Wastepickers protest outside of UN Negotiations

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and Global Alliance of Wastepickers and Allies (GAWA) stage protest in front of the entrance to the Exposition Center where the UN climate negotiations are taking place.

WASTE PICKER SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

From: Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA):

The Global Delegation of Waste pickers will be present in Cancun

(November, 2010) The Global Alliance of Waste Pickers and Allies will attend the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change with a delegation of representatives from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and India to demonstrate that millions of waste pickers around the world, supported by international organizations with representation in dozens of countries, stand united and committed  to their struggle against climate change and false waste management solutions.

Who we are. The Global Alliance of Waste Pickers and Allies brings waste pickers from Latin America, Asia and Africa together with support organizations and environmentalists to offer real solutions to climate change mitigation and waste management. The solutions we propose make economic sense, respect the environment and promote social inclusion!

Our messages

We propose the creation of a global fund directly accessible to waste pickers and civil society to promote recycling, along with reducing and reusing, as effective mechanisms for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, as opposed to “waste-to-energy” solutions of incinerators and landfills.

We reject financing of incinerators and landfills in operation through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The Alliance believes that the CDM promotes incineration, an activity that pollutes the environment and marginalizes waste pickers.

We call to support the struggles of waste pickers aimed at improving their living conditions and increasing recycling. Supporting waste pickers means making their jobs and national economies more sustainable.

We promote social recycling and inclusive zero waste programs with inclusion.

We promote social, economic and environmental inclusion of waste pickers.

Contact for further information and interviews: Magdalena Donoso (Spanish and English)
[email protected] / skype: magdalenadonoso / Cell phone in Cancun: 56-9-96526550