

intention to dispose most of the collected

pesticides trough incineration in the

cement kiln at

cement kiln at CimentosCimentos de Mozambique, de Mozambique, a local cement company.

a local cement company.

The case

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The case

An article by the late Mozambican journalist Carlos

An article by the late Mozambican journalist Carlos CardosoCardoso about the about the plan to incinerate these pesticides in the cement kiln amidst th

plan to incinerate these pesticides in the cement kiln amidst the widely e widely populated town of

populated town of MatolaMatola triggered the birth of a local grassroots triggered the birth of a local grassroots movement to protect public health and the environment. An

movement to protect public health and the environment. An

independent investigation set off by the movement concluded that

incinerating the pesticide stockpiles in the

incinerating the pesticide stockpiles in the MotolaMotola cement kiln would cement kiln would endanger community health with the release of health

endanger community health with the release of health--threatening threatening chemicals, including cancer

chemicals, including cancer--causing causing POP'sPOP's. This encouraged local . This encouraged local people to educate themselves about the dangers of cement kiln

people to educate themselves about the dangers of cement kiln

incineration and to organize Mozambique

incineration and to organize Mozambique’’s first environmental s first environmental

monitoring group. Through combined grassroots information shari

monitoring group. Through combined grassroots information sharing ng and organizing, supported by international networking, the local

and organizing, supported by international networking, the local

people could convince government to stop the project.

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The case

After two and a half years of strong opposition, with a strong a

After two and a half years of strong opposition, with a strong and firm nd firm support from international organizations and especially those fr

support from international organizations and especially those from the om the donor country ( Denmark), led to multiple international exposure

donor country ( Denmark), led to multiple international exposure of of the proposed project in several conferences, that finally led au

the proposed project in several conferences, that finally led authorities thorities to accept the incongruence and the dangerous consequences of

to accept the incongruence and the dangerous consequences of

incinerating pesticides in a cement kiln factory. Eventually the

Mozambican government sent the obsolete pesticides to their sour

Mozambican government sent the obsolete pesticides to their sources ces in Europe for disposal. This victory against toxic waste is a m

in Europe for disposal. This victory against toxic waste is a milestone ilestone in instituting participatory democracy and in pursuing sustainab

in instituting participatory democracy and in pursuing sustainable le development in Mozambique. It created space for other civil soci

development in Mozambique. It created space for other civil society ety groups to flourish and respond to various social issues and need

groups to flourish and respond to various social issues and needs. As a s. As a parenthesis, we should report that civil associations were only

parenthesis, we should report that civil associations were only allowed allowed in 1991. Before that date they were forbidden.

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Conclusions

The first conclusion is around the concept of democracy. What The first conclusion is around the concept of democracy. What

Mozambique and Africa need is not the limited concept of democra

Mozambique and Africa need is not the limited concept of democracy, cy, meaning only elections, but the continuous exercise of democracy

meaning only elections, but the continuous exercise of democracy, , including the everyday participation of civil society to assist

including the everyday participation of civil society to assist

government in its task to ensure a healthy environmental.

Environmental democracy can only exist if civil society is grantEnvironmental democracy can only exist if civil society is granted the ed the

right to participate in environmental decision

right to participate in environmental decision--making and has a right to making and has a right to obtain environmental information.

obtain environmental information.

Governments need to understand this and see civil society as parGovernments need to understand this and see civil society as partners tners

and not as competitors. The goal is the same for one for both.

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Conclusions

In Mozambique, as most African countries, civil society organizaIn Mozambique, as most African countries, civil society organizations tions

are weak and in some occasions this is a result of a deliberati

are weak and in some occasions this is a result of a deliberative ve campaign against them from certain sectors. Yet, civil organizat

campaign against them from certain sectors. Yet, civil organizations ions have only 15 years of existence in Mozambique, and therefore fac

have only 15 years of existence in Mozambique, and therefore face e huge problems in organization and management. This has been used

huge problems in organization and management. This has been used

AGAINST civil organizations, calling them weak.

In starting a campaign, it is absolutely necessary to define a mIn starting a campaign, it is absolutely necessary to define a main ain

strategy (Plan A), as well as alternatives (Plan B), and follow

strategy (Plan A), as well as alternatives (Plan B), and follow them. In them. In this case, and as Mozambicans,

this case, and as Mozambicans, the Plan A was to talk with the the Plan A was to talk with the

Mozambican Government and DANIDA officials in Maputo. The

plan failed for lack of interest to talk to us. The plan B was t

plan failed for lack of interest to talk to us. The plan B was to bring the o bring the case before the Danish civil society and the Danish Parliament.

case before the Danish civil society and the Danish Parliament. As As soon as this was done, a total new dimension of the relations be

soon as this was done, a total new dimension of the relations between tween our group on one side, and, Mozambican Government and DANIDA

our group on one side, and, Mozambican Government and DANIDA

officials on the other side, changed completely. After that, it

officials on the other side, changed completely. After that, it looks like looks like they took us more serious, and a better dialog started!

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Conclusions

Another important lesson is the need for information. In this reAnother important lesson is the need for information. In this regard, gard,

the international coalition at play had a very important role, k

the international coalition at play had a very important role, keeping an eeping an important flux of information coming every day, through the Inte

important flux of information coming every day, through the Internet. rnet. In this way we were able to challenge Mozambican governmental an

In this way we were able to challenge Mozambican governmental and d the foreign donor positions.

the foreign donor positions. As an example of this, the infamous As an example of this, the infamous statement that Bamako and Basel Conventions did not allow

statement that Bamako and Basel Conventions did not allow

Mozambique to export obsoletes pesticides, which civil society c

Mozambique to export obsoletes pesticides, which civil society could ould later proved wrong.

later proved wrong.

One of the most important lessons is the need to involve the locOne of the most important lessons is the need to involve the local al

opinions. People know what they want, and are worried about thei

opinions. People know what they want, and are worried about their r health and of their family, but often do not speak out. The

health and of their family, but often do not speak out. The

implications of that are enormous, because it means that for a c

implications of that are enormous, because it means that for a civil ivil society as young as the Mozambican one, the main contribution on

society as young as the Mozambican one, the main contribution one e can do is to empower local organizations and groups.

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Conclusions

Had the civil society only Had the civil society only beenbeen consulted at an earlier stage, Danida consulted at an earlier stage, Danida

and the Mozambique authorities could have saved themselves a lot

trouble and money.

Unfortunately, the history repeats itself and recently the goverUnfortunately, the history repeats itself and recently the government nment

decided to introduce DDT to fight malaria, without any consultat

decided to introduce DDT to fight malaria, without any consultation ion of the civil society.

of the civil society.

Our previous work last year in partnership with Our previous work last year in partnership with ArnikaArnika and and IpenIpen, has , has

shown at the old pesticide storage place and at the cement facto

shown at the old pesticide storage place and at the cement factory, ry, high levels of DDT contamination; not taking this in considerati

high levels of DDT contamination; not taking this in consideration on and re

and re--introducing DDT without further studies is an absolutely bad introducing DDT without further studies is an absolutely bad and naive idea!

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Conclusions

Furthermore, DDT was discovered in 1945 and discontinued in Furthermore, DDT was discovered in 1945 and discontinued in

1960's...if DDT was the answer, it had already solved the proble

1960's...if DDT was the answer, it had already solved the problem a m a long time ago...the problem is, after the appearance of DDT and

long time ago...the problem is, after the appearance of DDT and other other chemicals,

chemicals, malariologistsmalariologists shift from evidence based medicine shift from evidence based medicine (elimination of stagnated water) to a 'chemical approach': spray

(elimination of stagnated water) to a 'chemical approach': spray

everything with chemicals! Of course it did not work and it will

everything with chemicals! Of course it did not work and it will not not work in the future with this chemical approach! Resistance was o

work in the future with this chemical approach! Resistance was one of ne of the problems. We have to go back to evidence based medicine that

the problems. We have to go back to evidence based medicine that

says it is necessary to identify and eliminate stagnated waters,

says it is necessary to identify and eliminate stagnated waters, the the sources of mosquitoes

sources of mosquitoes and destroy them. Successes in Europe and in and destroy them. Successes in Europe and in the USA were accomplished with this approach and not the chemica

the USA were accomplished with this approach and not the chemical l approach only.

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Asserting the People s s right to Know and Be Heard