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DECEMBER 13, 2000

Alaska state officials and environmentalists are praising a treaty banning and limiting some of the world's most toxic pollutants because it recognizes the chemicals' effect on indigenous populations and the Northern ecoystem.

After a week of final negotiations, leaders from over 100 counties agreed to ban the so-called "dirty dozen." Produced by man and activities of man, these chemicals can lead to birth defects, cancer, and death.

Due to the subsistence lifestyle of many Alaska Natives and other indigenous people, the pollutants pose twice the risk. An environmental group called Alaska Community Action on Toxics sent three Alaska Natives to the treaty talks, which were held in South Africa.

Get the Story:
Polution treaty hailed by Alaskans (The Anchorage Daily News 12/13)

Related Stories:
Negotiations begin to ban pollutants (Enviro 12/5)
Alaska Natives call for toxin study (Enviro 10/13)
Scientists trace Arctic pollution to US (Enviro 10/4)
Dioxins are everywhere (Enviro 10/4)

Relevant Links:
How POPs threaten the Natural Environment and the Future of Indigenous Peoples - www.ienearth.org/pops_threat-p1.html
The Indigenous Environmental Network - www.ienearth.org
Native America Calling - www.nativecalling.org
Contaminants in Alaska - www.state.ak.us/dec/deh/contaminants.htm
Persistent Organic Pollutants, the United Nations - irptc.unep.ch/pops